Learn How to Write an Essay About Genetic Modification with These Free Samples

INTRODUCTION

Modern science and technology has made fascinating discoveries and incredible innovations. There have been amazing advances in all areas and disciplines from engineering and robotics to science and medicine. It is the latter that has made some of the greatest advances and innovations. Human beings learn more and more everyday about how to treat illnesses and prevent diseases. They have also learned so much about the how the human body works; right down to the genes that make all living things what they are. It is possible today for scientists to understand how genes affect traits and that sometimes ...

Introduction

Until recently, genetic foods have become popular for their ability to address many production and quality issues faced by natural/organic farming methods. Genetically modified crops are those whose genetic makeup has been improved to enhance the level of nutrients, resistance to diseases, increase yields, adaptability to climatic factors, and reduce the time of production (Ronald & Adamchak, 2008). It is different from the conventional breeding because genetic modification allows introduction of genes from any organism (animal and plants) in altering crops whereas breeding allows transfer of genes across related species only. On the other hand, organic farming is a natural ...

Food is a basic commodity needed to sustain life and as such, it must be safe to eat. Despite the innumerable controversies that abound regarding the ingredients and additives in our food and sage advice from many professional sources and health gurus arguing to the contrary, this paper will support the thesis that, for most people, our food supply is safe. While accepting that prepared foods may contain additives and preservatives, these are necessary to allow manufacturers to bring food safely into our homes. Preservatives and additives are necessary to ensure that our food supply is safe, but ultimately ...

Genetically modified plants have always been a debatable topic surrounded by many controversies. Different research workers have put forward different hypotheses regarding them. Some stand for them, while many are against. The genetically modified crops might have proved to be a boon for many, but at the same time they have brought about much worse effects to the environment. The genetically modified crops are known to harm the natural flora and bring about adverse effects on agriculture too. The changes that are brought about at the genetic level of the plants bring in some changes in their natural character ...

In generic sense of the term, a "genetically modified organism" is a living organism whose genome has been altered artificially. This understanding includes all the possible ways of modifying the genetic information, from crosses method for genetic engineering tools. From a legislative point of view, a large number of countries and organizations use a more restrictive definition in reference to that specified in the Cartagena Protocol, which means "living modified organism" "any organization living with a novel combination of genetic material. " However, this definition is not universally recognized. Some countries, including the United States, do not make this use ...

We see these days restaurants like Chipotle and grocery stores claiming to serve non-genetically modified foods. Are we eating artificial food? Is that good for our bodies? Is that good for the food that is being modified? These questions raise awareness for people who are oblivious of what GMOs are and how they are affecting our daily lives. GMOs may be more common in our diets than we know. GMO stands for Genetically modified organism and is a term that stems from biotechnology. It is the alteration of the genetic code of an organism to either enhance its properties, ...

Zika virus is name after the Zika Forest of Uganda, where it was first originated in 1947 during the course of a rigorous search for yellow fever virus under a collaborative project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and British Government . The virus was derived from both a rhesus monkey and also from a group of Aedes africanus mosquitoes. The spread of Zika virus in the US was first corroborated in February, 2014, on Easter Island. In the following year, nearly 16 patients from the states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Nortei n Brazil were diagnosed as positive for ...

Introduction

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are arguably beneficial socioeconomically. However, there are rising concerns over the harm GMOs pose to the humans and their environment. The process of genetic modification entails altering the genetic composition of organisms to award them properties that are more desirable. According to Rifkin (17), the world is in transition toward a biotech age as illustrated by the advancement of GMOs. In the current society, the adoption of genetically engineered crops, such as soybeans, cotton, and corn, is widespread in the United States following two decades of concerns over consumer reception, and environmental and economic impact ( ...

Biotechnology has emerged as a major field few decades back but the art of science behind biotechnology primarily emerged with the discovery of natural process of fermentation by microorganisms. The microscopic world of microbes is diverse and huge as they are of multiple types classified into genus and species based on their morphological, biochemical and genetic abilities. They are helpful as well as harmful to the extremes for humans in many ways. Despite continuous efforts by biologists, their identity has been ambiguous and still a lot is waiting to be explored. Only 0.5% of the microbial world is known ...

