People have been selectively breeding plants and animals for many years. Selective breeding works over generations to enhance or eliminate specific traits in an organism. Today, through genetic engineering, scientists can isolate and combine genes to create a genetically modified organism that would never exist in nature. Crops, such as corn and soy, are sometimes modified to avoid damage from weeds, insects, or viruses.
Here's an example. A bacterium called Bacillus thurlingensis, found in soil, creates a type of protein that kills insect larvae. Splicing the genes that encode this protein from that bacterium into corn DNA creates a new strain of corn. This genetically modified corn is protected against the corn borer, a pest that causes billions of dollars of damage to crops each year. This new strain of corn reduces the need to spray corn crops with pesticides.
Genetic modification is a beneficial tool.
The population of the world is expected to grow by roughly two billion people in the next 20 years, but the amount of farming land might actually decrease because of development and other factors. Genetic modification allows people to grow food more productively by using helpful gene traits that can make crops and livestock more resistant to pests and diseases.
Genetic modification can also help to reduce certain health issues. For example, golden rice is a type of rice that has added genes that make it rich in beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A. Golden rice can help to reduce vitamin A deficiencies in populations that rely predominantly on rice as their staple food.
Genetic modification is a dangerous practice.
Selective breeding does not create plants or animals that would be impossible in nature. Conversely, genetic modification creates unnatural creatures. Furthermore, it is impossible to predict the effects these new life forms could have on the environment. Inserting a bacterial gene into a plant could have unknown repercussions. Will the inserted gene be harmful to people? Will insects that are not pests also be harmed? In addition, once genetically modified organisms are out in the world, they could be difficult to contain. For example, the pollen from genetically modified plants could pollinate other plants to create new, unknown hybrids, which might have further unexpected effects on the environment.
Defining the Issue In your own words, describe why genetically modified organisms are controversial.
Analyzing the Viewpoints List three arguments that support the use of genetic modification. List three arguments made by people who think that genetic modification is a dangerous idea.
Forming Your Opinion Traditionally, farmers store and sow the seeds of crops from previous years. However, many genetically modified crops produce sterile seeds. Farmers who grow these genetically modified crops must buy new seeds each year from seed companies. Are there advantages to this type of arrangement? Are there disadvantages? Explain your answer.