Topic > GMOs: History, Effects, and Controversies

From corn and soybeans to farm animals, genetically modified organisms have recently increased substantially in the human diet and are glorified by the public for their many possible benefits to society . For about two decades, these chemically synthesized organisms have appeared more frequently on markets, promising longer shelf life, larger size, and riper colors than naturally grown ones. While these promises seem tempting, researchers have raised several questions regarding the processing and sale of genetically modified goods. GMOs present a large area of ​​uncertainty regarding negative consequences that could jeopardize human health and threaten the physical and economic environment. With what researchers have gained from experiments and observation of these processed foods, genetically modified organisms have the potential to be harmful to humanity. GMOs, once lauded as a scientific discovery with myriad potential benefits, are now a topic of debate with potentially life-threatening consequences and should be restricted in all markets. This essay on GMOs discusses the history and effects of genetically modified organisms on the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First introduced to consumer markets in 1994, genetically modified organisms are any crop, animal, or microorganism that has been genetically modified in a laboratory, primarily to produce favorable characteristics and larger quantities. GMOs include a wide variety of products consumed daily. Typically, these organisms are modified to produce a superior product for consumers. Modern technology allows scientists to tamper with any desired trait of an organism's genetic makeup, whether it's making a produce appear fresher, more resistant to pesticides, or even better suited to growing in environments outside its natural habitat. While these benefits seem promising, many consumers raise concerns about this ability to adapt to natural living. Many believe that it is morally unacceptable to interfere with the genetic identity of an organism. As technology continues to improve at a rapid pace, demands for bigger and better genetically modified organisms could become more outrageous, leaving a large margin for error and essentially threatening species with an overload of synthetic agents. Furthermore, critics of GMOs even go so far as to suggest that researchers could use this technology to manipulate the genetic identity of humans to create a “greater” society in the future. A growing concern among GMO critics is the use of new pesticides to preserve modified crops, which are typically treated with large quantities of chemicals to repel weeds and other pests that threaten crops. However, these chemicals are now proving ineffective in preventing weed control, as crops have become more resistant. As a result, farmers have become overly dependent on chemical treatments and are turning to newer, more potent herbicides. Two specific types of these herbicides that have recently been developed to treat crops are glyphosate, an ingredient in Roundup, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a component used in the Vietnam War as a bioweapon. These two chemicals evoked drastic changesin the environment, leading to the extinction of some species that naturally preyed on weeds, such as the monarch butterfly and other pollinators. Additionally, these herbicides contaminate the soil, strip away enriching minerals, and rid the land of beneficial bacteria that protect future crops from foreign predators. In addition to the dangerous environmental effects caused by GMO processing, these chemicals pose threatening concerns to humans. Health. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified both glyphosate and glyphosate 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid as potential human carcinogens. After extensive research, the data revealed a trend between increased herbicide use and malignancies, including lymphoma in humans. Furthermore, there is now visual evidence of the side effects caused by GMOs when monitoring laboratory animals. For example, studies recorded by the Journal of Environmental and Analytical Toxicology looked at the offspring of pigs fed a GMO-based diet treated with high levels of glyphosate. The offspring had severe birth defects, including deformed bones and missing limbs. These new cases found in animals contrast with the original conception of genetically modified organisms as exclusively beneficial. Studies show that the technology behind this science has expanded to the point where the condition of the planet is at stake. Researchers should pay attention to these warning signs and monitor GMO processing with caution. It is only a matter of time before these harmful side effects begin to appear frequently in future generations, due to today's populations' increasing dependence on GMOs. In addition to the potential carcinogens identified in chemicals used in the treatment of genetically modified organisms, many other GMO-related trends pose threats to human health. A growing concern is the increased spike in food allergies observed following the introduction of these unnaturally processed products. The drastic increase in allergies can be attributed to the fact that genetic transfers have been carried out to exchange genetic material from one type of food to another. Some foods may have completely different genes that potentially incorporate external genetic material from foods to which a consumer may be allergic. For example, in a study conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, a group of people with severe nut allergies suffered severe reactions after consuming soybeans infused with the genetic material of a Brazil nut. With unlimited possibilities for genetic manipulation in almost all types of foods, GMOs could not only increase the number of people suffering from food allergies, but could potentially develop a host of new allergens. Human interference in the natural process of growth and development of a food has ruined the cleanliness of an average diet and introduced a new set of consequences, quickly causing restrictions on the consumption of those who suffer from food allergies. Genetically modified organisms could also have harmful effects on global health. economies. Modern multinationals have seized the power to exclusively produce certain GMO products covered by protective patents. A company's ability to control the distribution of one type of food, such as corn, not only threatens food security in the event of a mistake, but also swallows up the profits of other, smaller producers, particularly local farmers. With complete control over GMO seeds, local farmers have limited ability to grow their own 2019.