Question

Referencing your textbook, the article, and website from this week, discuss the pros (at least 2) and cons (at least 2) of genetically modified plants as a food source. Prioritize the pros and cons and provide a recommendation. What data would you use to support your conclusions?

Answer 1

Advantages of using genetically modified plants for food:

• Nutritional value can be increased. This can be achieved by engineering or adding specific genes which could make the plant produce more nutrients. This is very helpful as it give more nutrients in amount and variety. It can be made very easily and in large scale and will be helpful to the consumers.
• The protection of the crop if the main reason for genetic modification. The plant can be made more resistant to micro organisms ehoch inhibit the growth of the plant. Genetically engineered crops like Bacillus thuringensis have resistance against micro organisms and ut grows well and is very durable.
• Genetically modified crops can also have increased taste or flavour which makes it more desirable or attractive.
• Genetic modification will also help in avoiding undesirable traits which already ocuurs. For example, two types of Apple which doesn't change it's color after keeping it cut have been developed.

Some disadvantages of genetically modified crops:

• They causes allergy in some people. Some proteins or substances which are produced by the plants are said to be allergic to a group of people. This produces undesirable effects in the human body which can be serious. But as of now, no specific allergic problems have been reported in any person due to any genetically modified plant.
• There have been study reports that says genetically modified crops may be carcinogenic and causes Cancer. This could be very dangerous, but WHO has said that the possibilities are very low.
• Resistance to antibiotics in bacteria are another disadvantage. There is chances of bacterias becoming resistant to antobiotics due to the passage of genes from genetically engineered plants to bacterias. But this chance is also reported to be very less likely by WHO.

Based on the comparison, in my opinion, the usage of genetically engineered crops are a good idea. It is of very high nutritional value and can increase it's overall taste and quality. The disadvantages are said to happen only in very limited cases which can be controlled by the stoppage of use of such cancer or resistance causing crops and stopping usage in person who is at risk of having an allergy.

These crops besides having such advantages mentioned above, also are very economical for both consumers and producers.

The data I would use to support my opinion is the data given WHO about the genetically modified crops which states that the aforementioned disadvantages are less likely to happen and is very rare and controllable. Which can also be avoided by precautions.