Part one

Biodiversity is essential in the sustainability of the environment. In fact, lack thereof compromises the nature’s ability to adapt to environmental changes, therefore, enhancing its vulnerability. The development of science and technology paved the way for the incorporation of genetic engineering to living organisms. Precisely, since its introduction in 1996, many nations have embraced the conveniences offered by the genetic modification of crops to enhance their resistance and overall sustainability (Rifkin 15). This method is influential as it enables scientists to combat the development of a crop disease by altering the genetic composition of an organism. However, this ...

Introduction

The cloning is one of the contemporary controversial topics. The development in this area has been made through the history and there are various positive and also negative effects connected with it. Public opinion is not crystallized on the cloning topic where some are in favor and others against. The paper will provide information that cloning can have both negative and positive impacts, and that the knowledge in the public about the issue is insufficient which results in negative attitudes towards it. The thesis of the paper is that despite its therapeutic uses, cloning for the purpose of reproduction ...

Crops are genetically modified for certain desired outcomes such as high yield, pest resistance, drought tolerance, herbicide resistance, for a better nutritional quality, etc. The genes that impart the desired characteristics do not naturally occur in the crop, and are not expressed by natural recombination (World Health Organization [WHO]). They are engineered in the laboratory, and may be obtained from unrelated species too. Genetically modified (GM) crops are thus subjected to much speculation despite the fact that they have several benefits. 1. Pros of GM Crops Bioengineered crops with pest tolerance, reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, and crops engineered ...

In 1946, it was discovered that deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) could be transferred from one species to another species, which gave rise to the idea of creating genetically modified organisms (GMO). The first breakthrough in genetic engineering of plants came about 40 years after the above-mentioned discovery in the form of antibiotic resistant tobacco (Bawa & Anilakumar, 2013). Some of the resistance-conferring genes transferred into the plants have toxin producing capabilities, which have made GM crops a prime target for many social and ethical debates (Grover et al., 2014).

Steps in GM crop production

Eukaryotic organisms are made up of DNA, which consists of the same ...

Gene Editing Techniques

1. Gene Editing – General Background Gene editing entails inserting, deleting and replace the DNA in a genome of an organism utilizing engineered nucleases. Sections of the natural gene are replaced and completed using a synthetic DNA chain. Also, the natural repair process gets rid of the mismatches and gaps in the DNA. On the other hand, gene disruption is a technique by which the DNA fragment is utilized to replace a genome sequence with a chosen marker gene like the kanavanine resistance. DNA –binding proteins are proteins that consist of DNA-binding domains and hence have affinity for single and ...

Introduction

The debate on the safety of Genetically Modified (GM) foods has raged on for close to two decades now. On one hand of the controversy are people who argue that GM foods are safe and suitable in ensuring that the increasing world population gets adequate food in the face of deteriorating climate and unfavorable production factors. On the other hand, there are a significant number of people who allege that GM foods have negative long-term effect on human beings. Those opposed to GMOs have cited failure by researchers to prove safety and attributed the increment in chronic diseases to the ...

Genetically altered foods are foods that are obtained or derived from genetically modified organisms. These genetically modified organisms are organisms in which their genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a manner which does not occur in the natural realm. The genetic modification usually takes place by the introduction of genes from a dissimilar organism. Presently, the genetically altered foods that are available stem mainly from plants. However, with advanced research on DNA, in the future foods that are derived from genetically modified microorganisms or animals are expected to be launched in the market.

Genetically altered foods have become popular and ...

Introduction

Liver is an important organ in the digestive system. The selected infection is hepatitis C. This viral infection affects the liver and then results in the liver enlargement. This form of hepatitis is one of the major challenges worldwide since its discovery and this could be attributed to the absence of a vaccine against the viral infection. Another important contributory factor is that of the prolong period of inactivity of the virus within the host before clinical manifestation. These all contribute to the level of destruction of the liver caused by the virus.

Etiology

The main aetiology is by the hepatitis ...

