Non Nonceeya

Honors English 9A, Period 4

Ms.Fine
th
October 21 , 2013

Genetically Modified Organisms

Humanity has been provided with the ability to modify DNA in various ways. One of

these methods is to genetically modify organisms; these genetically modified organisms (GMO)

have a countless amount of benefits. However, many people do not know how these modified

foods could potentially effect the environment.

The production of growing genetically modified crops has been skyrocketing throughout

the early 1970s to the present and will probably increase in the future. It all started in the early

1970s, where scientists discovered ways to move genes for antibiotic resistance from one type of

bacteria to another (Diehl). This type of technology had been innovated to use gene

manipulation on plants and animals to get a specific trait. The farmers found this type of farming

to be a time saver and convenient and they started to mass-produce these crops. According to the

GMO compass, In the USA, the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) maize, soybeans and

cotton continues its increase. In 2010, the share of GM crops increased to approximately 90

percent. Fields planted with GM varieties added up to 64.3 million hectares. (GMO Compass).

Many farmers only see this type of farming (modifying organisms) to be one with only benefits

and with no negative effects. However, studies have shown that this type of farming does

however, have a negative effect on the environment. According to CSA, It did not take long for

environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations

and other scientists and government officials to raise concerns about GM foods, and criticized

agribusiness for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards(Whitman).

A few concerns that these groups had raised include genetically modified organisms

effect on biodiversity, genetically modified crops herbicide tolerance, as well as unintended harm
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Honors English 9A, Period 4
Ms.Fine
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October 21 , 2013

to other organisms. When genetically modified crops are planted, the traditional seeds are no

longer being used. This process means fewer weeds. This means less nectar for pollinators. The

genetically modified plants roots are connected to the soil, causing the toxin from the genetically

modified plant to travel into the soil. According to One Green Planet, This causes the soil to

contain less soil bacteria. Bacteria which are integral to healthy soil for plants to grow without

the use of chemical fertilizers (Jordan). Nutrients from genetically modified crops are not

returning into the soil, meaning that the soil is lacking nutrients which are essential to the

growing process for the crops. According to One Green Planet, A cycle of dependence on

GMO seeds and chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides is then created in order to grow a

single crop. In addition to soil issues, the irrigation used to grow GM foods naturally carries all

of these problems into water sources and into the air. This exposes different bacteria, insects, and

animals to the same problems. (Jordan). In addition to the soil related issues, the genetically

modified crops problems are being transported into water sources and into the air through the

irrigation. This causes the problem to be revealed to other organisms such as bacteria, insects,

and animals. Furthermore, genetically modified crops are causing a concern with its ability to be

herbicide tolerant. Due to the fact that some genetically modified crops contain a trait of

herbicide tolerance, it brings up the problem of the use of herbicides. An example of one of these

crops would be Monsantos Roundup Ready corn. According to EcoWatch, Monsantos

Roundup Ready corn is engineered to be resistant to Monsantos Roundup herbicideThe

product is also designed to produce a toxin that will kill insects that feed on the plant (Spear).

The genetically modified corn has been genetically modified to be resistant to a specific

herbicide, which in this case was Monsantos Roundup herbicide. The weeds that are on these
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Honors English 9A, Period 4
Ms.Fine
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October 21 , 2013

crops are cross-cropping with the traits of the genetically modified plant. This causes the weed to

basically acquire the traits of the crops, in this case herbicide tolerance. This reduces the

effectiveness of herbicides and causes farmers to have to lay out even more herbicides to get rid

of these weeds with special traits. According to, the Food and Water Watch, The U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) herbicide data

analyzed in the report, Superweeds: How Biotech Crops Bolster the Pesticide Industry, shows

that herbicide use on corn, cotton and soybeans has steadily grown by 26 percent in the years

between 2001 and 2010. (Food and Water Watch). In addition to herbicide tolerance and GMOs

effect on the biodiversity, genetically modified organisms causes unintended harm to other

organisms. According to CSA, A laboratory study was published showing that pollen from B.T.

(genetically modified) corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars

(Whitman). Basically, in this study, pollen from genetically modified corn is blown by the wind

into other crops, which in this case were milkweed plants. The monarch butterflies consume

milkweed plants. The caterpillars would eat the plant causing them to eat this pollen and die.

According to CSA, It is impossible to design a toxin that would kill crop-damaging pests and

remain harmless to other insects (Whitman). The production of genetically modified organisms

is a time saver and convenient, however, many people do not know that these negative effects

from growing GMO could cause a big impact on our future.

Producing genetically modified organisms is not only a time saver and convenient but it

also has other benefits. These benefits would include drought tolerance, reduced use of

pesticides, as well as disease resistance. Some genetically modified organisms such as

Monsantos DroughtGard maize corn have been genetically modified to acquire the ability to be
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Honors English 9A, Period 4
Ms.Fine
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October 21 , 2013

drought tolerant. The ability for crops to be drought tolerant is a great benefit for humanity. This

is due to the fact that, As the world population grows and more land is utilized for housing

instead of food production, farmers will need to grow crops in locations previously unsuited for

plant cultivation (Whitman). Drought tolerant crops will allow farmers to plant crops in land

that are not in suitable conditions for them. This will cause the human population to become

more stable due to the fact that there will be more food being produced as well as more land for

housing. Another benefit would include reduced use of pesticides. Crops can potentially have a

lot of damage on them from insects, causing many problems such as financial problems. With the

ability for a crop to be tolerant to a native insect, farmers will reduce the use of pesticides

because the pesticides will not be as effective anymore. Reduced use of pesticides will make

consumers and the environment satisfied. According to CSA, Consumers do not wish to eat

food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of

agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply

and cause harm to the environment (Whitman). Lastly, plant biologists are developing

genetically modified plants that will be resistant to diseases, bacteria, and viruses. According to

GMO Compass, Various high-tech approaches have been proposed to protect plants from

harmful afflictions. To date, most interest has been focused on virus resistant transgenic plants,

but using biotechnology to confer resistance to fungi, bacteria, or nematodes has also been

gaining attention. The ability for genetically modified organisms to be disease tolerant will have

a great effect on humanity. Many viruses, fungi, and bacteria cause crops to be damaged and lost.

This would cause farmers to have less money due to less produce. Less produce will conclude

into less food to meet the demands of human population. Even though producing genetically
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Ms.Fine
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October 21 , 2013

modified organisms have certain effects on the environment, producing GMO could possibly be

better for humanity as a whole.

Genetically modified organisms have a great impact on the environment. GMO has great

benefits to humanity and the environment, however with benefits there are also negatives that

could possibly cause many problems to occur in the future. Drought tolerance and pest resistant

crops might cause more productivity to occur in the future. However, with more productivity to

occur in the future, there will be more negative effects on the environment such as unintended

harm to other organisms in the environment. Genetically modified organisms have both its

positives and negatives. Positives for humanity; however there will be negative effects on the

environment. No one will know how genetically modified organisms will turn out, will they

produce certain toxins that could backfire? Or could they produce genetically modified

organisms that do not have any downsides into the environment and will cause everyone to be

satisfied? We will just have to wait and see.