Genetically Engineered Food Pros and Cons

The science of genetic engineering has gained a wide spread importance in the modern times and it is being extensively applied in the food production industries. Several controversies and and debates have come up in the past regarding genetic engineering. Like an unbiased two sided coin, there are many different genetically engineered pros and cons that are constantly an issue of debate of the professionals that are involved in the field.

Genetically Engineered Food
Before we get to know the genetically engineered food pros and cons, let us have a look at the concept. Genetically engineered food is also known as the genetically modified foods or simply GM food. The genetically engineered food is produced with the help of organisms that have been modified. Many of us would obviously get confused by the concept. So here is a logical and simple explanation. Read on genetically modified foods pros and cons.

Your skin color or the color of your eyes basically depends upon the color of skin and eyes of your parents and ancestors. These characteristics are passed on to you by your parents with the help of the DNA. The DNA is a chain of 4 amino acids that are known as ATGC. The molecule of the DNA has a spiral structure and is divided into different segments that are termed as the Genes. The genes are descriptive codes that give you your personality and physical traits such as the fair skin or blond hair. I would like to state a fact that many of you would find interesting. Scientists have discovered a particular structure of genes, that is found in the DNA of the people who have blue eyes. It was concluded by these scientists that most of the people who have blue eyes can trace their ancestry to a person who lived in the Black Sea region about 10,000 years ago.

Coming back to the topic, genetic engineering should not be confused with the concept of traditional breeding. In traditional breeding, the genes of the organism are indirectly modified. However, in the case of genetic engineering, the direct modification of an organism's genes is done. This direct modification is basically achieved with the help of complex processes know as molecular cloning and molecular transformation. The food production industry is known to have taken up numerous techniques for genetic engineering, for the enhancement of food production. The fact that was not taken into consideration while doing so is that there are certain pros and cons of genetic engineering. Read more on genetically modified foods - advantages and dangers.

Pros and Cons of Genetically Engineered Food
The following are the genetically engineered food pros and cons.

Pros of Genetically Engineered Foods
The reason that these kind of production techniques have been fast coming into prevalence is, due to their potential benefits. Genetically engineered foods have the following benefits.

Increase in Food Supply: The growing population, fluctuating rain cycles and several other factors like global warming have substantially dropped the rate of food production all over the world. The genetically engineered foods thus can be used in order to increase the food production. These foods can virtually eliminate almost all the food shortage problems.

Resistance of Plants and Animals: Another very good advantage of the genetically engineered foods is that there is the resistance of plants and animals against the different pests, insects and also the different types of infections. This resistance often tends to be very effective as loss of food is minimized drastically.

More Nutrition: Iron and vitamins can easily be increased in the food that is genetically engineered. The advantage of increasing the nutrients is that it makes the foods even more healthy. A change in the genes can also be used to bring about some very good changes in the food products like increasing the life span of some of the types of foods that tend to get spoiled very quickly.

Spread of Immunity: Just like the addition in the quality and quantity of the food products that are produced with the help of genetic engineering, the substances that help to boost the human immunity and resistance to many common diseases are also found in these foods.

Cons of Genetically Engineered Foods
Just like the the pros or the advantages of the genetically engineered foods, there can also be several different cons.

Diseases: One of the drawbacks that was spotted, is the development of diseases that are immune to normal antibiotics. The long terms effects of the consumption of these foods is also not known. Some experts believe that such food can cause diseases like cancer or may also result in disorders.

Dangers of Cross Pollination: The second threat that has been realized is that frequent cross pollination and change in the genes of the organisms is not at all healthy for the whole eco-system and may alter the biological process of almost all the organisms that are existent in the environment.

Read more on:

• Genetic Engineering in Food
• Benefits of Genetic Engineering

The use of genetically engineered food products are bound to be very effective. But in the long term there is also one big drawback. The eco-systems around the world would either get disrupted or would become extinct. It is thus advisable that mankind resorts to the conventional and indirect genetic modification which has already proved to be safe and successful. Hence instead of risking the genetically engineered food pros and cons it is better to enhance the already known, conventional food production methods.