A gene is a DNA code that contains some accurate information that determines a particular characteristic in a given crop. Genetic modification of crop plants refers to the process by which a DNA from a different plant or animal is introduced to another plant. The new gene introduced leads to a permanent change in the genetic makeup of the cell to which the new DNA is introduced (Freedman, 2009). According to Chrispeels, Sadava and Chris peels (2003), there are several steps through which genetic modification of crops is done. The gene is first isolated from the plant or an animal containing it. This process ...

Introduction

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are plants and animals in which the genetic material has been artificially altered through technological means. Genetic modification is now so widespread in agriculture that most Americans consume GMO-derived food every day without even realizing it (Chrispeels, 2014). Genetically modified meats, fruits, and vegetables are made by extracting and splicing segments of DNA from different organisms together.

How GMOS are Created

The creation of GMOs requires three main components: the gene to be transferred, the organism that the gene will be transferred into, and the vector of transmission that will deliver the new gene to the host, or ...

Genetic engineering is a boon to the food sector. Plants and animals are genetically modified (GM) to increase the yield, make them disease or pest tolerant and ensure nutritious food is available to all. There may be a chance for the introduced genes to pass through the food to the consumer but any harm it can cause can only be judged based on the food’s toxic or allergic properties. Unless direct evidence linking negative health impact to consumption of GM food is available, GM foods need not be prohibited. Companies have the moral duty to inform consumers about any food ...

‘Name’

‘Instructor’s Name’ ‘Subject’ During the later part of the twentieth century, scientists realized the power of genes and found at that by altering the genes of an organism, its biological capabilities can be enhanced. This technology, commonly known as genetic engineering, has since then been hailed as one of the greatest breakthroughs in medical history. Like any new technology, genetic engineering comes with its own sets of pros and cons. However, this technology holds the power to shape human destiny and eradicate many genetic based diseases, and can profit mankind immensely, provided the medical community and ...

Coevolution refers to the process through which two or more diverse species jointly or reciprocally affects each other’s evolution as well as development. It can also be defined as the change in the genetic composition of species in a reaction to the genetic modification in another species. The idea of coevolution is mainly considered as the reciprocal evolutionary change or modification of the interacting species. For instance, species C evolves, which results species D to evolve, which effects species C to evolve, then causes species D to evolve and the process repeats itself in that sequence. Many commentators usually ...

Genetic modification, as the name suggests, is a biotechnological process by which the genetic material in an organism such as plants is altered in a manner that does not take place in the nature or via nature-influenced recombination. Such organisms which are called as the Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs find immense practical applications in the modern times. They are used extensively for carrying out medical and biological scientific work, are used to manufacture new pharmaceutical medications and importantly, are used in agriculture to produce good quality crops. The reason why genetic modification has gained prominence in agriculture is because it ...

Abstract

Food is a necessity because it is essential to human beings’ survival. For this reason, food production is a crucial function in modern life because processes and initiatives determine the quantity and quality of food produced and distributed to consumers. Food production, however, is not an easy process. In some cases, food consumed by people not only cause illnesses or various diseases but also lead to death. As a result, producers around the world adopted various measures to ascertain the quality of food and the health and safety of consumers. Solving food safety is a variable process primarily because issues that threaten ...

In 1997, the public have been shocked about the announcement of the successful mammal cloning. Dolly, the sheep, is the first to be cloned by Ian Wilmut and his co-workers by the process of transferring nuclear genome (Brock 1). There are issues that arise from the public about the morality and ethics of the research method and objective. They are afraid of what should the next thing that could happen after this technological advancement. On the other side, the scientific world have been fascinated and rejoiced about the announcement of Wilmut. There are many scientists that are excited of ...

__ November 2014 (date)

Safety of food supply is very important for any country in the world. Every government considers it to be the one of the most important tasks, as safety of food supply influences the health and well-being of the nation. There are many authorities dealing with it in the US, however, the country still faces significant problems with the food supply safety. Nowadays, the US has an important task to protect its people from the threats of the food supply. The task is so difficult that the government might be approaching crisis in this respect. The ...

