What are the benefits and concerns of genetic modification?
Few things in science evoke stronger feelings than the commercial release of genetically modified crops. Views seem to have become polarised between those who advocate the benefits of the technology in a world with a rapidly expanding population and others who argue that the dangers transgenes pose to the natural environment are too poorly quantified to allow commercialization. Both viewpoints oversimplify what is a complex situation influenced by political, social and economic factors. Sovereign states vary considerably in terms of the progress they have made towards the widespread release and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Impetus has been strongest in the USA, where public and political opinion appears to have been largely in favour of the technology, while elsewhere where public opinion has often been more ambivalent. GMOs have become so widely grown in the USA, for example, that nearly all foods containing soya are also likely to contain some proteins originating fr
I don’t think there is enough room on yahoo answers to go into this properly. OK, so there are several types of genetic modification. There is manipulation of plant genes for idle human satisfaction: e.g. in genetically modified tomatoes used in tomato puree, the gene which controls ripening has been taken out, turned around so it no longer works, and put back in again. This keeps the tomatoes nice and firm to make puree with. For ease of use: e.g. adding a gene so a plant can produce a toxin which will kill its major pest, so that less pesticides are required. To increase production: e.g. a way of speeding up plant breeding – crossing species of plant to give a higher yield on, say, drought resistant plants. To help the human race: e.g. several years ago bristol university were working on genetically modifying a type of cassava to be resistant to a potent plant virus in the country where cassava is a staple food. Before that point 3 million people had already died of starvation due to
