Jordan Johnson

Mrs. Blattman

Biology 1010/1015

14 January 2019

Issue Paper: GMO

Genetic modification from the hands of the human race has been around as long as

humans. It first started when humans would breed wolves to get those that were more easily

trained, quicker at learning and so on. They have also been doing the same thing with plants to

make plants that produce sweeter and bigger fruits or vegetables. In 1973 the first major leap in

genetic modification took place when scientists learned how to take DNA from one organism

and put it into another, otherwise known as genetic engineering. This opened up the door to

many possibilities as well as many doubts and controversies about whether or not it was the right

or correct thing to do. Many people felt that it was not safe or environmentally correct to be

changing plants and other organisms.

In a study done by Edward Royzman he mentions that maybe people have an underlying

fear or disgust towards genetically modified food, not because it was actually genetically

modified but because it was different from the original fruit or vegetable. The first genetically

modified food to be approved by the FDA for selling in stores was the flavr-savr Tomato.

Praised for its long shelf life and health benefits made it popular. Now today around 85 percent

of corn, a very popular food, are genetically modified. This is due to the fact that they are better

and easier to grow and last longer after harvest due to the fact that they do have more capabilities

because of the new genes put in them.

 Although it may seem against popular opinion I have no problem with genetically

modified food. The genetic modification of foods makes them more tastier, bigger, and lasts

longer. I personally do not see a downside to this. Another benefit that comes from the use of

genetically modified food is that some do not require pesticides which helps a lot with the

surrounding environment. I do believe that pesticides were harming to the environment but were

necessary for the farmers to be able to grow a reasonable crop so they could feed the world and

keep a roof over their heads. The debate about pesticides is a completely different debate but I do

think that genetically modified foods help with that debate.

Even though I do believe in genetically modified foods I do think that there has to be a

watch program or something that scientists and farmers have to go through to be able to get

foods approved, such as the FDA. I think that this has to be in place so scientist and farmers do

not do more harm to the environment then good. At the moment if we could implement

genetically modified crops to starvation stricken countries where foods are hard to grow it could

help exponentially. This is because the genetically modified crops can be a lot easier to grow in

places that experience lots of drought.

In conclusion, I do believe that genetically modified crops should not be something to

worry about but instead something to welcome. Although this is not popular belief due to the fact

that it is something different and not 100% natural so people think that it is harmful. I believe

that we should try to get genetically modified crops to farmers in 3rd world countries so they

have a chance to fight back the starvation rates.

Sources
 Wohlers, Anton E. “Labeling of Genetically Modified Food.” Politics & the Life Sciences, vol. 32,

no. 1, Spring 2013, pp. 73–84. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2990/32pass:[_]1_73.

Wohlers, Anton E. “Regulating Genetically Modified Food.” Politics & the Life Sciences, vol. 29,

no. 2, Sept. 2010, pp. 17–39. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2990/29pass:[_]2_17.

Royzman, Edward, et al. “What Lies beneath? Fear vs. Disgust as Affective Predictors of

Absolutist Opposition to Genetically Modified Food and Other New Technologies.” Judgment & Decision

Making, vol. 12, no. 5, Sept. 2017, pp. 466–480. EBSCOhost,

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