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Genetically Modified Organisms

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Title: Genetically Modified Organisms


1
Genetically Modified Organisms
  • By David Forsayeth

2
Thesis
  • Genetically Modified Organisms are a solution to
    the food and health problems facing the world and
    therefore the use of them should be supported by
    all nations.

3
What are Genetically Modified Organisms?
  • They are when the genetic structure of an animal
    or plant is modified in order to (hopefully)
    improve it.
  • They mix the DNA of different species with
    different positive attributes in order to create
    an organism that contains all of those positive
    attributes and none of the negative ones.

4
GMOs In Our Lives
  • The first large scale planting of GMOs was in
    1996
  • In Canada, almost all of the food we eat has been
    affected by GMO.
  • Estimated that in the U.S 60-70 of food on
    shelves has GM components, this would be about
    equal for Canada
  • One third of corn and half of soybeans grown in
    1999 were GMOs
  • In 2000 it was estimated that 65 million acres of
    land were to be planted with GMOs
  • Today it is estimated at 125 million acres, most
    of which is made up of corn, soybeans, canola,
    and cotton.
  • 10-30 of milk in North America comes from cows
    GM with a bovine growth hormone to boost milk
    production.

5
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6
Why Some Are Against Them
  • Moral Issues
  • Playing God
  • Could lead to human cloning
  • Environmental Issues
  • Full ecological impact unknown
  • Competition would hurt natural species
  • Pests/Viruses could build up resistances
  • Health Issues
  • Allergens could be added unknowingly
  • Nutritional value could change

7
Why They Are Good
  • Population growth and decrease of arable land
  • Malnutrition and starvation gripping the
    developing world
  • UN estimates 36 million people die every year
    from starvation
  • Biotechnology can
  • Increase productivity
  • Nutritionally enhance food
  • Drought, pest, and weed resistant
  • Grown in areas they could not usually be grown
  • Could even grow industrial compounds

8
Examples Of GMOs Have/Are Going To Help
  • Hawaiian Papayas
  • Virus was going to destroy the industry
  • Virus resistant papayas were made, saving all the
    farmers and their industry.
  • Sweet Potatoes in Africa
  • Could double the yield
  • Bt Crops
  • Decreased pesticide use by up to 75, no adverse
    effects have been noticed
  • Bananas
  • Almost half of the fruit produced is lost on the
    way to the market
  • 40 more bananas if they ripened slower

9
Golden Rice
  • 100 million children lack Vitamin A
  • Leading cause of blindness at 350,000 a year
  • Also kills 1 million children a year
  • Rice is a staple of 3 billion peoples diet
  • Created by Ingo Potrykus in 1999
  • Mixes the common species of rice with the
    beta-carotene genes from the daffodil
  • First GMO to help not only farmers, but also the
    consumer

Golden Rice under a microscope
10
Conclusion
  • The benefits outweigh the risks, millions of
    lives could be saved every year
  • All the problems are speculative, whereas the
    benefits are real
  • Biotechnology has the potential to feed the
    world all that is required is cooperation
    between the rich and the poor to make sure
    everyone benefits. It is fine to argue about the
    ethics and safety in developed countries, where
    we have enough food, but in developed countries
    they dont have the time. Bill Gates

11
  • Sources Used
  • Anderson, Luke. Genetic Engineering, Food, and
    our Environment. Chelsea Green White River
    Junction, 2000.
  • Chapman, James. Farmyard Zombies-The grosteque
    worl of genetically modified animals. The Sydney
    Sunday Telegraph. 8 September 2002 Feature.
    Electric Library. Crescent Library. 27 November
    2002. lthttp//www.elibrary.ca/s/pluscagt.
  • Charman, Karen. Genetically Engineered Food
    Promises and Perils. Mother Earth News. 1
    October 2002 74-83. Proquest Direct. Crescent
    Library. 27 October 2002 lthttp\\www.umi.com/proqu
    estgt.
  • Gates, Bill. Will Frankenfood Feed The World?
    Time. 19 June 2000 78. Electric Library.
    Crescent Library. 27 October 2002
    lthttp//www.elibrary.ca/s/pluscagt.
  • Lal, Rup and Sukayana. Genetic Engineering of
    Plants for Crop Improvement. Boca Raton CRC
    Press, 1993.
  • Lambrecht, Bill. Dinner at the New Gene Café. New
    York St. Martins Press, 2001.
  • Montagne, Renee. FDA Turns to the National
    Academy of Sciences about concerns surrounding
    genetically engineered animals. NPR Radio. 21
    August 2002N/A. Electirc Library. Crescent
    Library. 27 November 2002. lthttp//www.elibrary.ca
    /s/pluscagt.
  • Persley, Gabrielle J. Beyond Mendels
    GardenBiotechnology in the Service of World
    Agriculture. Bath Bookcraft Ltd., 1991
  • Nash, J. Madeleine. Grains Of Hope Genetically
    engineered crops could revolutionize farming.
    Time. 31 July 2000 38. Electric Library.
    Crescent Library. 27 October 2002
    lthttp//www.elibrary.ca/s/pluscagt.
  • GM Foods. http//www.princeton.edu/fecelik/GMFo
    ods/index.html
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