PROS AND CONS OF GMOs
ZDJĘCIE - it is a corn subjected to treatments of the genetic engineering.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) continue to spark passionate debate: Emotions run high regarding studies of the impacts of GMOs on health and the environment.
What is a Genetically Modified Organism or GMO?
The legal definition of a genetically modified organism in the European Union is "an organism, with the exception of human beings, in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination." It is illegal in the EU to deliberately release a GMO into the environment, and food items containing more than 1% GMOs must be labeled.
GMOs may not be natural, but not everything natural is good for us, and not everything unnatural is bad for us. Poisonous mushrooms are natural, but we shouldn't eat them. Washing our food before eating it is not natural, but is healthier for us.
Benefits of GMOs:
Better food quality and taste: Genetic modification can be used to make corn sweeter, peppers spicier, pears taste more like apples and fruit and vegetables keep longer. Studies done on tomatoes have shown that most people prefer the taste of the genetically enhanced tomato over those that have not been enhanced.
a) Increased pest and disease resistance – plants
b) Fewer animal health problems: Genetic modification can result in animals that are resistant to diseases and can better withstand typical factory farm conditions.
More benefits in the foods themselves: Some foods like Golden Rice have been modified to contain additional vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A. These are used to help people in countries where an adequate supply of a variety of foods is not available.
Vaccine possibilities: Studies are currently being done with bananas to produce newer and safer vaccines against viruses such as Hepatitis B.
More efficient production of food: Genetic modification can help farmers skip steps in the process, such as spraying their crops with pesticides
ZDJĘCIE - This is a humorous presentation of genetically modified lemon.
Drawbacks of GMOs:
Environmental risks: Introducing plants and animals that do not naturally occur into the ecosystem could have devastating effects on current species due to cross breeding and cross pollination. Herbicide resistant plants could spread their qualities to weeds, which would make them harder to kill.
Collateral damage: Making plants and animals that are resistant to bacteria can cause bacteria to become stronger and harder to kill.
Failure to yield: Despite claims that GMOs increase crop yields, studies have found this claim to be untrue; the genetically modified foods take just as long to grow as standard foods. This means that GMOs do not save time or money and do not lead to decreased food prices.
Allergies: Genetically modified foods have the potential to cause increased allergic reactions in people. Some people with specific sensitivities have already been reporting increased allergic reactions to GMOs.
Sick or dying animals: There have been isolated incidents of animals dying after eating genetically modified foods that are identical to foods being sold to humans.
Zdjęcie - in a photo we can see that genetically modified vegetables cause cancers.
PROS – 5
CONS – 5
5 = 5
In my statement proves that the number of pros and cons of the same. And what do you think…?
Curiosity:
Adding the gene taken from fish (flounder) to the genotype of strawberries can bring about the change of the colour of strawberries to the colour blue and additionally protect fruits from freezing at temperatures below zero.
Thank you for attention!