Introduction

With the progress of technology comes the progress of man’s over-all way of living. There are new ways of doing things and solving problems. Technology has opened new doors for mankind in all aspects of everyday living. It has created new ways of connecting with people, of documenting personal experiences, and even of creating food. One of the most controversial ways in which modern technology has reinvented the process of food production is through genetically modified crops. The process of modifying the genetic composition of plants and animals has become a contemporary solution to a myriad of food related problems ...

PLPA 200

Dear editor, The growing of citrus fruits is pertinent for obtaining one of the most luscious fruits in the world. Citrus, which originated from south East Asia, has edible juicy fruit and fragrant flowers. In the United States, citrus is produced in California, Texas, Arizona and Florida. Florida is the biggest producer of citrus fruits in America accounting up to 70% of the total U.S production (Halbert, Susan & Manjunath, 2004). Citrus greening disease reduces yields. Scientists recommend a genetically modified citrus fruit as an option to overcome the disease. The debate on growing of genetically modified citrus plant is ...

Introduction 3

History of Aquaculture 3 Aquaculture and biotechnology 4 Public response to Aqua-biotechnology 4 Ethical Implications of aqua-biotechnology 5 Sustainability of the environment 6 Preserving the existing species 7 Conclusion 8

References 9

Introduction Plausibly, one of the biggest problems facing the 21st century humanity is food insecurity. This has been occasioned by a rather unpredicted population increase across the world which is mounting too much pressure on the natural resources for food. Aquatic food has been one of the greatest sources of food for humankind. According to statistical predictions, the demand for products is set ...

(School/University)

Introduction

The emergence of genetically engineered food has become widespread in contemporary times, particularly because of the fact that the human population is constantly growing to the point where the natural production of food proved inadequate. The need to feed the human population with enough food has since stood as the justification of numerous caucuses supporting the production of genetically engineered food. At the same time, genetically modified food has become the center of dispute by groups opposing it for reasons such as its allegedly unhealthy effects and unethical ways of producing it, among many others. This study aims ...

Introduction

Genetically modified organisms also termed as GMOs have their genes altered by genetic engineering techniques. Over the past 10 years, many organisms have been genetically modified/altered for numerous purposes. Some of the micro-organisms that have been altered are yeast, bacteria, plants, fish, insects and mammals. GMOs form the base of genetically modified food and crops. GMOs have been utilized in scientific research for the betterment of human life. GMOs are known for their potential benefit to mankind in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, healthcare and scientific research. (Phillips T. 2008) GMOs are organisms whose genes are modified or ...

Summary

Introduction The importance of bees in agriculture cannot be understated. Their vital role in pollination is one of the reasons why they are considered crucial in crop farming. The bees that are responsible for most of the works of pollination in USA are non-natives to North America. The commercialization of bee keeping has relied on the propagation of bee populations through the sale of queen bees. Each queen mother yields about 1000 queen daughters making the rate of proliferation of the bees very high. However, the sizes of the bee populations have declined significantly due to the effect ...

Over the past 10, 000 years, human race has developed under impetuous of applied genetics. Humankind is gaining increasing understanding in heredity variation among living things, the science of genetics. This raises various issues in terms of science and technology that spring from genetics, and potential impacts advancing from such inventions. These are the most progressing areas of the knowledge of humankind in today’s world. There has been genetic modification of plants to make them resilient, profitable and nutritious. This is achieved through genetic engineering, where organisms are manipulated to produce desired trait like drought tolerance or higher ...

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are defined as organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been transformed by use genetic engineering production methods. The organisms whose genetic material has been altered can be either plants or animals. It is from the Genetically Modified Organisms that genetically modified (GM) foods are made from through genetic modification of crops. Today, genetic modification has gained lot of development in almost every food production. Genetically modified foods whether as raw crops or manufactured products are perceived to increase food security in underdeveloped countries. However, the question that is eminent is whether genetically modified foods are a ...

Biotechnology has had a lot success in the world over, but with an equal measure of opposition that has continued to derail its full blown application in the food production. The application of biotechnology has found its way in the genetic modification to attain high productivity by organisms as well as resistance to diseases and pests that would have otherwise derailed its potential harvest from the farm. Genetic modification is called genetic engineering where a gene from one plant is transplanted from one crop/organism to another which would otherwise have not occurred naturally. This result in a genetically modified organism (GMO) and ...

