Research Project Rough Draft 2:Futuristic Food

Picture biting into a nice big piece of corn on the cob. While it may taste good, there is much more to this piece of food then meets the eye. This particular corn cob has been modified genetically to resist pesticides. Furthermore, the adverse effects of these modifications have not been examined for any long term adverse effects. There is not enough concrete evidence that shows the corn being consumed will have no harm on the environment it is grown in either. Genetically modified crops are becoming an increasingly popular way to grow food and are already being sold to consumers. By modifying the DNA of certain crops, the crops are granted new attributes such as the ability to resist pesticides or to grow bigger and faster. With increased popularity among farmers and corporations, the implications of genetically modifying food should be examined further and more tenaciously, especially if genetically modified crops become the preferred choice of product for farmers. Although genetically modified crops have their upside, they are still questionable because there are potential health risks, potential environmental risks, and potential ethical risks.

When scientists change the DNA of a food product they are not only changing the plant's DNA, but they are also changing what is going into the consumers body. While studies have been done on the short term potential health risks of genetically modified crops, the possible long term effects of eating these types of foods has not been determined. “Consumers are eating these foods without any apparent health effects, although some stakeholders caution that greater postmarket surveilence is needed to confirm this” (Schmidt). The Food and Drug administration is required to do extensive testing to make sure that foods are safe for consumption but so far there is not substantial evidence that there is no possibility for adverse health effects resulting from the consumption of genetically modified crops. What is more disturbing is that these products are already being sold and consumed without consumer knowledge. “In 2002, The Royal Society itself concluded that GM technology might 'lead to unpredicted harmful changes in the nutritional nature of food'” (Cook 133). Consumers should at least have a choice of what kind of food product they are buying like that which is done between organic and regurlarly grown crops This distinction should be made obvious to the consumer. Other potential health risks include the possibility that by eating genetically modified crops, the modifications could affect our own cells in unpredictable ways.The potential health risks of genetically modified crops should be examined before these products are consumed. Alternatives to eating genetically modified crops include eating regualr old fashioned crops. Other options include the eating of all organic crops to avoid these potential health risks.

Not only is it unclear how genetically modified crops will affect the health of people, enrivonmental risks are also present. “There are a number of issues to consider, including development of resistance in insects against certain crop pesticides, transformation of crops into weeds, harmful effects on non-target organisms, gene flow, and altered uses of agrochemicals on transgenic crops” (Kupier). Proponents of genetically modified food crops state that one of the advantages of using them is that they reduce the use of pesticides. In reality, the reduction of pesticide use is negligable and may actually result in more pesticide getting on the pesticide resistant crops. Other envriornmental risk factors include the mutation of pests and weeds around the genetically modified crops. “indirect effects of glyphosphate in GRS could have effects on insects and wildlife” (Cerdeira et Al.). The problems that result from each are the following. Weeds may become cross polinized with the modified crops and develop a resistance to the pesticides themselves. The result of this could have disastorous envrionmental effects. With the mutation these superweeds could choke out not only genetically modified crops, but could also affect non genetically modified crops in the area as well. The effect of this would result in the need for stronger possibly more dangerous pesticides to kill off the new super weeds. Another possible adverse affect of genetically modified crops is the mutation of pests that eat the crops. Like the new superweeds, pests may evolve to not be affected by the genically modified crops gene manipulation that makes them naturally immune to pests. With this mutation, once again, an increase in strength or use of pesticides would be necessary to kill of the mutated pests. Unfortuneatly, geneetically modified crops may create more of the problems that they were desgined to prevent. Good alternatives to genetically modifying crops would be to put more money into developing safer more effective pedticides and herbacides. With modern technology chemical engineers may be able to invent pesticides and herbicides that have no impact on the environment at all while still efficiently doing their job.

The new era of bio-technology has raised new and important debate over the ethics of man manipulating the genes of natural plants. Genetically modified crops certainly fall into this debate. The idea of man redesigning plant and animal DNA has been subject to debate since it firs came about. The real ethical argument shouldn't be whether or not it is allright for scientists to modify crops and other food in a controlled environment, but the ethical implications of corporations owning the rights to the specifically modified crops or livestock. When a corporation successfully modifies a crop, they then have the right to the patent of the genetically modified crop in question. When a corporation controls a patent, they control how much, when, where, and who can grow their product. They also have the right to take these privlages away. The implications of privately owned mutations of food could be devastating to global food sources. If corporations eventually control the majority of the food sources, then they ultimately control who can eat. This could be devasting to the safety of humanity and the soverignty of nations that depend on agriculture for food sources. Even if genetically modified crops become commonplace, measures must be set to limit the amount of control that corporate entities have to ensure the safety of the global food supply.

Food is a necessity for human life. Genetically modified food is still really just beginning to become a realistic option as the dominant food source option. More likely then not, genetically modified food will become a more prevalant source of food. Researchers need to be sure that genetically modified crops will not have any long term health effects on people, especially if genetically modified crops step up from being a minority food source to a majority food sources. Research should also be continued to be sure that irreversable environmental effects won't become a problem. The ethical implications of genetically modified crops must be closely examined and measures must be taken to ensure that food will remain available for all people in the world and not controlled by a select few. Genetically modified foods must be examined closer before they take a place a reasonable source of food.





Works Cited:
Cerdeira, A.L., et al. "Review of potential environmental impacts of transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybean in Brazil [electronic resource]." Journal of environmental science and health. Part B: Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes 42, (June 2007): 539-549. Agricola. EBSCO. UAF Rasmuson and BioSciences Libraries, Fairbanks, AK. 26 Mar. 2009 .

Kuiper, Harry. "Biotechnology, the Environment, and Sustainability." Nutrition Reviews 61.6 (15 June 2003): s106. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. UAF Rasmuson and BioSciences Libraries, Fairbanks, AK. 26 Mar. 2009 .

Schmidt, Charles W. "Genetically Modified Foods Breeding Uncertainty." Environmental Health Perspectives 113.8 (Aug. 2005): A526-A533. Health Source - Consumer Edition. EBSCO. UAF Rasmuson and BioSciences Libraries, Fairbanks, AK. 26 Mar. 2009 .

Cook, Guy. Genetically Modified Language. New York: Routledge, 2005.