Genetically Modified Organism


Introduction:

Genetically modified organisms are mainly referred as living organisms whose genetic inheritance has been modified by human intervention. The entire phenomenon through genetically modified organisms is createdis termed as genetic engineering. Genetic engineering enables modification of organisms through transgenesis. Transgenesis comprises of the insertion of one or more new genes in a genome. There are two industries in which the application of genetically modified organisms is remarkable such as medical and agricultural sectors. However, the creation of genetically modified organisms has caused controversies in terms of ethics, trade war and regulations. The paper discusses the impact of genetically modified organisms on the agricultural sector.

“The paper argues that the adoption of genetically modified food in the agriculture sector should be done with caution”.

Creation of Newer Plant Varieties

The most important impact of genetically engineering on agriculture is the creation of new plant species. A transgenic plant is a plant whose genome has been manipulated by transgenesis. A DNA sequence of a plant, an animal or a microorganism can thus be transferred to a plant. The process enables the creation of new characteristics for the plant species.

Creation of genetically modified organisms in the form of newer plant varieties has enough capacity of mounting agricultural production worldwide. A majority of agricultural GMOs are pesticide plants. These plants can either produce an insecticide or can absorb herbicide without dying. Both characteristics allow a plant to resist against insects.

Genetic engineering also leads to the creation of plants that are resistant to viral disease. Also, studies are underway for quite some years to create plants that can adapt to hostile environments – such as, saline environment. Some genetically modified plants have been designed to contain nutritious qualities that they did not have naturally such as golden rice which has been tailored in order to generate vitamin A. Thus, the creation of genetically modified organisms contains the promise of revolutionizing the agriculture sector.

Criticism of Genetically Modified Plants

Creation of genetically modified plants has raised questions about the long-term impact of these plants on their environment and the health of the consumer. The first question is regarding the accumulation of pesticides on pest-resistant plants. It is argued that there be an accumulation of pesticides in the tissues of pest-resistant plants. The accumulation of pesticides is expected to have negative implications for the animals and humans that consume these plants.

Conclusion

The paper discussed the impact of the creation genetically modified organisms on the agricultural industry. It is found that genetic engineering has been promising in terms of raising global agricultural output. It is concluded that there are some risks associated with the creation of genetically modified organisms in the agricultural industry. These risks need to be assessed comprehensively before mass adoption of the technology in the agricultural sector.

 
 
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