"Golden Rice"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the fact that genetic engineering (GE) of food has become a mainstream issue in many countries over the last few years. The paper explains that GE food has the ability to ensure food security around the world. However, the paper admits that there has been an increasing number of concerns from people who question the research, merit, political and economical effects. The paper examines the rice crop as an example of a genetic engineered food that scientists have been dealing with for quite sometime. The paper introduces "Golden Rice", a genetically engineered crop developed to increase the nutritional value of rice. The paper states that the edible portion of the plant was modified to produce Beat-Carotene (pro-vitamin A) and has been offered to many third world countries as a core to fight Vitamin A deficiency.

From the Paper:

"The World Health Organization estimates that Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects as many as 400 million people and 118 countries (Egana, 2003). Two hundred and thirty million of those at risk are children, and one million cases result in death each year. VAD is the leading cause of blindness and night-blindness among developing populations. Blindness is the first symptom of VAD but by the time it is noticed, other body functions have already been damaged, like the respiratory and immune system. The Rockefeller Foundation has declared that rice is the most important source of human food (Wise Monkey News). It has been prized as the staple food source for four billion people worldwide (WHO/FOA). It grows in a wide variety of environment, which makes it widely available to massive populations. The low price and abundance make rice the food of choice for many of the poor in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In Asia, the rice crop is much more than just a food source; it is a source of employment and income also."

More papers on "Golden Rice":

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• Essay # 33568 : "The Golden Meane"

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