Can you easily write the following?

GMO: OMG!

When Dolly, the clone sheep, best known by scientists as “Lamb 6LL3,” was introduced to the media in 1996, the whole world was amazed by the new achievement of science. The ability to modify, create genes and transfer them to unrelated species in an accelerated and specific way was shocking. What most of the world didn’t know and still doesn’t know is that the sheep science introduced was part of an achievement of the new food industry. The use of in vitro fertilizations, embryo transplantation, cell fusion, tissue culture and genetic engineering combination was about to change the entire way we eat and cultivate our food. Some of the media introduced Dolly, the twin sheep, as the arrival of “Brave New World” where most of the people who were twins and born just like Dolly was. Some countries saw this news as possible threats to their security. The U.S refuses any government money to develop any human clones by science. Other countries prohibit the clone of any animals, plants or humans. Twenty- two years later, scientists are genetically modifying plants and fish. Even more impressive, most of the people in the world are consuming this product approved by the FDA and USDA, and it almost impossible to avoid it is since in the most consumed foods. With the introduction of GMO, several food companies have been taking advantage of the rapid way our food grows; however, not enough research has been done about the adverse effects this can bring to our body and environment.

Genetically modified foods are the direct result of the development of genetically modified organisms. Advances in genetic engineering allow scientists to speed up the process of breeding non compatible organisms. This means that even if a plant or animal is not compatible by nature, such as and elephant and ant, they can transfer genes from one to another and still be bred in a lab to get a genetically modify organism for human consumption or for scientific research; “products of engineered organisms are used to protect plants from frost and insects, manipulate lactation and growth processes in livestock, and improving animal health” (Husic Diane White pg 2). Some people see this as a great achievement in science because companies no longer have to spray pesticides, contaminate the air and the people who work or live around the area. The plant itself can produce its own pesticide to kill any pest that can damage or kill it. In the case of fish, the breeding of two separate fish can create a fish that can grow twice its normal size in a short period of time.

After several attempts from the food industry, such as Monsanto for plants and Aqua Bounty for fish, the FDA and USDA have approved the use of this process for human consumption. In 1990 the first trial corn crop was develop as well as the cloning of animals, vaccines and hormones. By 1992, the FDA approved the use of corn for human consumption. Aqua Bounty applied for permission in 2010 to market GMO salmon and in 2015 the FDA granted permission to sell their salmon saying that it is safe for human consumption. In July 28 of 2016 former president of the United States, Barack Obama, signed a “labeling law.” This law requires companies who genetically modify their product to put a label stating that it is a GMO product. Due to the complexity of it, this law has not yet been put in effect. Some states, such as Vermont in the U. S, have made and pass their own labeling law. With this law the government is trying to inform the consumers that the food they are about to consume is a GMO; however, if the animal they consume is non GMO probably it was fed with a GMO food which is not required to be put on the label.

The hopes of this GMO process is to be able to eradicate hunger in the world and consume vaccines by eating a fruit or a plant, and also to eradicate the need to spray pesticides in the air. For example, Aqua Bounty has created their salmon so they can grow big in a short period of time by taking a growth hormone from a bigger fish and inserting it in to the salmon. Monsanto has created a corn that can eradicate the use of pesticides by having the corn create its own poison for insects and worms. With this the salmon and the corn can be cultivated in extreme conditions. The world is hoping that this product, created by man, can help eradicate hunger in the world by providing a cheaper and fast product. Can you imagine being able to grown corn in the desert of Africa?, or to grow big meaty fish that can feed two times more the people than the original one?, or maybe be able to get your vitamin A by eating a bowl of golden rice? All this can be possible by modifying our foods.

But what about the risks of a GMO product? Why are many people, including Green Peace, completely against this procedure that promises a better life for all the people? Not much research has been done about the negative effects that this might bring to your body, animals, plants and our eco system. When Monsanto made a test on rats for 3 months, the results show no difference, however when a separate test was done with rats and fed them for 2 years with GMO foods, the rats developed breasts cancer and holes in their intestines. When a GMO plant grows it can contaminate an organic plant next to it. “The corn, called Star Link, had been detected in several corn products in the United States. But today’s report was the first indication that it had spread overseas” (Stephanie Strom pg 1). A GMO seed cannot be planted because of the bad quality of their product. These GMO seeds are designed to be planted only one time and if anyone wants to plant the seed, they have to purchase the seeds from (in this case) Monsanto. What seems to be Monsanto’s plan is to own the seeds so anybody who wants to plant anything has to purchase them from them. The organic plants can be contaminated from a GMO plant and completely eradicate the natural one. The food industry is taking advantage of this great invention of science by mass producing corn, soy, chicken, fish, papaya, bananas etc. “ Most scientists and regulators agree that the use of genetically modify organisms in food production may pose some risks. The potential risks usually fall into two basic categories: the effect on humans and animal health and the impact on the environment where genetic organisms are grow”(Boukerrou pg 5). It will not be possible bees, butterflies and other insects to feed or pollinate our crops or flowers any more due to the GMO plants producing their own pesticides. This will also eradicate the original seeds and only companies such as Monsanto will own the seeds. That means the eradication of all butterflies, grasshoppers and bees in the world, just to mention three.

The GMO foods companies and the government says that they hope to eradicate hunger in the world. Also the use of fruit to vaccinate and cure people is a great achievement in history. However, other studies have shown that consuming a lot of GMO foods can produce cancer and bowel disease in humans, as well as the eradication of our plants and other insects that balance out our planet’s environment. The GMO food will take over our food industries and the way we produce, grow and process foods. If we keep up this type of genetic modification technique, we might lose our plants original seeds and mutate our animals and even ourselves. Even though it seems a lot more simple for us to grow our food in extreme climate conditions or even eradicate hunger in the planet, what they don’t show us is that whoever is behind this GMO is making lots of money by mass producing and growing crops that decades ago were impossible to grow in such climate conditions. The seeds of these generic modify plants will take over the planet and eradicate the ones that our planet produced naturally for the survival of all species not just humans. No one in the planet will be able to plant anything unless you have a seed. No one will have seeds, only the companies who are modifying them right now will have them, and the assumption is that these companies will be generous enough to give the poor the food they need to eradicate hunger. Now is the time to decide if we want this to happen or to stop before it is too late. We need to find a solution to this problem without sacrificing or eradicating animals and plants. Let’s speak for the organism that can’t tell us what they think. This is our home; this is their home.

Works Cited

Boukerrou, Lakhdar, BSc, MS, PhD. "Genetically Engineered Food Production." Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2013. EBSCOhost, 0- search.ebscohost.com.library.cabrillo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89250471&site=e ds-live.

Husic , Diane White, et al. "Genetically Modified Organisms and Environmentalism." Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2013. EBSCOhost, 0- search.ebscohost.com.library.cabrillo.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89474201&site= eds-live.

“Leone and Duff: Ct Senate Passes Gmo Labeling Legislation First-in-the-Nation Bill on Genetically Modified Foods Will Inform Consumers of What They Are Eating and Feeding Their Families.” States News Service, 21 May 2013, www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1- 330764405.html?refid=easy_hf.

Strom, Stephanie. “TECHNOLOGY; Bioengineered Corn Reportedly Detected in Japan.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Oct. 2000, www.nytimes.com/2000/10/26/business/technology- bioengineered-corn-reportedly-detected-in-japan.htm