Give GMO's a Chance by Ethan

GMO’s or “Genetically Modified Organisms” are plants, animals, or even materials that have been created by genetically modifying the DNA of a plant or animal. They are very controversial due to the fact that their full potential has yet to be explored, and could potentially be dangerous if left unregulated or under-researched. There is a myriad of people who have opinions on the matter. Some say GMO’s are dangerous and should be left alone, others say they could be extremely beneficial if researched and implemented properly. Some people couldn’t care less about the topic. The large majority of non-believers don’t have the slightest clue what they are talking about and base their judgment on something they read online about tumors or other nonsense. The point is that GMO’s can be lead to great advancements in mankind if we give them a chance. The public would rather feel safe knowing that we were advancing at a snail’s pace as long as it meant keeping things the way they are now. There is a much smaller chance of things going wrong if we refuse to expand our horizons. If they refuse to jump on an opportunity to enrich the human race because they hear a few scary things about something that has yet to be researched properly, then we as a race will go nowhere.

Bath salts are an excellent example of things that terrified the public before they were even researched. After they were studied, it was discovered that most of the chemicals used are incredibly dangerous and have close to zero medicinal value, but the point remains the same.  Note, however:

"The federal law passed [in 2012] bans a handful of the chemicals used to make them but not all of them," Horowitz says. "Those chemicals are now labeled as schedule 1 drugs, which means they have no medicinal value but a high potential for abuse.”

The public’s fear of certain things isn’t always misplaced. After the zombie incident involving bath salts, there was a legitimate cause for concern. That same fear is present when regarding GMO’s.  However, some GMO’s have been researched and are proven to be safe to consume and use.

            A common way of testing a new or controversial substance is to conduct a lab/experiment. In one particular lab, different groups of rats were given different diets. One was a control that was fed non-GMO foods and water. Three other groups were given foods created from GMO’s, some treated and some untreated. After the 2 yearlong study was finished, It was determined that the rats that ate the foods made from GMO’s have an increased chance of dying prematurely and contracting tumors compared to the control group. The problem with this is not only that the sample size in incredibly small sample size, but the rats used were known to contract tumors quite often. There is also a problem with the fact that not a single human who has a tumor has had it linked back to the consumption of a GMO product.

            There are roughly 7 billion people on our planet. Out of those 7, a little over 1 billion don’t have enough food to live a healthy life. Healthy food is expensive, and moving it across the globe is even more so.  Consider this argument, for example:

“Since they are cheaper to grow, increase yields, and extend the time food remains edible, it seems reasonable that GM plants should provide more food to a hungry world. However, it is not clear this is panning out as may have been naively anticipated several years ago. The countries that could benefit most from genetic engineering have actually benefited the least. A 2008 Science article, "Agriculture at a Crossroads" noted that, "The potential of GM crops to serve the needs of the subsistence farmer is recognized, but this potential remains unfulfilled. No conclusive evidence was found that GM crops have so far offered solutions to the broader socioeconomic dilemmas faced by developing countries."

GMO’s have the potential to feed a starving world. The crops could be grown in their own back yard due to increased fertility and resistance to harsher climates. Obviously this would be a huge step forward to ending world hunger.

            Genetically Modified Organisms are not just limited to foods. They can also be used to create new objects, mass produce uncommon materials, or even make vaccinations easier to administer.  It has been suggested recently that,

“People may soon be getting vaccinated for diseases like hepatitis B and cholera by simply taking a bite of banana. Researchers have successfully engineered bananas, potatoes, lettuce, carrots and tobacco to produce vaccines, but they say bananas are the ideal production and delivery vehicle. “

There is no for foreseeable end to what we can do with GMO’s. Silk that is stronger than steel, or cats that can glow in the dark. There is no telling what we can do. Perhaps we could even be able to change physical traits in our children before they are born. We are afraid of doing things simply because they are new. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. We need to moderate and regulate. Without regulation, the things that some are saying could hurt us, have a considerable chance of actually hurting. Where would we be without nuclear technology? If we keep restricting ourselves to the point where we are unable to move forward, it will harm us indefinitely.

Works Cited:

·         Feature, Matt McMillen WebMD. "Bath Salts Drugs: Problems, Ingredients, Dangers, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

·         Philpott, Tom. "Does GMO Corn Really Cause Tumors in Rats?" Mother Jones. Mother Jones, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

·         Diehl, Paul. "Can Genetically Modified Food Feed the World?" About.com Biotech / Biomedical. About.com, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

·         Byrd, Deborah. "How Many Hungry in a World with 7 Billion?" EarthSky. EarthSky, 30 Oct. 2011. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

·         "12 Bizarre Examples of Genetic Engineering." MNN. MNN, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.