Genetically Modified Food Essays - Molecular Biology,

Did you know that we?ve been eating genetically modified foods for the past 10 years? It?s in about 70-75% of our nation?s food. Our food supply has greatly improved. Today we are going to find out what is genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods are foods that have been engineered in the laboratory. They are improved in many ways. In the first part of my speech I will talk about the genetic modification technology in food and agriculture, locating improvements. In the second part I will include a debate about food safety, consumer attitudes and other concerns. Newspapers frequently carry stories about genetically modified food. The biotechnology agricultural age is occurring. Scientists had an idea to make food have better appearance, growth, and taste. In genetic engineering you take the best food available and add the few characters you are interested in so that you?re breeding efficiency is increased. Genetically modified foods are boosted in nutritional value, and can be more disease-resistant, flavorful, or cheaper than natural foods. For example, plant breeders have turned the wild potato into the wide varieties that we can buy. The varieties of potatoes are different from their cousins. After years of searching scientists were able to find a way to change their genetic modification. They figured out a way to change DNA from organisms. The hope is that this biotechnology will have perceived benefits. Agricultural practices have to change unless we want to risk facing a major shortage of food. The food we eat can threaten our lives and has the potential to affect our health Genetic engineering is really a radical revolution in food production. Genetically modified foods were first put on the markets in the early 1990s. Today agriculture is going far beyond nature to produce new miracles or an even better more abundant life. On the farm today, wherever you look you see the handiwork of scientists. Genetically modified foods are the result of a miraculous agriculture. . Searching for new ways to eat? We all have to eat in order to live. Want to eat new wonder products? Want food that is safe and of high quality? If you move beyond your comfort zone you can eat genetically modified foods. The twenty first century faces choices in genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods use technology to alter the genetic makeup of organisms. Genetically modified foods have their DNA changed artificially. It makes the food more useful or edible. It involves the insertion and deletion of genes. Using molecular biology techniques, in what is undoubtedly the most potent technology the world has ever known, the food is exposed to radiation or chemicals to modify the organism. This involves inserting genes into the cells of a plant/animal/microbe to give a desired characteristic. It enhances food value and quality in ways that you don?t normally encounter. Food has its genes altered to introduce useful production or flavor characteristics. Food becomes resis tant to disease, stays fresh longer, improved in clarity, improved in size and high in proteins and vitamins. Want to see foods that would never occur in nature? Genetic engineering creates new organisms. Genetic engineering can be used to make products such as foods, food ingredients, medicines and vaccines. A lot of the food we eat today contain genetically modified ingredients. Today, Australia is stalling over whether to embrace genetically modified foods, but we won?t be able to put off the decision for much longer. The public generally supports the use of genetically modified foods. The more they embrace this unique technology, the more it?s going to be used. Technology is getting better, new molecular and genetic techniques will make genetic engineering even more precise. According to the US Food and Drug Administration many of the foods that are common in our diet are obtained from plants and animal varieties that were developed using conventional genetic techniques of breeding and selection. Genetically engineered organisms are everywhere. Things like soy and corn are in so many products. In fact if you eat food from a restaurant or a supermarket, you?re probably eating GMOs. In 1992 the Food and Drug Administration said that GM foods are not inherently dangerous and they really didn?t see any risk at all associated with it. The