Challenges/Concerns/Benefits
With any technological advancement come challenges and concerns that go hand in hand with the benefits. Genetically modified organisms present a multitude of concerns and challenges along with a plethora of benefits. The determination of the impact of GMO’s upon the quest for the ideal results from evaluating the concerns and challenges against the benefits.
The major challenges involved with GMO’s lies in the science. More specifically it falls in the field of genetics. In order to create a genetically modified organism one must have an in depth understanding of the genomes of both organisms involved. The mapping of an organism’s genome is not a simple task by any stretch of the imagination and involves an immense amount of time and work. With new technologies and advancements in genetics the process is becoming streamlined but the time required is still extensive. For these reasons those organisms whose genome is mapped is quite small and thus the ability to create GMO’s is impaired. In order to successfully create a GMO, scientists must be able to locate the desired gene within the genome of a certain organism. Once the gene is recognized scientists must be able to successfully extract the gene without damaging it in anyway. If successful in doing so they then clone the desired gene and modify it in preparation for its introduction into a new organism. Once the new gene is created it must be successfully injected into the host organism. Throughout these steps many challenges present themselves. Science has advanced in such a way that most of the challenges are able to be overcome and the process run successfully but the process is tedious and there are no guarantees. The scientific equipment and knowledge required to undertake this process is extensive. These factors act as restrictions or challenges that keep the development of GMO’s from occurring at a much greater rate and magnitude.
The major concern regarding the use of GMO’s is the future impact they will have upon the ecosystems in which they are grown, the environment as a whole, and the overall health of mankind. The development of GMO’s is going against the laws of nature, thus it should be done with an extensive amount of caution. The fact of the matter is that overall humanity is very unaware of the future impact of GMO’s and thus they should not be used extensively until more knowledge concerning these impacts is determined. It is best to take the precautionary approach in regards to GMO’s in order to avoid causing irreversible damage to the earth and/or humanity. Another major concern regarding GMO’s is the overall lack of safeguards and regulations associated with their creation and/or use. Currently GM foods undergo very little testing before they find their way onto the kitchen tables of American households. American society has a strict system set in place for the introduction of new drugs yet GM foods, which could end up being just as harmful as a bad drug, have an incredibly lax system. More extensive studies need to be undertaken which document the effects of GM foods upon humanity prior to their appearance on grocery store shelves. American society needs to cage the sleeping monster before it wakes up and instills havoc upon the earth.
The potential benefits which GMO’s present to the human condition are extensive. Genetically modified organisms could improve the human condition by the creation of foods that are healthier. Genetically modified foods would increase the ease by which one could obtain their essential vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. In theory it is possible that one could eat healthier by not even changing ones diet. If the foods were genetically modified to contain the necessary vitamins and minerals that a persons diet currently is not obtaining then they would be eating healthier without even changing their diet. The fact of the matter is that it is really hard to eat healthy with all of the unhealthy temptations which surround Americans so the solution may lie in making the unhealthy food healthier without changing its taste. An improvement in ones diet would also have a domino effect in the creation of a happier person overall. A diet rich in all the essential vitamins and minerals will create a strong immune system and thus one will be less likely to be sick. Also with a body that is running on all cylinders people will be altogether happier people and will have more energy. Of course it is of the utmost importance that the safety of these foods is determined prior to their distribution and consumption. An important place where the use of genetically modified foods could lead to a major improvement in health and life in general is in third world and other poverty stricken countries. In these countries it is not uncommon for their diet to consist of just one type of food, for example rice, which leads to malnourishment. Thus if rice could be genetically modified to contain essential nutrients which these people are not receiving in their daily diet such as protein it would be a big step in putting an end to malnutrition.
This site was created as part of the honors course: The Ideal at Monmouth College in Fall 2005