Genetically engineered foods are produced through genetic modification of crops. Under this technological advancement, some of the foods that the world has acquired include Flavr Savr Tomato from California in 1994. Currently, genetic modification has received massive expansion in almost every food production. The gene products that are developed can then be fed to animals and the product thus affects the dairy products and the meat (Harris, 2004). Scientists and economists have a positive motive when they campaign and advocate for genetically engineered foods. To begin with, the global population is on the increase. There is a massive third world ...

Genetically Engineered Foods

Introduction (section I) Generally, genetically engineered foods are produced through genetic modification of crops. Under this technological advancement, some of the foods that the world has acquired include Flavr Savr Tomato from California in 1994. Currently, genetic modification has received massive expansion in almost every food production. The gene products that are developed can then be fed to animals and the product thus affects the dairy products and the meat. Scientists and economists have a positive motive when they campaign and advocate for genetically engineered foods. To begin with, the global population is on the increase. There is a ...

Few issues today raise as much heated emotion as the subject of eugenics and bioengineering. Hardly a day goes by when we do not see Congressional hearings on the ethics of stem cell research or debate in the media over some proposal to expand to boundaries of our artificial reproductive technologies. Hollywood and popular culture constantly bombard us with scenarios related to genetic engineering. Aldous Huxley’s controversial book Brave New World introduced the possibility of selective breeding of human beings as far back as 1932 (Huxley, 1932). More recently in 1970, the book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler portrayed ...

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Introduction Proper nutrition is essential for protecting and maintaining the health of every person. Food consumption is a primary way to gain nutrients; with that, proper nutrition lies on proper practice of food consumption. Therefore, it is important to note the kind of food taken for consumption if one is to practice the ways of proper nutrition. A careful examination of the kinds of food taken for consumption is essential for taking in the right nutrients. In contemporary times, food production has imposed a significant effect on the nutritional factor of ...

Introduction

Science contributes a lot in different pillars constituting the modern generation life form. Biotechnology is one form of science application in modern times. The process had been there since the early ages when man realized he could plant and breed his own animals to cater for food. As time goes on, new techniques and innovative ideas in this field keep on flourishing in the modern society. This form of innovation keeps on illuminating new ideas into the society on how we could explore different options to acquire the same ends. For example, let us look at plants, they make more ...

Introduction

The researcher will base the arguments on the works of three authors, Farrell, Tony with “The “Frankenfoods” Phenomenon” which was published in Vegetarian Times, Saunders, Doug with “ 'Frankenfoods' have moved on. When will opponents?” published in Biotechnology, and Shelton, Deborah with “Frankenfoods: Do you know what your meals are made of?” published in Essence. The researcher will dwell on the validity of genetically modified foods (GMO).

Synthesis

Biotechnology has had a lot success in the world over, but with an equal measure of opposition that has continued to derail its full blown application in the food production. The application of biotechnology ...

- What are GM foods? Genetically modified foods are derived from genetic engineering of various organisms. Unlike mutagenesis which results in non-specific alterations of the DNA, genetic engineering results in precise changes to the DNA component in an organism. The sale of GM foods commenced in 1994, and the first GM food to be sold was a tomato that was genetically engineered to ripen at a slower rate (International Food Council 125). Genetically modified foods are mainly derived from transgenic plants. These plants are derived from artificially inserting genes into them which alters their DNA composition. The inserted gene, ...

Moral and ethical implications

Genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism in which a genetic material is altered by a process called genetic engineering. It is done on micro-organisms including bacteria, yeast, fish, mammals, plants and fish. This GMO in the modern world is a source of genetically modified foods. They are widely used in research and in the production of food. Simply put, modification in the organism means inserting of genes from a different species in a process called horizontal gene transfer or deleting some genes from the organism. The process will lead to changing the organism to have different characteristic when growth from the normal ...

Globally, there sit eh concern about food security. This has been propagated by the current changes in climate and the environmental degradation which has been propagated by the global warming issues. The rainfall patterns have changed and the production patterns in different parts of the world have been negatively affected. As such, there has been the need to come up with ways of curbing the food insecurity and ensuring that the people are food secure. Scientists, agriculturalists and basically everyone else has taken a step towards ensuring that there is food security in the world. Various interventions have been suggested, ...

