The GM club Essay Example for Free

The GM club bear witnessThe 21st century has become a world of wonders, a world of scientific and technological miracles. Moreover, a world where human kind strives to solve all of its ills without knowing enough about repercussions. If this dream is to be realized, we as an inter-dependant society, get down a moral and ethical duty to make fundamental decisions as to the limits of light and technology in our every day life. Technology is emerging as the ruling power in western societies in the 21st century, and therefore, human kind is finding it more and more difficult to stick up without constant aid from new hi-tech advances. Computers and the internet has become mens best friend. Children atomic number 18 evolution up with Nintendo and Xbox, and consequently without the wondrous know directge of playing tag, climbing a tree, playing in the dirt or with little insects. They invite no familiarity with a world without television and videogames, a natural world where ever ything is constitutional and healthy. As the futurist Alvin Toffler points out in an article in the New Scientist, welcome to the latest instalment of that (future) shock the GM revolution.Gene therapy. Spare-part tissues grown from engineered fetal cells. Organ-donor pigs and their vir physical exercises. All these are part of it, but they are the remote part that exists only in the labs and the imaginations of scientists. GM victuals is different, its already left the labs. 1 In this paper, we will examine and try to clarify different philosophies that are competing to control world food production. In particular, we will primarily focus on the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GM or GMOs) and Organic work. to each one philosophy has its adherents and its detractors are locked in a boisterous and intransigent battle. This has led to a clouding of issues, do it very difficult for people to develop an informed decision. We commit that the issue at stake is pivotal to hum anitys existence, since it transcends national and political boundaries. All humans share this planet and ingest its harvest of food, thus, an error in policy can lead to universal catastrophe.As Toffler further points out, suddenly, plant science is no womb-to-tomb a quiet back weewee for genial professors and their cuttings. It is the stuff of big business, patent rivalries and closely guarded technical tricks. If you believe biotechs gainsayers, this brave new plant science is also ushering in a dark age in which all genes will bear a no trespassing sign, and the companies that own them will move them from species to species uniform Lego bricks, to the detriment of whats left of the natural world and our respect for it.Many organisms researchers are manipulating are more composite plant than bacteria and have greater emotional resonance for humans, either because they are mammals or part of our food supply. 2 On the other hand, as Nathan Batalion points out a farmer may use to xic chemicals for many decades, and then let the land lie fallow for a year or two to convert back to organic farming. The chemicals tend to break down into natural substances within months or years. A few may persist for decades. But genetic pollution (from GMOs) can alter the life in the soil for ever 3 BackgroundGeneral Background For the past 12,000 years, human kind has interfered with temperament in different degrees to guarantee a steady stream of food. From the cultivation of wheat to the domestication of indefensible animals, humans have manipulated nature for their advantage and survival. Consequently, this has led to a more continuous and reliable showtime of food that allowed humanity to establish civilizations, pursue knowledge and create the world we know today. Unfortunately, for all the advancements we have accomplished a large portion of the worlds population lives in hunger.As a civilized society, it is our duty and responsibility to try to eradicate hunger and try to raise the standards of less fortunate nations. Farmers, eager to add their crop yields and number of livestock, have pick out different new methods and technologies with hopes of success. Overall, their efforts have been outstripped by the amplification in the worlds population and the failure of some of the technologies to live up to their promises. Over the years, the use of chemicals, pesticides and herbicides has grown to an unprecedented degree.This has led to problems not envisioned by society, such as, soil and water pollution due to overuse, resistance to herbicides and pesticides by organisms, mutagenicity and even resistant forms of bacteria. Today, there have emerged two competing solutions for the farmers woes, Genetically Modified Organisms and Organic farming. Both solutions have their supporters and their detractors. Simply put, Organic Farming is farming without the use of chemicals and farming with GMOs is using genetically change crops to increase yiel ds and lower the use of chemicals, herbicides and pesticides.Genetically Modified Organism Background The promise of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs) is increased yields from agriculture, more powerful control of pests and weeds, reduced use of agrochemicals and enhanced nutritionary value. The agro-biotechnology industry has announced a revolution it promises to increase world food production and reduce the requirements for water and other natural resources. Reduction of atmospheric emissions and chemical contamination of soils may be achieved.Another science this revolution promises is an abundant nutritionally improved diet for malnourished populations. Central to this revolution is genetically modified food (GMF)4. That is the promise of GMOs. Essentially, the process of genetically modifying a plant starts with a piece of DNA that has been marooned from an animal, another plant or a bacterium. This isolated piece of DNA can code for a protein, which has a specific function and could impart the ability of a plant to resist insects, grow at an accelerated rate, require less water and resist disease and chemicals.The isolated DNA, or gene, is then located into a plant cell. As a result, the plant growing from this modified cell, carries the inserted gene and is enhanced to let loose new traits however, the plants exhibit traits that are not possible under natural conditions. In the U. S, GMOs have bring their way into a large portion of processed foods. As of January 2002, 5. 5 million farmers worldwide mainly in the U. S, Argentina, Canada and China now grow GM crops covering more than 50 million hectares. And with the commodious countries like Indonesia about to join the GM club, next years leap could be bigger still.5 Meaning, two thirds of all U. S processed foods have GM ingredients and 70-80 million acres of land is growing GM crops. This represents approximately 25% of agricultural lands in the U. S. Furthermore, products such as soybeans, corn, tomatoes and rapeseed (canola), have been genetically modified and are currently in the processed food chain. The problem is not that these products are on the merchandise but, there are no labeling requirements, and today Genetically Modified Foods fill our supermarket shelves, our kitchens and restaurants. Sadly, few consumers are alert this has been going on.6 The use of GMOs and GMFs is by no means universally accepted. While the U. S has adopted a very aggressive GMO and GMF program, with voluntary labeling, other countries have adopted a more bourgeois approach. Virtually all of the European nations, many Latin American countries as well as countries in the Near East and Asia have partially banned, restricted or imposed a moratorium on the use of GMOs or GMFs. Many countries require labels indicating that the food has been Genetically Engineered and impose severe legal penalties for non-compliance. Organic Farming Background.