Monday, May 18, 2009

Genetic engineering


Genetic engineering is a hot topic in the scientific community. The benefits are drastic. Think of genetically engineered food that provides a full day allotment of vitamins, proteins, and nutrients. Malnutrition could be minimized even in underdeveloped nations. Crops would be able to be grown in the winter and under various conditions.

We should be trying to speed up the research right? Not quite. In 1989 thirty-seven people died from a genetically engineered food supplement called tryptonphan. Genetic engineering to soybeans have caused allergic reactions in some people. The FDA apparently claims, as most people believe, that the genetically engineered food does not harm people. I feel that although many genetically engineered foods are probably safe, they should all be monitored carefully.

Death caused by a genetically altered food source is something mostly preventable. Lets not fall to the mistake of letting science run amuck in our food. Most of the genetically engineered food is safe. Some milk, corn, potatoes, squash, and cotton are genetically modified. Safety is something proven, not assumed.

Why is the scientific community questioning the safety of genetic alterations in food, while the FDA does not regulate them rigorously? No idea? Me either.

How does it feel to be a human hamster? Not bad when the experiments work out. Corn has been altered to reduce the needs of chemicals. The corn actually produces its own pesticides though, so the situation just saves money for the agrarian businesses that use it.

Even something as small as a label required to tell if a food has been genetically altered, or if it is made from genetically altered food would be nice. There are times when caution may save lives, and prevent unwanted side effects. Caution should be practiced more with genetically engineered food sources.

http://istpp.org/genetic_engineering.html

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