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF APPENDICES LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Literature review 2.1 Definition of GM products and foods. 2.2 Historical development of GM Foods. 2.2.1 Bioengineering and agriculture. 2.2.2 Biopharming. 2.3 GM food regulation and legislation

2.3.1 Production regulations

2.3.2 Import regulations

2.3.3 Labeling requirements 2.3.3.1 Article 8 Regulation (EC) 258/97. 2.3.3.2 Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003: Traceability and labeling. 2.3.3.2.1 “May contain GMO” labels. 2.3.3.2.2 “Does not contain GMO” labels 2.4 Risk assessment of GM ...

1. Introduction

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2010), nearly one billion people suffered from hunger in 2010, representing nearly 16% of the population of developing countries. At the same time, the world population is growing and global warming threatens the production of crops. Profound changes are needed in the way that food production and food consumption are perceived, or the world may face mass starvation. Genetically modified (GM) technology has been found capable of feeding the world but there are concerns regarding its safety (Moseley 2002, Carpenter 2010). Consumer acceptance of GM foods in the ...

1. Introduction

1.1 Perception of GM foods in the UK According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2010), nearly one billion people suffered from hunger in 2010, representing nearly 16% of the population of developing countries. At the same time, the world population is growing and global warming threatens the production of crops. Profound changes are needed in the way that food production and food consumption are perceived, or the world may face mass starvation. Genetically modified (GM) technology has been found capable of feeding the world but there are concerns regarding its safety (Moseley 2002, ...

Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs)

GMFs are foods whose DNA has been manipulated by scientists to change the essential genetic constitution of plants and animals (Mather, 2012). This modification involves inserting genetic material from one species into another one so as to give it desired characteristics like pest resistance and resistance to herbicides. The use of GMFs is highly controversial; while they are accepted in countries like the United States, they cannot be sold in Australia and the European Union without labeling, and are banned in Egypt, Japan, and Ireland (Mather, 2012). Proponents of GM foods cite several reasons to advance their cause. ...

Introduction

Genetically modified foods are grown yet there is little information given about it. Scientists and the general public are arguing if the genetically modified food is safe for consumption or not. There is anxiety in the public domain over this matter because there is little scientific research done on it. Furthermore, there is no efficient technology to measure its toxicity. Thus, genetically modified foods are products of plants, animals or microorganisms whose genetic code is altered. Alteration of genetic makeup is done by the introduction of a foreign Deoxyribonucleic acid into the genes of the living organism. The method used ...

Genetically Modified Food: Good or Bad

Introduction

Recent technological advancements have led to many changes not only to people’s lifestyles but also to commodities. Of major concern in the field of agriculture is the development of Genetically Modified (GM) products/organisms. Biotechnologists remove a desired gene from an organism and transfer it to a different organism. This involves the extraction of a section of DNA from an organism and splicing it into the pre-existing DNA of the recipient organism (Rich, 2004, p. 891). Historians argue that the first commercial production of GM products occurred in the late 1990s in the United States. Research has shown that genetically modified ...

Is GM food one of your serious environmental concerns? Why or why not?

Genetically modified (GM) food is one of the most hot topics of our time, which has separated the world into GM friendly countries and GM opponents. As both sides have quite important arguments on their sides, it is not possible to find a common decision, which would satisfy everyone. Therefore, only careful consideration of all the pros and cons and a clear definition of the priorities can give an opportunity to find the most favorable solution for the particular country.

Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between genetic modification and breeding. For centuries farmers were trying to select the ...

Genetic food modification is the laboratory process of artificial alteration of the genes in the DNA of a food crop or organism majorly used for human consumption, using the novel science and biological techniques based on the molecular and structural composition of food crops or organisms (Freedman 4). Genes carry genetic information that is key determinants of the trait that an organism will have; traits like color, disease tolerance, disease susceptibility, among other traits. Through recombinant DNA technology, the gene makeup of an organism and characteristics can be altered or be injected in another organism. With the knowledge that modification ...