Advantages and Disadvantages of GMOs Edit 0 46…
Advantages of GMO’s
The mapping of genetic material for GMO crops increased knowledge of genetic alterations and introduced the ability to enhance genes in crops to make them more advantageous for human consumption and production (Whitman, 2000). For example, plants can be engineered to be temperature resistant or produce higher yields. This provides greater genetic diversity in different regions where climate limits productivity.
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High Yield Crops
Another good reason to have GMO crops planted is to add nutritional value to crops that lack necessary vitamins and nutrients. There are areas around the world that rely on rice or corn crops, and other plant genes may be added to the crop to increase the nutritional value of that food. This will help malnourished populations receive more nutrients from their diet (Bouis, 2007). We have already made pesticide resistant plants so that farmers can use the right kinds of pesticides to rid insects and not inhibit plant growth. This will increase crop yield in two ways; there will be fewer insects and pests to eat the crops, and they will grow without being bothered by pesticides.
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Farmers spraying pesticides to GMO crops
Disadvantages of GMO's
The GMO process includes adding new genetic material into an organism's genome (Cohen, et al. 1973).In agricultural ecology, similar to bacterial genetic engineering, this means introducing new genes in the genome of crops like corn. Experimental plantings of GMO crops began in Canada and the U.S. in the 1980’s. The first time it became large scale (commercial) cultivation was in the mid 1990’s. Research on the effects of large scale cultivation of GM crops sparked various concerns. These ideas are brought up in different research studies conducted on ecosystems with GMO strains. GMO strains have the potential to change our agriculture.
A plant with unwanted or residual effects that might remain in the soil for extended periods of time (Morrissey, 2002). European Union agricultural regulators were alerted by Morrissey’s research that GM strains from GM crops remained in the soil for years after the crop was removed. Data reported that despite the absence of the GM plant, the strain persisted for up to six years.
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Soil samples showed GM strains persisted in soil for years.
Engineered plants can act as mediators to transfer genes to wild plants and then create weeds (Carstens, 2010). To keep these new weeds under control scientists invented new GMO weed herbicides that were not necessary for non GMO weeds. These chemicals are toxic to various amphibians and mammals, such as cows feeding on GMO crops. In vivo tests shows that the uptake of herbicides has toxic consequences on certain organisms (Carsten, 2011). The consequences of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems is outlined in detail in the Ecological Effects Page.
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New genetically engineered plant (weed) due to cross pollination between GM plant and non GM plant.
There is opposition in the introduction of GM genes on genetic diversity. The GM genes from crops can spread to organic farm crops and threaten crop diversity in agriculture. If crop diversity decreases, this affects the entire ecosystem and impact the population dynamics of other organisms (Williamson ,1992). The chance that one genetically modified crop strain could pollinate an already existant “non-GM” crop is unlikely and unpredictable. There are many conditions that must be met for cross pollination to occur. However, when a large scale plantation releases a GM strain during pollination, this risk increases. The cross pollination to non-GM plants could create a hybrid strain, which means there is a greater possibility of ecological novelty, or new artificial strains being introduced into the environment that could potentially reduce biodiversity through competition.
Advantages and Disadvantages of GMOs Edit 0 46…Advantages of GMO’sThe mapping of genetic material for GMO crops increased knowledge of genetic alterations and introduced the ability to enhance genes in crops to make them more advantageous for human consumption and production (Whitman, 2000). For example, plants can be engineered to be temperature resistant or produce higher yields. This provides greater genetic diversity in different regions where climate limits productivity.High-crops-1.jpgHigh Yield CropsAnother good reason to have GMO crops planted is to add nutritional value to crops that lack necessary vitamins and nutrients. There are areas around the world that rely on rice or corn crops, and other plant genes may be added to the crop to increase the nutritional value of that food. This will help malnourished populations receive more nutrients from their diet (Bouis, 2007). We have already made pesticide resistant plants so that farmers can use the right kinds of pesticides to rid insects and not inhibit plant growth. This will increase crop yield in two ways; there will be fewer insects and pests to eat the crops, and they will grow without being bothered by pesticides.gmo_spray_pesticide_ah_23335.jpgFarmers spraying pesticides to GMO cropsDisadvantages of GMO'sThe GMO process includes adding new genetic material into an organism's genome (Cohen, et al. 1973).In agricultural ecology, similar to bacterial genetic engineering, this means introducing new genes in the genome of crops like corn. Experimental plantings of GMO crops began in Canada and the U.S. in the 1980’s. The first time it became large scale (commercial) cultivation was in the mid 1990’s. Research on the effects of large scale cultivation of GM crops sparked various concerns. These ideas are brought up in different research studies conducted on ecosystems with GMO strains. GMO strains have the potential to change our agriculture.A plant with unwanted or residual effects that might remain in the soil for extended periods of time (Morrissey, 2002). European Union agricultural regulators were alerted by Morrissey’s research that GM strains from GM crops remained in the soil for years after the crop was removed. Data reported that despite the absence of the GM plant, the strain persisted for up to six years.hands-in-soil.jpgSoil samples showed GM strains persisted in soil for years.Engineered plants can act as mediators to transfer genes to wild plants and then create weeds (Carstens, 2010). To keep these new weeds under control scientists invented new GMO weed herbicides that were not necessary for non GMO weeds. These chemicals are toxic to various amphibians and mammals, such as cows feeding on GMO crops. In vivo tests shows that the uptake of herbicides has toxic consequences on certain organisms (Carsten, 2011). The consequences of chemicals in aquatic ecosystems is outlined in detail in the Ecological Effects Page.marestail01061603b.jpgNew genetically engineered plant (weed) due to cross pollination between GM plant and non GM plant.There is opposition in the introduction of GM genes on genetic diversity. The GM genes from crops can spread to organic farm crops and threaten crop diversity in agriculture. If crop diversity decreases, this affects the entire ecosystem and impact the population dynamics of other organisms (Williamson ,1992). The chance that one genetically modified crop strain could pollinate an already existant “non-GM” crop is unlikely and unpredictable. There are many conditions that must be met for cross pollination to occur. However, when a large scale plantation releases a GM strain during pollination, this risk increases. The cross pollination to non-GM plants could create a hybrid strain, which means there is a greater possibility of ecological novelty, or new artificial strains being introduced into the environment that could potentially reduce biodiversity through competition.
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