Genetically Modified Food - Coursework Example

Genetically Modified Food The entire globe has embraced technological advancement bringing with it variouschanges, some of which improve the quality of human life while others pose a threat to the sustainability of life. Due to the competitive nature of human beings, different individuals have always tried to interact with the environment to enhance living, especially through interacting different variables of the existing environment. For instance, farmers from the past crossbred animals selectively with the intention of coming up with hybrids that would present better features and attributes such as resistance to disease and increased productivity, for instance, of milk or meat. However, in the contemporary world, scientists have adopted complex measures by integrating the laboratory with breeding, and narrowing down to the building blocks of such attributes; the genes. As such, various methods of genetic modification, alteration, and improvement have developed organisms that are an improvement of the already existing organisms. The improvement is in terms of the rate of growth, resistance to more harsh conditions, and productivity. This has been integrated with food production, with the widespread of genetically modified foods. As much as such developments promote the wellbeing of individuals through reduction of food insecurity and increasing the nutrient density and shelf life of food, many fail to understand the ramifications that such technology holds. Different individuals hold different opinions regarding the genetically modified foods, with some arguing for it, while others against it. However, genetically modified food should be forbidden because it can break the ecological balance. Defining terms Genetic modifications, also known as “genetic engineering” involves a deeper meaning than the phrase sounds. With reference to the word engineering, Rifkin suggests that it involves the application of the principles of engineering in life’s genetic blueprints. Rifkin goes further to explain such engineering principles in his article, “The Bio Tech Century”, as predictable outcomes, efficiency, quality control, quantifiable measurement standards, and utility (Rifkin 2). As such, genetically modified foods are edible plants and animals whose DNA has been altered in terms of the genetic framework to favor a certain sequence, through genetic engineering. Such alterations could be geared towards producing foods that are resistant to pests, grow rapidly, or have an improved nutrient profile. On the other hand, ecology involves the scientific study of ecosystems. In this view, the ecological balance is the dynamic equilibrium state established within a group of organisms, where the species, ecosystem, and genetic diversity is maintained at relative stability, responsive to slow changes that occur through natural selection. In simple terms, this is the balance in terms of numbers of every species within an ecosystem. Reason Genetically modified food can break ecological balance. As much as genetically modified foods are used for the greater good of the world, especially in improving food security in food insecure areas, questions are being raised concerning the amount of study that has been carried out in the area before such widespread implementation was adopted. It is important to note that the ecological balance is a natural process that ensures sustainability of life on earth. Through genetic modification of food, some viruses, and bacteria are being released into the environment for commercial purposes such as bio-remediation and increased production of food (Rifkin 16). However, some of the releases are likely to interfere with the biosphere of the planet through destabilizing the life of some of the species that are relied upon for food, and even increasing genetic pollution all over the world. It is important to note that genetically modified organisms lack a natural habitat since they are engineered and do not evolve naturally. However, such organisms interbreed with naturally occurring organisms (through reproduction), an aspect that would facilitate their uncontrollable and unpredictable spreading to other future generations and environments. Moreover, there is a great concern about the development of pests and weeds through genetic modification of plants and animals, or through the natural breeding of the genetically modified plants and the natural plants. There is a looming calamity on the natural balance of the ecology; hence, a potential hazard for some of the insects that are beneficial at maintaining the ecological balance. Moreover, there are various long-term health concerns that are associated with the genetically modified foods that pose a threat to the ecological balance. There is the possibility of developing human beings developing a resistance to antibiotics. The incomplete defragmentation of the DNA in food within the digestive system of human beings and animals results in a possibility that some of the pathogens may adopt the genetically modified materials including genes that promote resistance to antibiotics; hence, the development of the antibiotic resistance disease. In addition, it is important to note that some of the pesticides and herbicides have a negative impact on the utilization of nutrients within the plants and the soil microbes. As such, some of the plants are genetically modified to increased resistance to increased levels of glyphosate, an act that allows the intensive use of the chemical in fighting pests and weeds. The problem may not be seen in the short term as such a move reduces the growth of weeds and pests and thus promotes increased yields. However, accumulation of the chemicals in the soil causes a great problem among the soil microbes, leading to death and an alteration of the ecosystem. Case in point, as chelators, herbicides establish barriers enclosing some of the nutrients, thus preventing the soil microbes and the plants from utilizing the nutrients properly, an aspect that is likely to contribute to long-term plant production due to increased death of microbes and nutrient insufficient plants. Unstated Assumption Anything that breaks the ecological balance should be forbidden. The ecological balance is determined by the diversity of species, and the kinds and number of species available are a major determinant of the traits that have an influence on the ecosystem processes. As such, the traits of different species are capable of either mediating material and energy fluxes directly or altering various abiotic conditions such as through disturbance, limiting resources, and climate that control the rates of processes. Various components of the diversity of species are responsible for the expression of such traits, which include the available number of species, the abundance, the species composition, intra and inter-species interactions, and spatial and temporal variations of such properties. In addition, the diversity of species has an influence on the resistance and resilience of the ecosystems to any changes within the environment. As such, any process or object that alters the ecological balance affects species diversity and poses a general threat to the sustainability of the ecosystem amidst continuous changes in the environment. Some of the things that break the ecological balance have an impact on the species richness of some of the species within the ecosystem. Some of the species have an impact on the rate at which the ecosystem processes take place. In such cases, through the alteration of the richness of such species, the involved ecosystem processes may be slowed down below the limits required to support certain aspects of life. The impact of species richness is of great concern as some of the imbalances in the ecological system lead to the extinction of some of the species, which remains an irreversible process. On the other hand, breaking the ecological balance may involve affecting the evenness of some of the species within the ecosystem. Relative abundance of some of the species has a more direct impact on the human beings as compared to richness because it involves the consequences that occur due to species alteration before such a species goes to extinction. These changes together with the earlier mentioned changes that characterize breaking of the ecological balance have various effects on the society. One of the most immediate consequences of altered ecological balance is the increased cost of natural resources. For instance, with the introduction of plant species that are deep rooted in arid regions, has an impact on the water supplies, thus increasing the cost of water in such areas. In addition, alteration of the ecosystem leads to the unavoidable extinction of some of the species that are highly valuable to human beings in terms of reducing the outbreak of other harmful species that fall within their food chain. Alteration of the ecological balance also culminates global environmental changes, which further exacerbate changes in biodiversity and societal impacts. Last but not least, with the increased irreversible losses of species coupled by the positive feedbacks concerning changes in biodiversity and the ecosystem processes, the societal future holds possibilities of increased non-linear costs, especially when the resilience thresholds of the ecosystem are exceeded. Assertion Genetically modified food should be forbidden. Case in point, this food has an impact on the diversity of species especially in terms of composition. The new compositions of genetically modified foods alter the initial patterns involving ecosystem processes, towards which species naturally have effects in terms of mediating material or energy fluxes. The alteration of different plant and animal species in terms of limiting resources availability, climate, and the disturbance regime may lead to a direct effect on the processes within the ecosystem. On the other hand, genetic modification alters the natural interactions between species. As such, most of the processes within the ecosystem involve non-additive functions involving traits of more than one species, as species interactions are a determinant of ecosystem characteristics. Interactions between different species, including trophic interactions, mutualism, and competition are likely to affect the processes in the ecosystem either directly through modification of material flow and energy pathways, or indirectly through modification of traits or abundances of the species that have strong effects on the ecosystem processes. In this vein, genetic modification of food plants may alter their initial traits and thus interfere with the beneficial interaction patterns that initially existed between such species, causing a reduction in some of the qualities of the new food products. In addition, deprivation of such interactions may affect the sustainability of some of the plants that mutually depend on the genetically modified plants; hence, lead to the reduction in abundance and extinction in the long-term, further affecting biodiversity. On the other hand, with the unpredictable health effects of genetically modified foods given the elevation of all nutrients to high levels causes a great concern. As such, since the natural breeding process provides for adequate transfer of important genes, it is important to consider naturally developing food products for assured sustainability of the ecological balance and to forbid the uncontrollable and unpredictable high-risk genetic food modification. Counterargument One of the major counterarguments against genetically modified foods is that instead of forbidding them, it is important for individuals to develop a moral operating system that can allow them to weigh the benefits and the magnitude of the benefits as compared to the cost of certain modifications before engaging in them. According to Damon Horowitz, through in-depth thinking and analysis of certain situations either using the earlier developed ethical theories or through situational evaluation, individuals can be able to come up with decisions about the right thing to do with consideration of not just themselves but the societal construct in which they live (Horowitz). However, it is important to note that application of some of the frameworks such as the consequentialist approach suggested by John Stuart Mill may lead individuals to consideration of only the situations that concern increased pleasure for them without concern for the broader implications in the societal setting. As such, it is only through forbidding of such foods that the entire society will be protected from such individuals. On the other hand, it could be argued that genetically modified foods are highly important in the current economic environment as they provide a cheaper means of providing populations with nutrient dense foods without the need to provide large scale diverse foods that would meet the nutrient specifications, especially in regions faced with intensive food insecurity. However, it is important to note the importance of sustainability in handling the issues that affect the society. In this case, proper research needs to be done concerning the long-term effects of genetically modified foods on the ecological balance and the general health of individuals in order to ascertain the sustenance of the ecosystem. However, until such issues are evaluated and confirmed, it is less costly to prevent the risk of the worst case scenario through forbidding development and spread of genetically modified foods. Conclusion It is clear that evolution has moved to a completely new dimension with man taking control of the changes and trends in evolution. According to Bioethicist Paul Root, “we are actually now intentionally designing and altering the physiological forms that inhabit our planet” (Root). The recent string of bioengineering experiments is an indication of the power assumed by human beings in terms of manipulating their environment, including living organisms towards meeting their expectations. However, it is important to note that the rate at which different individuals and organizations have taken up innovation in bio-engineering comes with a price. With regards to genetically modified foods, various scientists have been able to fuse genetic sequences towards developing plants and animals that are deemed to be improved in terms of yield, sustainability, resistance to disease, and nutrient profile, among other factors. However, these modifications greatly interfere with the normal interactions and thus interactions within the ecosystem processes, through alteration of the components of diversity among species. As much as the implications of such changes may not be visible and hence noticeable among scientists and the general public, they are not void and thus should be put into great consideration considering the pace of technological advancement in order to ensure environmental sustainability. As such, genetically modified foods should be forbidden in order to prevent breaking of the ecological balance. Work Cited Horowitz, Damon. We Need a "Moral Operating System". May 2011. 17 April 2015. . Rifkin, Jeremy. The Biotech Century: Harnessing the Gene and Remaking the World. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1998. Root, Paul W. Its Time to Question Bio-Engineering. November 2010. 17 April 2015. . Read More