Genetic engineering means using technology to change the genetic material of an organism.Genetically modified foods aren't necessarily unsafe (in terms of on some the environment and some living organisms). There is alot of work that goes into the process of genetically modifying food such as:attention to detail careful application of genes as well as going through the correct procedures to create a safe GMO(genetically modified foods).
If persons are not educated about what is a GMO its processes, then people will think that genetically modified crops and animals are unsafe. Genetic engineering has helped millions around the world. For example, the production of Golden Rice. A lack of vitamin A,retinol in the diet causes health problems to hundreds of people,especially in developing countries in South East Asia.
Most of us get vitamin A from most meat products, especially liver. However we can make retinol from a precursor called beta carotene, an orange pigment found in plant foods. People who eat diets based on rice may get insufficient amounts of beta carotene or retinol. In attempt to economically improve dietary intake of carotene of beta carotene to people have a rice based diet a new form of rice was made, Golden Rice.
The idea was to insert genes into rice plants that would increase the amount of beta carotene made by the plants and that would be expressed in their seeds. Through improved versions children on these continents were able to get more than half of their vitamin A requirement. Advantages of Genetic Engineering:
References
Myda Ramesar, Mary Jones, Geoff Jones Biology Unit 1 for CAPE Examinations
http://www.biology-online.org/2/13_genetic_engineering.htm
If persons are not educated about what is a GMO its processes, then people will think that genetically modified crops and animals are unsafe. Genetic engineering has helped millions around the world. For example, the production of Golden Rice. A lack of vitamin A,retinol in the diet causes health problems to hundreds of people,especially in developing countries in South East Asia.
Most of us get vitamin A from most meat products, especially liver. However we can make retinol from a precursor called beta carotene, an orange pigment found in plant foods. People who eat diets based on rice may get insufficient amounts of beta carotene or retinol. In attempt to economically improve dietary intake of carotene of beta carotene to people have a rice based diet a new form of rice was made, Golden Rice.
The idea was to insert genes into rice plants that would increase the amount of beta carotene made by the plants and that would be expressed in their seeds. Through improved versions children on these continents were able to get more than half of their vitamin A requirement. Advantages of Genetic Engineering:
- Disease could be prevented by detecting people/plants/animals that are genetically prone to certain hereditary diseases, and preparing for the inevitable. Also, infectious diseases can be treated by implanting genes that code for antiviral proteins specific to each antigen.
- Animals and plants can be 'tailor made' to show desirable characteristics. Genes could also be manipulated in trees for example, to absorb more CO2 and reduce the threat of global warming.
- Genetic Engineering could increase genetic diversity, and produce more variant alleles which could also be crossed over and implanted into other species. It is possible to alter the genetics of wheat plants to grow insulin for example.
References
Myda Ramesar, Mary Jones, Geoff Jones Biology Unit 1 for CAPE Examinations
http://www.biology-online.org/2/13_genetic_engineering.htm