Dan Fujan

English 12
Mrs.Warneke

Genetically Modified Organisms

Seventy five percent of processed foods in America contain some sort of genetically
modified ingredient (Driscoll). Knowing this statistic, people might think twice about what a
genetically modified ingredient is and if they really want it in their food. The use of genetic
engineering has been a growing controversy throughout the United States in the past couple
years. Certain farming companies are currently genetically modifying their foods to help
improve production of their crops. These genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, can cause
negative effects in both humans and the environment. However, there are things such as organic
farming, marker-assisted selection, and selective purchasing which can help one avoid these
problems.
Genetically Modified Organisms are creating many problems with both people and the
environment, but what are they exactly? The World Health Organization states that GMOs are
organisms in which the genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA for short) has been
altered in a way that does not occur naturally (Genetically Modified...). This can occur
during a process called genetic engineering which is the transfer of individual genes from one
organism to another. The species dont have to be related, and for this reason are not part of the
natural evolutionary process. While this process doesnt seem overly harmful, many people are
against it. Over sixty countries throughout the world have either banned or greatly restricted
sales of genetically modified foods. While the USA has tested and approved GMO foods for our
own nation, the companies that test them are also the companies that sell the product, which
raises questions as to whether the testing is done properly and thoroughly. Two of the main

Dan Fujan
English 12
Mrs.Warneke

problems that genetic engineering creates deals with the environment and organic farmers.
Genetic engineering is a big problem in the environment in that it throws off the balance of
ecosystems. Engineered pesticides have been known to seep into the soil and kill organisms and
insects that play an important role in agriculture. Also, since trees have been made to secrete
pesticides and to be non-flowering, bird population has dropped ninety percent in GMO
supported areas. Another problem that has occurred is that genetic engineering has led to the
creation of superweeds and superbugs. These are organisms that eventually become resistant
to genetically modified herbicides and insecticides, which makes it necessary to apply even more
chemicals, of which are usually more powerful and toxic. Artificial fertilizers used in farming
can also cause acid rain and large algae blooms in lakes, rivers, and streams (Anderson) (Berger).
Then there is the dispute involving organic farmers. An organic farmers goal is to create
crops and livestock that are pure and are grown naturally. What has happened, because of genetic
engineering, is something called cross-pollination. Cross-pollination occurs when wind or insects
carry the pollen of crops, such as corn, from one field into a neighboring field. This can occur
between a farm that uses GMOs and an organic farm that does not. When this happens, the
organic farms crops get genetically modified material on them and they are no longer natural
crops. This ruins the whole purpose of organic farming and has some of these farmers very
frustrated. Lastly, GMOs are being looked at as bad for your health. While this is not
conclusive, there have been tests done to prove that genetically modifying food has negative
effects on ones health. One of these tests was done in Australia, and while it has been criticized
for how it was conducted, it revealed that rats that ate GM foods during their lifespans suffered

Dan Fujan
English 12
Mrs.Warneke

from tumours and severe liver and kidney damage (Cancer in Rats...) (Driscoll) (GMO
Facts).
When looking at the problem at hand, one very possible solution is organic farming.
Organic farming is farming that relies on more natural techniques like crop rotation, green
manure, and biological pest control. This means that no herbicides, pesticides, or genes from
other species are put into any of their plants or animals. Because organic farming does not use
any of these pesticides or herbicides, it greatly diminishes the pollution that other farms have
who use toxic chemicals. While organic farming is also better for the environment, it is also
better for your health and your tastebuds. It was proven at a study at Washington State
University that foods that are organic are better tasting. They tested this with organic and nonorganic berries. The organic berries were consistently judged as sweeter than the berries that
were not organic (Organic Education). It is also proven that organic foods have a higher level
of antioxidants in them than conventional foods. Another big benefit is the use of crop rotation.
This has many benefits, such as keeping pests at bay and creating good fresh soil. The rotation of
crops keeps bug populations under control by depriving them of a constant food supply that is
needed for them to thrive. Also, while GMO farming kills topsoil, using crop rotation keeps the
soil fresh and produces food with better nutrients. One of the best things organic farming does,
however, is create a good environment. One could say it is almost like reforestation. On the other
hand, industrial farms clear out forests and habitats because they only care about producing as
much food as possible. The downside to organic farming, however, is that it takes more time and
money. Because of this, the prices of organic foods are a bit more expensive than food that is
produced by an industrial farm (Organic Education) (Alternatives to...).

