0
I'm not sure that this is well formed question.
In an attempt to answer it I propose to break it down with a number of different scenarios.
Scenario 1:
Develop a genetically modified plant to enable it to contain nutritionally useful products it would otherwise not contain.
eg: Corn or rice with a high level of iron.
Why?
Corn and Rice are both dietary staples of a large part of the less well developed countries, by modifying them to contain higher levels of iron (or other dietary supplements) you potentially increase the nutritional state of a large number of individual.
I doubt many would have a problem with this.
Scenario 2:
Develop a genetically modified plant to be resistant to a particular pest, or drought or other environmental factor.
Why? again like the above modification for the product to contain greater nutrition this would potential improve the yield of the crop for those countries / location that suffer the most from various environmental factors.
Again I doubt many scientists would have a problem here.
Scenario 3:
Develop a modified plant to be resistant to a specific type of herbicide, sumultaneously you make the plant 'infertile' (so you can't grow more from the seeds you get). Then you profit by selling your special seed, that is matched to your specific herbicide. Each year the farmer 'must' buy more seed from you.
Problem: the farmer is locked into using a specific supplier for seed and herbicide, the producer of these may suddenly increase the price of both (pricing the farmer out of business, or worse making them unable to continue to farm in a subsistance manner).
I imagine most people would have a problem with this idea.
Other issues.
Be very wary when you read about GM food causing illness in animals. I remember a study (can't find the link currently) that fed GM potatoes to Rats, and determined that the rats became extremely ill (Cancerous I seem to recal).
The problem here wasn't the study in of itself, it was the 'scare' it caused, and lack of insight into the potential cause.
Firstly the rats were fed only on the GM food, and nothing else (however you look at it it was unlikely to be a good diet!). Secondly rats don't normally 'eat' potatoes. There is probably a good evolutionary reason why.
So we discovered that rats fed on a diet of potatoes, and only potatoes became ill? it would be hard to determine if it was the potatoes that caused the illness or the genetically modified factor. The study did however prove that the level of the nutritional element (I think it was iron in this case) was at a much higher level than 'normal' in the rats, this could only be attributed to the modified potatoes that now contained extremely high level of iron in them.
Result: The study was in fact a huge demonstrable success that a GM food could deliver a nutritional supplement. However the result that was seen by the popular press was 'the majority of the individual rats became ill and died from the diet'. The popular press love an 'evil food' story, so here the headline was "GM potatoes make rats sick".
Personally I like potatoes (mashed, chipped, boiled, roasted, baked on the BBQ) but I think if I was asked to eat a diet of 'just potatoes' for even a week I may begin to feel ill (even though it wold probably be mostly psychological after 1 week !).
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Who discovered GMO's?
Watson and Crick did with the discovery of the strucure of the DNA molecule in 1953 but the first GMO had been made in the 70's in California, by Americans scientists. =)
Why are some GMO crops classified by the EPA as pesticides?
Some GMO crops are genetically engineered to produce a substance that kills insects when they is eaten by them. It is for that reason that some GMO crops are classified as pesticides by the EPA.
Who is involved in the controversy of genetically modified food?
A lot of people and groups are involved in the GMO controversy. Some of them are: scientists (both for and against). governments, government regulatory agencies, consumers (large numbers who do not want to eat GMO foods), groups who want GMO food labeling, organic growers, corporations (Monsanto, Dow, Syngenta, and others), and many others.
Who are the supporters of genetically modified foods?
The biotech companies that develop the GM varieties, the farmers who plant them (though some may not be as supportive as they once were), the food companies who use GMs in their products, scientists who claim the studies show GMs are safe and effective, and some governments including the U.S. government and their regulating agencies (USDA, FDA) support GMO foods.
What are the effects of GMO food?
The effects of GMO food is not yet known. Though some say there are no harmful effects, others question that and claim there is anecdotal evidence that GMO foods are harmful to health.
What are the recent issue in agriculture?
In US agriculture, some of the recent issues are:use of genetically-modified (GMO) cropsuse or abuse of pesticidesanimal rights organizations' opposition to animal agriculturegovernment price support of various commoditieswater qualitywater usage as opposed to environmental issues (in the western US)urban and suburban development of arable cropland
Do scientists know the long lasting effects of GMOs?
No one knows the long lasting effects of GMOs, though some say people have been eating them since 1996 and that is evidence that there are no long lasting negative effects of GMOs. Since long term studies on rats that showed serious effects of GMO consumption have been discredited, and GMO foods are not labeled, it is hard to determine what the long lasting effects of GMOs are. There is evidence, though it is not accepted as valid by some, that people who are put on a non GMO diet have improved health.
How does modern industrial development led to problems for humanity?
Modern industrial development has led to problems for humanity including development of modern rifles which favor war activities,and GMO foods which have health effects to man.
What are some of the opinion people have about genetically modified?
Some people believe GMO foods are equivalent to non-GMO foods and are safe to eat. Others question if either is true.
Do foods have gmo?
Some believe GMO foods are no different than natural foods. Others believe people should not eat GMO foods because they are not the same as natural foods and they are net yet proven not to be harmful.
What are some of the opinion people have about genetically modified food?
Some people believe GMO foods are equivalent to non-GMO foods and are safe to eat. Others question if either is true.
Why do some people not approve of eating GM food?
While there are some people who oppose the commercial use of GMO foods at this point in the development of genetic modification technology, most people simply want to know what foods contain GMOs. They want them labeled so they can choose whether to eat them. These people generally do not believe GMO foods have been proven to be safe, and anecdotal evidence shows that there may be issues that the science is not fully studying. It is not that they disapprove of people eating GMO foods. It is that they do not personally want to eat them.
