GMO's

Chris Wyant CIS 105 12 PM2/12/12

1) Remember when you were a tour guide for an Alien? The Alien is back and wants to understand what a GMO is. Explain this information to the Alien.GMO stands for a genetically modified organism. This is when scientists take the DNA, which is an organism’s structural code, and puts it into another organism. GMOs are also known as transgenic organisms. The transferring process itself is called genetic modification (GM) or genetic engineering.

2) State the controversy associated with GMO’s.
One controversy with GMO’s is over whether or not the GMO’s are harmful to eat. The long term effects on the human body from eating GMO’s have not been studied yet. Whether or not genetically engineering organisms is ethical is another controversy. In a way we are tampering with nature and trying to control it. Another controversy is whether or not it should be required to label what is GM and what is not. Some people want to know. One last controversy that GMOs may have is the effect on society. Rich nations will take advantage of GM and will put nations that produce all natural products out of business.

3) Are people’s reactions to GMO different in various regions of the world? Explain with references.
Yes, people’s reactions to GMOs are different in various regions around the world. Looking at Europe can be a prime example in showing the differences in views. Europe Parliament let the states decide whether or not they would allow or ban GM. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/06/europe-gm-crop-bans) This is because Europe has been dealing with GM for some time now. On the other hand, Sweden, Czech Republic, and Spain have just begun experimenting with GM. (http://www.euronews.net/2010/07/13/gmos-divide-europe/).

4) What’s your reaction to this topic? Explain with references.
My reaction to this topic is that it should be up to the people to decide whether or not GM should be allowed. Where it is accepted, labeling should be required. Although GM has been linked to disease and toxins, there have been no studies done to show the effects on the human body. Also, no long term studies have been done yet to show possible harms. (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics) GM could be great for third-world countries that have little food because it could supply them and keep them from starving at a low cost. These articles all seemed to have a biased opinion against GMOs therefore doing more research, I found that there as many pros as there are cons to GMOs. (http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php). An example from this reading I researched was that they can help increase nutrients and help keep medicine last longer and be stronger.

5) Can GMO’s be changed? Should they be changed? Explain with references.
GMO’s can be changed because they are GM by humans. They can be changed to be more pesticide resistant or grow more crops that are stronger and better. (http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml) I think that they should be changed because we as humans are the dominant species on Earth and need to do what we have to in order to survive. We should use the powers and abilities we have to further better ourselves.

6) While reading "Institute for Responsible Technology. GMO Basics (Also explore at least two of the other tabs on this page:http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics" What were the two tabs that you explored? How did the information presented affect what you thought about GMO's?
The two tabs I explored were about the health risks that GM can cause (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/), and long term environmental effects that GMO’s may have (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/dangers-to-the-environment). Both of these tabs expressed negative side effects and showed the harm the GMO’s can cause. They were all cons of this technological advance and neither showed pros. Reading these tabs made me lean towards prohibiting GMOs. The negative viewpoints of both of these tabs make the reader dislike GMOs and not see the positive side of them.

7) Typing out the exact quote from any of the readings (and referencing it) list one powerful statement that you read.
Put the statement in context and explain why this statement was powerful enough to remember. (What made you react to this information?)
“Genetically modified foods have been linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals” is a very powerful statement because it forces a certain view point of GMOs on the reader. (http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics) This is very powerful because it can easily persuade people to instantly dislike GMOs without further reading. I was turned off when I read this and did not like the sound of GMOs. This statement makes GMOs sound like they are purely a bad thing.

References:

"Europe Paves Way for GM Crop Bans Environment Guardian.co.uk." Latest US and World News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian Guardiannews.com The Guardian. 6 July 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/06/europe-gm-crop-bans.

"Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms." Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Human Genome Project Information, 5 Nov. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml.

"GMOs Divide Europe Euronews, Europa." GMOs Divide Europe. Euronews. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://www.euronews.net/2010/07/13/gmos-divide-europe/.

"Institute for Responsible Technology - GMO Basics." GMO Basics. Institute For Responsible Technology. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics.

Layton, Lyndsey. "FDA Rules Won't Require Salmon Labels." Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis. 19 Sept. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/18/AR2010091803808.html.

Whitman, Deborah B. "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?" CSA. ProQuest, Apr. 2000. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php.