Genetically Engineered Foods

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that although genetically engineered foods do have the potential to slightly improve the world's food supply, there is also the risk of severely damaging the world's eco system. It explains that most people stand on common ground against the genetic engineering of animals, and asks why are so many so relaxed to the dangers of genetics when plants are in question.

From the Paper:

"In addition to GE foods with higher nutritional content, biotech companies are starting to brand edible vaccines. Currently, vaccine treatment is very expensive and put out of reach of areas of poverty due to refrigeration costs and the need for a skilled person to give the injection. Biotech companies have used these points to make edible vaccines sound very promising, claiming foods could be genetically engineered to contain an affordable supply of necessary vaccinations. However, this is just another technology in which many holes can easily be pointed out. Few vaccines are absorbed well through the stomach due to either being to large to cross the gut wall and/or are easily broken down by enzymes in the stomach, in addition to the fact that it would be very difficult to determine proper doses (GAIN). There is also a serious concern for the release of any genetically manipulated organism; particularly in the case of vaccines due to their disease causing potential (GAIN). Imagine the possible ecological effects an entire field of a GE crop exposing a vaccine to any animals or insects which might feed on it. Also, there would still be considerable cost to edible vaccine, not real reductions as biotech companies might claim."

More papers on Genetically Engineered Foods:

• Essay # 54962 : "Genetically Engineered Foods"
• Persuasive Essay # 86894 : "Genetically Engineered Foods"
• Essay # 71848 : "Genetically Engineered Foods"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: