The main health problem with genetically modified organisms is the danger of allergic reactions and the lack of scientific study about their health risks. More than 90% of food allergies occur in response to specific proteins in milk, fish, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and shellfish (Quemada 223). A food that does not cause a known allergic reaction may have a protein from another food that causes allergic reactions and thus cause that reaction without the consumer knowing.
The FDA tries to resolve this problem by forcing all distributors of GMOs modified organism show evidence that they have not included an allergenic material into their product. When this evidence is not shown, the FDA calls for a tag on the product to aware the user of potential allergic reaction (Quemada 226). There is the likelihood that introducing a gene into an organism may produce a new allergen, and since there is comparatively little study or regulation by the FDA, the world does not know much about the possibilities and if they are minimal or great.
Widespread testing of GM foods must be done to eradicate or diminish this threat. It is also possible that introducing unfamiliar genes into food plants may have an unanticipated and harmful effect on human health, because of the many ambiguities of genetically modified organisms. Yet, even with these problems, scientists consider GM foods to be beneficial to human health. Benefits of GM Foods Benefits from genetically modified foods are as follows: • GM food can resolve the staple food problem.
We can make use of productive potential, and raise crop’s productive force by a big margin by genetically techniques. For example, per unit yield of the retard leaf decrepit paddy, bred by our scientists through genetically techniques, are notably elevated. • Genetically modification of food can change the crops agronomy attributes. First, modification techniques can reinforce the crops ability against pests and virus and diminish its need for strong herbicide and insecticide which can do a lot of damage to our environment.
For example in Canada, the amount of pesticides used was reduced by 40%. • It can ease the farmer’s load and make them boost the production without escalating the expenses. America can augment its agronomy income by 1. 5 billion per year. • The remnant pesticides in the crops are harmful to our health. Genetically modification can amplify the crops nutrient value. • Genetically modified techniques make the crops serve new purposes. Scientists have triumphed in making the trefoil vegetable modified pepsin which can protect intestinal and gastric mucous membrane, even cure gastric ulcer.
• Genetically modification can also strengthen crops adaptation for weather and environment. The crops that can grow in salty land have been successfully developed, which affords farmers to produce more in the limited cultivated land. GMO as a Disaster The majority of the opposition to genetically modified organisms food has come from Europe. The Mad Cow Disease eruption of the late 1990’s caused many Europeans not to trust their government regulators (Barrow 45). As a result, they are frightened to eat a modified organism whose effects are unknown.
85% of the Americans say they trust what the Food and Drug Administration says about GMOs. 89% of people think that the FDA should not allow GMOs on the market until they are verified completely safe (Tudge). Ethics of GMOs Use Genetic modification has over recent years become one of the most controversial subjects in science, opposed mainly by religious, environmental and animal rights institutions for a diversity of reasons, some substantiated but many not (Quemada 144).
Representatives of most of the world’s major religions argue that genetic modification is mans attempt to play God (Barrow 78). Many scientists on the other hand feel that religious bodies are trying to hamper scientific progress, without knowing the potential profits. Although religion has in the past been seen as being at odds with the scientific community, many of the moral questions raised cannot be answered easily (Tudge).
No easy solutions to these problems are likely to build up in the near future, but one can only attempt to when one fully understands all aspects of genetic modification. Whether for mans benefit or loss, genetic modification technology is constantly progressing and its destiny will be determined by those who use it (Hayden 23). Conclusion Although there are connected risks with the use of GMOs, it is spreading across the world as they make the GM farmer more efficient, cheaper and more competitive in the most essential industry of the world.
To meet the requirements of the doubling generations to come, biotechnology is a must (Hayden 23). Combined with other proven agricultural methods and practices, bio-technology, offers exciting and environmentally responsive ways to facilitate consumer demands for sustainable and healthy food and fiber production today, and in the future (Hayden 23). GMOs are studied extensively by manufactures and independent sources even no long term studies have contributed to this market driven business.
Obviously this essay has made it evident that the numerous advantages far outweigh the negative possibilities (Barrow 150). Works Cited Barrow, C. J. Environmental Management and Development. London: Routledge, 2005. de Rond, Mark. Strategic Alliances as Social Facts: Business, Biotechnology, and Intellectual History. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Goodman, Alan H. , Deborah Heath, and M. Susan Lindee, eds. Genetic Nature/Culture: Anthropology and Science beyond the Two-Culture Divide. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003. Questia