Dan Fujan
English 12
Mrs.Warneke

Another possible solution is marker-assisted selection (MAS), which is another form of

modifying food, but unlike GMOs, there are no safety concerns known as of now. MAS uses
our current advanced technology and knowledge of genes and cross-breeding to pick out
desirable properties of crops and insert them into the offspring of that crop. By doing this, one
picks out the best qualities of crops, such as size, shape, or disease resistance, and is able to pass
it on to its offspring. This creates the best and most durable kinds of crops without having to
genetically modify them. The difference between MAS and genetic engineering is that in genetic
engineering, they transfer genes from other organisms, even species, which creates organisms
that would never have occurred naturally in the evolutionary process. The genes in MAS,
however, are received from either the father or mother of that crop and are not mutated like a
GMO. This makes the modifying of food more natural and safe ("Genetic Engineering").
When it all comes down to it, each person is responsible for what he or she purchases and
consumes, so selective purchasing could help the individual stay away from GMOs. While this
option is more for the individual, it could also be a group solution. Selective purchasing could
run industrial farming out of business if everyone would come together to buy organic foods as a
whole. If people stop buying GMOs, companies will stop using the genetic engineering methods
and the industrial farmers will stop using them. As for the individual, one should look for foods
that are labeled 100% organic. This means exactly what one would think, it is completely grown
and produced on a organic farm in a natural fashion. As of now, genetically modified foods do
not have to be labeled, even though many polls have showed that Americans wish they were
labeled. There are also other techniques to buying the most fresh and natural foods. These
include buying straight from the farmer, purchasing the food from natural food stores, or one

Dan Fujan
English 12
Mrs.Warneke

could always grow a garden with his or her own fruits and vegetables. By choosing any one of
these three options, one can limit the amount of GMO food they intake while still getting good
tasting, all natural food. Again, the negative of buying organic foods is the expensive prices.
However, because of supply and demand, if people began to come together to buy organic foods,
the prices would eventually decrease, making it more affordable for everybody (How You Can
Avoid...) (GMO Facts).
In conclusion, after looking at the negative effects of GMOs and the possible solutions,
it seems that organic farming is best solution. This is the best solution for a couple of reasons.
First off, it is a solution that the consumer can participate in without having to put in a lot of
work. By this I mean that one can just go to the store and buy organic food items off the shelf,
which in turn helps the organic farms. The second reason I chose this option is because it is a
great option for the environment and actually helps create a positive and healthy ecosystem. All
in all, genetically modified foods have become a big problem throughout America, and I
personally believe that by utilizing organic farming more extensively, we can solve this problem
and create more natural and environmentally friendly foods.

Dan Fujan
English 12
Mrs.Warneke

Works Cited

"Alternatives to Genetic Engineering." Union of Concerned Scientists. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.

Anderson, Tim. "Counterpoint: GMO Foods Are Unsafe." Points Of View: Genetically Modified
Foods (2014): 6. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.
Berger, Adam. "Point: Organic Foods Are A Healthier Alternative."Points Of View: Organic
Food (2014): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
"Cancer In Rats Reignites GM Food Debate." ABC Premium News (n.d.): Points of View
Reference Center. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.
Driscoll, Sally, and David C. Morley. "Counterpoint: Genetically Modified Foods Should Be
Carefully Regulated." Points Of View: Genetically Modified Foods (2014): 3. Points of
View Reference Center. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.
"Genetically Modified Foods Explained." Genetically Modified Foods Explained. N.p., n.d.
Web. 19 Oct. 2014.
"Genetic Engineering." Marker Assisted Selection. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
"GMO Facts." The NonGMO Project RSS. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

Dan Fujan
English 12
Mrs.Warneke

"How Can You Avoid Genetically Modified Food? Healthy Begins Here." WebMD. Web. 12
Oct. 2014.
"Organic Education." Organic.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.