The implications of the use of genetically modified organisms on

humans and the environment

A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process
where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced
into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from
bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Because this involves the
transfer of genes, GMOs are also known as transgenic organisms.

Environment
When genetically modified plants are planted the new genes may jump into
other species of plants. For example: genes for herbicide resistance may transfer
into the weeds.
An engineered gene may cause a genetic engineered crop to become invasive or
toxic to wild life.
The release of a new genetically engineered species would also have the
possibility of causing an imbalance in the ecology of a region.

Agriculture
One aim of genetic engineering is to increase the growth rate and yields of
animals like cattle, pigs, poultry and sheep. There are concerns about whether
the animals are biologically designed to withstand the additional stress of
increased production of milk, meat, eggs and other products.
Medical
Gmos are used to produce medicines that are difficult to produce in other ways.
This is a list of some of the many products for treatment and medical research:
Insulin production
Human growth hormone
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Factor VIII
Vaccines
Many chemicals for research
Moral and Ethical issues
There are many objections that people make to the development, use and
release of GMOs. Some of these are:
Antibiotic resistance genes used to identify GMOs could escape and be
transferred into other organisms making some antibiotics redundant
Herbicides resistance genes could be transferred in pollen to weed species and
lead to the development of superweeds that resistant to herbicides
Foreign genes can pollute non-GM and organic crops, which require certification
that they provide GM-free food
Humans
Gene technology may give doctors the ability to create designer babies. They
may be able to obtain a newly fertilised human egg, determines its genotype and
ask the parents which genes they would like to modify. They might start initially
by replacing disease causing, but they may then be led into replacing other
genes.
Most doctors find this morally and ethically unacceptable. They may consider
replacing genes that cause disease, but not replacing genes just to improve a
childs image in the eyes of the parents.