Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Genetic engineering. The words are frightening enough without their relentlessly malicious portrayal in popular science fiction, from Aldous Huxley’s novel “Brave New World” to the film “Gattaca.” Similar to the fears that these stories invoke, the use of genetic modification in agriculture grows, and its consumers have become increasingly wary. The manipulation of DNA is not a grim vision of a dangerous future, but rather, a key component of human progress.
Genetically modified (GM) foods are not a single, simple product, but are immensely complex. There are many ways to modify the genetics of agriculture, with many different objectives.
GM foods have been an integral part of human agriculture for thousands of years. Humans have selectively bred crops since the first farms were tilled. The modern genetic technology to introduce novel DNA is simply the next step.
Genetic engineering isn’t always about growing bigger crops. Many foods are engineered to provide vitamins, proteins or other nutrients that many impoverished people have little access to otherwise. The genetic modification of foods is so diverse and complex that few people should have the hubris to claim to be against it all together.
Yet, many claim that the introduction of GM food is dangerous to humans, and the consumption of the foreign proteins artificially introduced could lead to harmful or allergic reactions.
However, scientists work to ensure this is not the case; the foreign genes that are introduced are rigorously tested for safe human consumption. In fact, many “natural” unmodified crops may be even more dangerous.
Furthermore, scientists are researching ways to decrease the naturally harmful components of food by genetic modification, such as creating a strain of peanuts without the proteins that induce fatal anaphylactic shock.
Some critics of GM foods claim artificial plants harm the environment. Yet, many GM crops have much higher yields and can grow in harsher climates, thus requiring less farmland to support a population. This translates into less
deforestation, more efficient farming, and, often, less pesticides. A world supported entirely by natural plant species would almost certainly require mass deforestation.
Finally, GM foods have faced trying political setbacks. GM crops typically have patents, which makes it difficult for developing nations to utilize the technology and reap the benefits. However, this does not detract from the scientific safety and efficacy shown in this agricultural technology.
GM foods are still part of human technological progress towards better living, and generosity with such crucial advances should be shared globally. But this is a political, not a scientific, problem.
GM foods are the future of agriculture, and their potential for reducing hunger around the globe cannot be denied. Instead of rejecting the entirety of genetically modified foods, we should work to promote research and development of such new forms of agriculture, to ensure that human farming is safe for both the consumers and the environment.
— Folmsbee is a senior from Topeka in neurobiology.
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Comments
Folmsbee: Genetically modified food needs support
Did you not learn the last time you posted ignorant opinions founded in research done by the companies who patent seeds? Natural crops are not more dangerous. You need to realize that your precious scientists aren't always right. GMO crops have not been around thousands of years - breeding food to form stronger, larger crops is a form of forced natural selection. Inserting genes into our food and patenting them like one would patent any form of technology is completely unacceptable. It is not the same as breeding plants to perfection. Patenting food screws over farmers in every country.
From fertilizers to pesticide to chickens who are so fat they cannot support themselves, non-organic food is bad for not only the environment, but for humans as well. Of all the benefits of GMO food (yields - wait I think that is the only one), the cons by far outweigh them.
For such an "astute" scientist as yourself, one would think that you would want better for humanity than to ruin our environment, heirloom varieties, health, and our economy. More isn't better Sai. The world would be much better off without billions of starving asians and africans wouldn't it? Well I say it's much better if those starving people instead had quality food instead of GMO food. Instead of focusing on creating more food that damages our planet, let us focus on population control so we can all enjoy healthy eco-friendly organic food.
Folmsbee: Genetically modified food needs support
Took the words right out of my mouth, kujayhawk. Great article, Sai!
Folmsbee: Genetically modified food needs support
Wow, I've run across uneducated statements about GM but this takes the cake: had to speak up! Genetic engineering has NOT been around for years. Hybridization has, but GE is the manipulation of DNA with unnatural, foreign material. Mother Nature does not do this. Never has. Never will.
GE is not a 'novel' next step: it's a giant leap into an uncontrolled experiment. The testing is left to the Big Corporations, and all they bring to the table for approval is their summation; no research reports. Try to get them if you think they exist: you can't. They don't. Shareholders exist.
If natural crops were more dangerous you would not have been able to create this ridiculous useless article.
The rest of the article is not worth my breath: do your homework or quit wasting time.
Monsanto and company has never fed starving nations. Never will. No money in it. Why didn't they feed Haiti? US rice fed them.
Do your homework or go home.
Folmsbee: Genetically modified food needs support
"GE is not a 'novel' next step: it's a giant leap into an uncontrolled experiment. The testing is left to the Big Corporations, and all they bring to the table for approval is their summation; no research reports. Try to get them if you think they exist: you can't. They don't. Shareholders exist. "
Thank you.
I wonder how society would feel if pharmaceutical companies applied water soluable drugs into the water supply to monitor their affects.
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