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What Teens Say...
Name: Marshall Edwards
Essay Theme: Dynamic DNA |
State: Georgia
School: Ebenezer Middle School |
Biogenetics in the Future |
Imagine this scenario. The weather is cool and gloomy. You are
at a plant genetics lab at State University. As you approach
the greenhouse you notice something strange. There are tears
in the plastic on the greenhouse. Your heart begins to beat
faster. As you open the door your heart drops. Your mouth is
dry and you have a sick feeling deep in the pit of your stomach.
You realize your greenhouse has been vandalized. On the floor
the intruders have spray-painted the words "STOP GENETIC
MUTILATION!" Years of valuable research have been lost.
This
scenario is true. These events actually happened to Dr. Bob
Milikin at the University of Buffalo. Dr. Milikin was doing
research on genetically modified crops. He was trying to develop
a plant that would be resistant to pests without the use of
pesticides. Ironically, the "ecoterrorists" had destroyed
the work of a scientist who was doing research to HELP the environment!
Dr. Miliken was trying to find a way to develop a safe, plentiful,
healthy crop without using so many chemicals.
Now, pesticides are no small problem in our world. Farmers use
about 2.5 million tons of pesticides each year. In 1992, the
World Health Organization reported that 3 million pesticide
poisonings occur each year. Scientists believe that overusage
of pesticides could result in immune dysfunction and may be
linked to sterility. A number of states have programs in place
to reduce pesticide usage by 50% by the year 2010.
So, WHY? Why would ANYONE want to sabotage genetic engineering
research? Some people believe that genetic engineering is an
activity akin to "frankenscience." While a bit of
fear and reservation is understandable, we in the agriculture
community should make it our duty to inform the public of the
immense benefits of biotechnology.
For example, there is research going on today to genetically
modify bananas to fight dysentery. Although great progress has
been made in inoculating children in much of the world, in the
poorest nations very little has been achieved. It would be possible
for millions to be protected from life-threatening illnesses.
On
the other hand, there are documented health effects for genetically
modified (GM) crop varieties. For example, a GM food with a
higher content of digestible iron is likely to have a positive
health effect if consumed by iron-deficient individuals. Alternatively,
the risks of transferring genes from one species to another
need to be evaluated and classified before commercialization.
Individuals allergic to certain nuts, for example, need to know
if genes conveying this trait are transferred to other foods
such as soybeans. Among the possible ecological risks classified
are extended weediness, a result of cross-pollination where
pollen from GM crops spreads to non-GM crops in nearby fields.
In
closing, a quiet revolution in the way food is produced is under
way. Last year, American farmers planted more than 50 million
acres of GM soybeans, corn, cotton, and potatoes. Four years
ago, the figure was zero. Biogenetics is our country's future.
References:
| Biogenetic Services, Inc. 2002. Genetic
seed and GMO testing, |
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<http://www.biogeneticservices.com/> |
| Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
(CAST). 1999. Applications |
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of Biotechnology to Crops: Benefits and Risks. Issue
Paper No. 12. CAST, Ames, Iowa, <http:/ /www.cast-science.org/biotcip.htm> |
| The future of food, Bioengineering. 2002. |
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<http://future.newsday.com/3/ftop0328.htm> |
| Genetically engineered foods. 2002. |
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<http://www.factmonster.com/spot/frankenfoodsl.html> |
This essay was part of a 2003 essay contest sponsored by
Council for Agricultural Science & Technology.
Click here to see how essays were
selected.
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