By
Thomas Confrey
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Happening since the Neolithic Revolution
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Three Common Methods
◦ Selective Breeding
◦ Combing/Hybridizing Species
◦ Exploiting Natural Mutations
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Modern genetic modification involves tranfer
of DNA
Cisgenesis – genes transferred from similar
species
Trangensis- genes transferred from
dissimilar species
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Food allergies are a problem for many
Americans. (e.g. Soy, peanuts, seafood, etc)
New genetically modified species means
infinitely more proteins
Usually, allergies are only discovered after an
individual has a violent reaction.
Predicting allergies is nearly impossible
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GM Plants designed to keep bugs/animals
away
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GM Plants take up more chemicals including
heavy metals
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Chemical companies often design new
pesticides and herbicides, as well as,
genetically modified plants, which are
“immune” to them.
New pesticides or herbicides can seep into
surface and ground water
•Dangerous
Unnatural
•An
Necessary
Option
•Risks
outweigh
any
◦Stems
from
◦World
hunger
is US
out
•Opinion
of the
benefits
moral/ethical
dilemma
of
control
government
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Currently Genetically Modified foods do not
need special labels
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Genetically Modified Foods are not going
away
Could be used to eliminate artificial dyes,
preservatives and steroids
Still need more research and long-term
testing/risk assessment
Fertilizer is a major problem
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