What is a GMO?
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Genetically Modified Organism
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Also sometimes called transgenic organisms
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The human use of biotechnology to manipulate an
organism’s DNA
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Involves taking genes from one species and
putting it into an unrelated species
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The intention is to quickly produce a larger
quantity of better-tasting crops that grow in harsh conditions and feed a
growing population
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GMO’s “help” farmers
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Different types of GMO’s
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Herbicide tolerant – allows farmers to spray
herbicides over the tops of plants
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Example: Roundup Ready
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Insect resistant – in-plant protection from
insects, reduces the need for insecticides
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Also protects beneficial insects, like ladybugs
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Example: Bollgard
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Abiotic stress tolerant – Example: DroughtGuard,
which helps the plant when there isn’t much water available
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Disease resistant – could potentially prevent
things like Irish potato famine from happening
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Modified product quality – what’s mostly being
worked on right now are improved oils
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Also rumored is an “Arctic Apple” that won’t
brown as easily once it’s cut
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Why people think GMO’s are good
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Could present many health benefits
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Longer shelf life for produce
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Low-calorie beets and oils with lower saturated
fat are currently in the works
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Crops with higher nutritional content (for
example, higher fiber or crops containing additional vitamins and minerals)
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Safer to eat because of less pesticides,
fertilizers, and herbicides
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“Edible vaccines” are currently being developed,
which will be easier to ship and store
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Will save farmers money
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Less money spent on herbicides and pesticides
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Could prevent crops from dying when hit with
sudden frosts, drought, or diseases
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Will improve harvests
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Better for the environment
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Less harmful pesticides/herbicides in
groundwater, which in turn harms other plants and animals
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Less chemicals used overall
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Will better feed the world’s rapidly expanding population
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Nature has a way of improving itself over a long
span of time; this is just a much faster way of doing it
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Why people think GMO’s are bad
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Could present new health risks
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People with allergies might be inadvertently
consuming something with DNA from the food they are allergic to
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Bacteria found in our bodies could pick up
antibiotic resistance genes found in many genetically modified crops
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They could harm the environment
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Could hurt the wildlife and/or harmless insects
that live around fields
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Theory of “superweeds” that become immune to
weed killers and grow out of control, and also “superbugs” that become
resistant to pesticides
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Viruses could become resistant to the “edible
vaccines”
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It’s just unnatural
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Nature takes millions of years to improve itself
for a reason; why are we so impatient? It will perfect itself on its own, so we
shouldn’t try to do it ourselves
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“Playing God”
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Bad for vegetarians and vegans
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There could possibly be genes from an animal in
what was formerly innocent produce
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Could
impact peoples’ religions
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Something considered “kosher” might have pig
genes in it
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Might be more about profits than anything
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Over-promoted without concern for potential
health or environmental risks
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Mostly being used in high-volume crops, like
corn and soybeans
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Not well regulated
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The FDA is too lenient on what they allow, no
one really knows the difference between “okay” and “not okay”
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FDA says that genetically modified foods are “substantially
equivalent” to foods that are not modified
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FDA does not require consultation for new
genetically modified foods
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The bottom line, products containing GMO’s
should be labeled
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At least 30,000 different GMO’s exist on grocery
store shelves, mostly because so many processed products contain soy
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People should have the right to choose a side;
if they think GMO’s are good, then they can eat them. If they don’t want to
take the risk, they should be able to make that choice.
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People should have the right to know exactly
what they are eating
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If something genetically modified makes someone
sick, no one will be able to trace it back to what exactly caused it
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The U.S. is the largest producer of GMO’s
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30 other countries ban the use of genetically
modified crops because they are not considered to be proven safe
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A CBS news poll shows that 87% of the public
wants GMO’s labeled
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It also shows that 53% wouldn’t buy genetically modified
food
This is an interesting topic. I'll readily admit it's something I don't know a lot about. As a person that attempts to try and eat somewhat healthy, I tend to agree with your argument that there should be some sort of labeling. If anything, the unnatural aspect here lends itself to letting people at least have some idea.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you develop the reasons why people are against them with more specific examples. Otherwise, your argument seems sound. Depending on how long you want your letter to be, you may have to forego some of the arguments and stick to some of the most important.
10/10