GMOs Part One – Serene’s Synopsis 38
Genetically modifying an organism such as a plant involves changing its DNA. In agriculture, it is changing DNA to create more favorable traits such as bigger fruit, better nutrition content, and higher survival rates. It can also make organisms less susceptible to certain pests and diseases.
Genetically modified seeds can be more expensive because they are patented, but have a much better success rate, enabling farmers to grow more efficiently than with organic crops, therefore being able to spend less space and time managing stagnant seedlings.
GMOs also don’t necessitate the reapplication of pesticides to the extent organic field require. They also use more specific pesticides, further decreasing the pesticides being put into the environment. However, alternative claims have been made, as genetically modified organisms that are resistant to weed killers have been reported to increase the use of products such as Roundup, since it can be used freely without harming the plant.
Overall, genetically modification in agriculture makes organisms much more efficient, and can bring unique traits to produce that would not be otherwise achieved. However, the affects of their resistance to products such as Roundup might have negative effects.
My friends and I, who are doing a genetic modification lab in AP bio, were recently talking about the stigma against GMOs and how they seem to be pretty great without many consequences. I started researching this topic, expecting to see overwhelming feedback about the productivity of GMOs and how peoples’ avoidance of them was due mostly to fear and misleading or false information.
However, the results I received were pretty mixed and I realized that in order to analyze every environmental factor of GMOs, I would likely have to follow up on this subject when I had more time, as I had been camping all weekend and did not have ample time to continue my research.
I plan to write more about the pros and cons of GMOs next week, so stay tuned to learn with me!