What are the pros and contras of genetically modified food?!
Question: Pros:
The pros can be seen in every grocery store today. Even though modern produce hasn't been genetically modified on a genetic level, specific cross breeding over hundreds of years has drastically improved the output of modern crops. For example... compare a wild strawberry to a store-bought strawberry. The stuff we eat on a regular basis is freakish compared to their wild counterparts. By manipulating genetics of plants we can further push this process to make plants that output more food with less effort/resources.
Another example of a pro is the golden rice. Genetically engineered to have much higher levels of beta-carotene (Vitamin A). This was done as a humanitarian effort to cure Vitamin A deficiencies which affect 124 million people worldwide.
Cons:
An example of a con can be found in a species of soybeans that was genetically modified to be immune to herbicides. This was done so that the fields could be sprayed effectively killing all noxious plants and leaving just the crops. The issue occurred when the plants began to spread and the farmers had no way to control it.
Many people also believe that GMO foods could have unforseen effects on personal health and well being. With the publicity about growth hormones used on cows and their effects on children and the widespread mainstream trend to support local farmers and natural forms of production, GMO has become a bad word in mainstream culture.
What most people don't understand is that they eat foods every day off the shelf that have been genetically conditioned or artificially ripened, that is part of the reason why we have so much in such abundance.
What scientists don't realize is that, by genetically modifying certain species to have special attributes, they may have other unforseen effects. People should at least be notified by proper labeling on products if they are going to be used as guinea pigs to test the latest and greatest super-vegetable.
Answers: Pros:
The pros can be seen in every grocery store today. Even though modern produce hasn't been genetically modified on a genetic level, specific cross breeding over hundreds of years has drastically improved the output of modern crops. For example... compare a wild strawberry to a store-bought strawberry. The stuff we eat on a regular basis is freakish compared to their wild counterparts. By manipulating genetics of plants we can further push this process to make plants that output more food with less effort/resources.
Another example of a pro is the golden rice. Genetically engineered to have much higher levels of beta-carotene (Vitamin A). This was done as a humanitarian effort to cure Vitamin A deficiencies which affect 124 million people worldwide.
Cons:
An example of a con can be found in a species of soybeans that was genetically modified to be immune to herbicides. This was done so that the fields could be sprayed effectively killing all noxious plants and leaving just the crops. The issue occurred when the plants began to spread and the farmers had no way to control it.
Many people also believe that GMO foods could have unforseen effects on personal health and well being. With the publicity about growth hormones used on cows and their effects on children and the widespread mainstream trend to support local farmers and natural forms of production, GMO has become a bad word in mainstream culture.
What most people don't understand is that they eat foods every day off the shelf that have been genetically conditioned or artificially ripened, that is part of the reason why we have so much in such abundance.
What scientists don't realize is that, by genetically modifying certain species to have special attributes, they may have other unforseen effects. People should at least be notified by proper labeling on products if they are going to be used as guinea pigs to test the latest and greatest super-vegetable.
Look at us we are the pros and cons
ones really bad for you and cheap, ones expensive and good for you............
no pro's
Pros: Despite their potential risks, GMOs offer great benefits to developing countries, according to the U.N. Environment Program. Certain GMOs reduce the need for precious resources, such as water, fertilizer, or pesticides. This technology offer greater yields than conventional crops.
Cons: There are many concerns over the safety of these foods as well as the seeds from these plants. Studies have demonstrated that foreign genes in crop plants don't always stay put. Pollen from such plants might carry inserted genes from modified soybeans, for instance, into a field of wild soybean plants or an unmodified crop. The unintentionally broadcast genes could come to dominate in future generations of the wild or supposedly normal crop plants and thus reduce genetic diversity in the species.
Lol, I wasn't sure myself just a moment ago so I did a quick search on the subject. I'll post some of the helpful links I found. I hope they help...
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Hu...
http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/2005/07...
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-pro...