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Adrianna Collins

Mrs. Stemen

BioTech

3 February 2105

Gmos

GMOs? What are GMOs? Are GMOs good or bad? Well there are

multiple questions and opinions on GMOs. Basically GMOs are genetically

modified food that people eat on a regular basis. Reasearch has been done

on the pros and cons on these foods as wells as the opinions of others. The

popular method of making a GMO may have something to do with protein

synthesis, while GMOs are absolutely harmful to the health of humans.

From gene to protein what happens in the protein synthesis is quite

simple to explain. In protein synthesis everything starts in the nucleus of the

cell where the DNA is. The DNA makes a copy of itself, this copy is called

mRNA; this process is known as translation. When the mRNA leaves the

nucleus it goes to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, or Rough ER, then it

attaches itself on to a ribosome. The tRNA, which carrys the proteins, comes

and is like a puzzle and matches up with its mRNA pair (Stemen). Each time

a pair is made the protiens link up while the tRNA leaves. This keeps on

happening until there is a strand of proteins; this part of the process is

known as transcription.
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Now that the intro for protein synthesis is done there are the methods

for genetic engineering. These methods do have to do with protein synthesis

yes, but some it is still done. This method is called Plant Gene Transfer. This

particular method is used for plants and consists of very specific steps that

must be followed. The very first thing that must be done is to identify the

gene and the genomic sequence; this is basically the sequence of the gene.

Then the DNA sequence has to be changed to go with the new gene; the

gene is then transferred. The plant cell has to go through plant regeneration.

The last step is greenhouse and field testing, these steps are used to see if

the plants grow in normal real world conditions (Genetic Engineering

Methods).

The health risks for GMOs can vary. GMOs, like soybeans for example,

have been eaten and have caused people have an allergic reaction because

the soybean having genes from peanuts (Jeffery 1). Though some people

may disagree with this statement its been proven true, because in the

1990s scientists attempted to fuse the gene of a certain nut into the

soybeans. They had some people eat them and some had an allergic to the

nut gene in the soybean (Jeffery 1). GM food may also cause autism in

children who eat them. The facts show that in 2010 there were 1-68 children

in the US that were autistic (CDC) and the amount of GMOs, such as corn

and soybeans, in the US has grown to about 90% and is being fed to farm

animals (Charles 1), there is probably a connection there. GMOs may also be

the case for people having cancer, though this hasnt been proven yet. While
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in the future the food that have been genetically modified may cause more

health risks for humans that arent known now.

So now it is known that GMOs are bad. They are made with different

methods using protein synthesis and are absolutely risky to human health.

People eat them every day because they arent even aware of what they are

eating. While people who are allergic to peanuts per say wouldnt even know

what they have eaten till it hit them and a company is sued. So, the question

is, why eat them?

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Work Cited
Date & Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Feb, 2105.
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html>/.
Genetic Engineering Methods. Http://oregonstate.edu/intruct/bi430-
fs430/Documents-2004/3B-BIOTECH%20Meth/Strauss-GE%20methods-
agbioclass-2004.pdf (2004):1+.
How American Food Companies Go GMO-Free In A GMO World. NPR. NPR,
n.d. Web. 1 1 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/04/269479079/how-american-
food-companies-go-gmo-free-in-a-gmo-world>.
Smith, Jeffery. Institue for Responsible Technology.
Http://www.responisbletechnology.org. N.p. 2007. Web. 04 Feb. 2015
<http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/health-risk/artices-
about-risks-by-jeffery-smith/Genetically-Engineered-Food-May-Cause-Rising-
Food-Alergies-Genetically-Engineered-Soybean-May-2007>.
Stemen, Ashley. Protein Synthesis. VNT, Huntington, 22/January, 2015.
Workshop