Devon Bowers

Professor Douglas Winter

Biology 1010-404

November 24, 2017

Genetically Modified Organisms

GMOs, also known as Genetically Modified Organisms, were created to counteract

common problems with food, which we will look further into later. The first genetically modified

organism was used as recently as 1994 (Diels et al) and since then has grown to a multi-billion

dollar industry. A lot of the effects of GMOs on humanity are not known or are simply not

noticeable. There has been a lot of resistance from consumers, particularly in Europe, simply

because there is a fear that because the foods have been modified that it could possibly cause

unintended problems in us and in animals.

GMOs have plenty of good and not so good things about them. Some of the things that

are good about them are resistance to insects, tolerance to herbicides, tolerance for heat,

cold, or drought, and crop yield (Colbert). Many different plants have been genetically

modified to resist the many weaknesses they would normally have if they did not have GMOs in

them. Some other pros for GMOs is they can give the crop stronger colors and seedless fruits and

vegetables (Colbert).

The first con of GMOs are allergies, from about 1997 2011 the CDC (Center for

Disease Control and Prevention) reports that allergies have increased in children from 3.4% to

5.1% and people have been led to believe that its cause is from GMOs (Colbert). Another con is
that the use of herbicides have caused the increased risk of drug resistance in viruses and

bacteria. Its reported that Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million

pounds of herbicide on GMOs (Smith). Overuse of the herbicides has caused some weeds to

become increasingly resistant to the herbicides. In fact, GMOs have increased the usage of

pesticides and herbicides (Hoffman).

GMOs wouldnt have been invented if it didnt have a problem to solve, with bacteria

becoming stronger against herbicides alone, it can be seen that there would be a need for GMOs,

but with the revelation that farmers use even more herbicides for GMOs, then it may cause more

long term consequences than short ones. Its hard to know whether or not GMOs are the right

thing to use or not because side-effects arent immediately noticeable. Despite the negative

issues that GMOs could have on the general public, I think that GMOs can be useful. With the

population of mankind ever increasing, theres got to be a way to meet the demand of food.
 Works Cited

Colbert, Treacy. GMOs: Pros and Cons Healthline. October 16, 2016. Web, retrieved from

https://www.healthline.com/health/gmos-pros-and-cons#overview1

Diels et al. Association of financial or professional conflict of interest to research outcomes on

health risks or nutritional assessment studies of genetically modified products Web.

Retrieved from http://repositorio.ucp.pt/bitstream/10400.14/7585/3/gmo_conflict.pdf

Hoffman, Beth. GMO Crops Mean More Herbicide, Not Less. Forbes. July 2, 2013. Web,

retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2013/07/02/gmo-crops-mean-

more-herbicide-not-less/#1a203c673cd5

Smith, Jeffrey. 10 Reasons to avoid GMOs, GMO Health Risk Institute for Responsible

Technology. August 25, 2011. Web, retrieved from http://responsibletechnology.org/10-

Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs/