Genetically Modified Foods Essay

The term GM (genetically modified) food has gained controversy in the last few years, but in the first place we have to understand what GM food is and how it works, the term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is used when we refer to crop plants using different molecular biology techniques or methods to change their properties, such as to enhance their resistance to herbicides, improve nutritional content, and other properties. This seems great, but why there are people who disapprove the development and consumption of GM foods? Modifying plant genetics can have many benefits, because of the use of precise and accurate molecular techniques, the main difference between traditional breeding techniques which are not so accurate and need more time to develop, are the molecular methods that are used to modify plants. Genetic engineering can change plants genes in a short time, for example taking out a plant gene that gives low temperature resistance to the plant and insert it into another plant. The uses and varieties we can achieve are immense and can end with great results. â€Å"The world population has topped 7. 5 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways† (B. Whitman, 2000). The most common uses of genetic engineering in plants are herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought & salinity resistance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, etc. It could help even to stop malnutrition and in some years to reduce world food shortage, because the possibilities are wide. Why do people not approve of the use and consumption of these products? â€Å"Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight†. (B. Whitman, 2000). The principal reasons people disapprove GM foods are given in three main oppositions are separated into three categories, and they should not be concealed , first of all the environmental hazards as harming other organisms, reducing pesticides or herbicides effects and wrong targeting in genetic transfer (wrong species); also the human health stability and the risks genetically modifications and engineering can cause and finally the economic implications of the development and studies GM foods require. Currently, science is fastly evolving and the entire world is part of it and has to decide about changes. This is a subject we cannot be shelved. The problems GM foods may cause needs to be solved and improve constantly, because we are currently looking for solutions to the future and this may be one of them. So the challenges need to be solved and overpassed, with the required caution of avoiding damage to humans and environments, but it is clear we cannot ignore this enormous and potential technology â€Å"Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world’s hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. † (SC-S. SI) Sources ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES. (1995, August). Genetically Modified Foods . Retrieved Noviembre 2013, from Safety Issues: http://pubs. acs. org/doi/pdfplus/10. 1021/bk-1995-0605. fw001 B. Whitman, D. (2000, April). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved November 2013, from http://www. csa. com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview. php SC-S. SI. (n. d. ). GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD †¦ Is It Safe to Eat? Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www. sc-s. si/blog/wp-content/gm-foods-zp. pdf.