Genetic Engineering: Risky Business

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Genetically Modified Food

Pros:

• Genetically modified food allows farmers to produce food more rapidly.
• By modifying foods to be able to grow efficiently, more produce is generated. In a world with poverty stricken countries, genetically modified foods can have a large impact on the production of food. 
• Scientists can manipulate foods to contain beneficial nutrients. This will benefit our health.
• Scientists can also genetically modify harmful nutrients to benefit humans.
• Lowers pesticide use. With lower pesticide use, farming will have less of an impact on the environment
• Crops can grow more effectively.
• Modified food can also stimulate the economies of agricultural reliant countries. Many developing countries rely almost entirely on the agricultural industry. Genetically modifying plants will increase crop yields and produce more harvest.
• Science can also genetically modify animals to benefit humans. For example, manipulating genes of cows can cause them to produce pharmaceutical compounds, medicines and antibodies in their milk.
• Not only can medicines be incorporated into cow milk, but they can also control cows to produce human milk.
• By creating transgenic pigs, science can also grow hearts in pigs that are compatible with humans.
• Foods can deliver vaccines. I.e. A banana could produce hepatitis b vaccine.

Cons:

• Some studies prove that consumption of genetically modified potatoes had negative intestinal effects.
• There are also many health risks.
• Allergic reactions to genetically modified foods can easily occur.
• New diseases can also form from the modified foods.
• Foreign virus’ can easily be introduced into the human race.
• Genetically engineered plants can increase antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
• It is also said that transgenic plants have harmful effects on the ecosystem.

Opinion

In my opinion, since there are obvious benefits to genetically modifying food, that it should be allowed and endorsed. Although there are clearly negative repercussions to doing this, with scientific technology rapidly increasing, the risks can be reduced and eventually removed. With approximately 21% of people living in poverty, and 30,000 people dying of hunger in a day, increased production, combined with an effective distribution program can help lower this catastrophic statistic. Genetically modifying cows milk to contain medicines and beneficial nutrients is advantageous for the entire human race, as essential medicines can be easily distributed. For these reasons, along with the other benefits, I believe that genetically modified food should be endorsed, as it will help the entire human race.