Jason Alcalde

8 - Hooke

2/23/15

Answer the ff.

1. Find a definition of genetically modified organism. How are
genetically modified organisms different from non-genetically
modified organisms?
GMOs (or genetically modified organisms) are living organisms whose genetic
material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic
engineering. This science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal,
bacterial and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional
crossbreeding method. GMOs are done when you get a gene from a particular
organism and put it into another organism to improve ones characteristics to
produce reliable and beneficiary products.
GMOs are different from Non-GMOS particularly in the structure and contents of
their genes. In GMOs we know that there is an alteration of genes that makes it
different from normal ones that makes it have a better adaptation or quality. While
in Non-GMOs, it is the original one, it is the genes where in it is not yet
manipulated through genetic engineering and does not contain any special
characteristic.
2. Is it possible to distinguish between plants altered by classical
genetics and those altered by modern techniques?
It is possible in a way that if you have lab you can check it. Because a GM crop will
eventually contain other genes inserted together with the genes of interest. That
makes it genetically modified in a modern way and not a conventionally-bred
crop. And classical genetics does make beneficiary products but not like the ones
which are altered by modern genetics, because we know that as time goes by
more ways are developed to enhance a way developed classically. So we can infer
that techniques developed in modern times are more effective than classical ones
because it is done with higher technology so the difference is big.
3. Name as many examples as you can of harm to citizens from unsafe
food.
Harm to citizens from unsafe food includes allergic reactions and poisoning
caused by the chemicals contained by GM foods, different side-effects like the
change of the color of eyes, growing extra body parts, etc and it can cause
illnesses and diseases that can lead to death.

4. How have genetic modifications of fruits and vegetables improved

crops with respect to nutritional composition, shelf life, eating
quality, yields and disease resistance?
Genetic modifications of fruits and vegetables have improved nutrient amount in
a way that it contains more vitamins that can help people fight disease and
maintain a healthy body. It also reduced spoilage that makes the quality of eating
more enjoyable and nutritious. It also helped resist chemical contamination and
even immunization against disease due to its special characteristics its yields
became more reliable and very beneficiary.
5. Can you describe a scenario in which public health and safety might
be threatened by foods crops modified by technology?
Genetically modified food crops may have a common weakness that natural crops
do not have. This means that a supply of food may be a refuge of any bacteria
type. And some modified crops may have a side effect that can threaten public
health and safety because of the combining of foreign genes, it can be
carcinogenic that may cause cancer. And some GM crops can cause allergic
reactions when intake by people because it may contain different chemicals
inserted by Scientists to produce special characteristics. And it may cause too
birth defects and can cause shorter life span.
6. Does biotechnology post any risks to the environment? If so what
are these risks?
Biotechnology can post risks to the environment, one of these are genetically
modified weeds. Genetically modified weeds have become resistant to herbicide
and glyphosate. Because of the overuse of the roundup ready trait in plants has
caused some weeds to become immune to herbicide and glyphosate. Farmers are
now going to start using older weed killers like 2, 4-D, and dicamba. Scientists are
also making plants that are resistant to the old weed killers.
7. Is there any reason to be concerned by the role of private
corporations in the development of agricultural biotechnology?
Should companies be allowed to patent organisms?
Yes, we should be concerned to private corporations because they are able to
control the number of crops produced through agricultural biotechnology if they
patent particular strains of GM crops. That makes them a hindrance to the
development of agricultural biotechnology and we dont know what
experimentation they are doing to plants and animals and in what way they can
be a risk to our health.
They should be allowed to patent organisms because, they spend time and money
to develop or discover something for the benefit of having an easier life of
humans.

8. Do you think there are good reasons for using legal means against
the development of biotechnology-modified foods? Why or why not?
I believe that there are good reasons for using legal means against the
development of biotechnology-modified foods. Because we know that these crops
can cause various side effects that can affect our health, like allergic reactions
and in worst cases, it can kill us. So it is not bad for us to be worried about these
and make a move by using legal means to demolish this kind of experimentation.