Genetic Engeneering of Food Essay -- Environment Science Debate Engine

Genetic Engeneering of Food Throughout the United States and the rest of the globe, genetically engineered food products are becoming increasingly used in agricultural and manufactured food goods. Because of the increase of genetically altered foods, an increasing population has become hesitant to accept the products and agriculture derived from genetic engineering. The large increase in genetically engineered foods has proved to have adverse health effects on humans. These health risks are becoming increasingly common as we continue to genetically alter foods. The main health concerns of genetic modification include virus spread, antibiotic resistance, and allergen effects. Genetic modification should stop and organic farming should be used instead for the future health of the planet. Provided evidence will support the claim that, genetically engineered food will have lasting effects on the population, the health in each of the provided categories will decline, and world hunger will actually increase with th e high amounts of genetically altered food products. Genetically modified foods are altered through inserting foreign genes or chromosomes to receive a desired trait or effect in the plant. According to Lappee and Bailey (1998) the most common form of genetic modification the chromosomes inside the nucleus which contains the blueprint information for building the plant or fruit. A genetic engineer will identify the chromosome which of the desired trait, which they wish to alter. Inserted into the DNA strand of the chromosome is a gene that the team wishes to modify. Along with the gene is a marker gene which scientists can use to locate the new gene. Together the team of genes is called an insertion package and... .... For the good of the nation and the world it is important for people to know, that they don?t have to eat what corporate business wants them to. Bibliography: Barnett, A. (2000, August 13). What?s Wrong with Our Food? Retrieved March 31, 2002 from web at: http://www.netlink.de/gen/Zeitung/2000/000813.html Cummins, J. Cauliflower Mosaic Virus Recombination , When and Where? Retrieved March 31, 2002 from web at: http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/mosaic-cn.htm Grogan, J. & Long C. (2000). The Problem with Genetic Engineering, Boston MA: Pearson Custom Publishing. Lappe, M. & Bailey, B. (1998). Against the Grain: Biotechnology and the Corporate Takeover of Your Food. Monroe, ME: Common Courage press. Wolfson, R. Synthetic Genetically-Engineered Bio-Tech Foods Retrieved March 31, 2002 from web at: http://eagle.westnet.gr/~aesclep/bioengl.htm