Genetically Modified Crops
Introduction
The growth of a population of humanity necessitates the need for optimization of the natural resources available to ascertain maximum output from limited geographical spaces given that the size of the earth does not expand. One of the means of exploiting the natural resources without negatively interfering with the ecosystem is through the application of genetic modification, a process that ensures that the crop species propagated onto the next generation are superior to the parent increasing their chances of survival. Genetically modifying crops is a process that entails two loci of implementation either through selective breeding or direct genetic modification. In the former, a male and female seed of a plant species is optimally stationed for reproduction based on selection which focuses on the desirable traits that the plant exudes. For the latter, the genomes of the plant are modified when foreign materials are introduced to improve specific characteristics of the plants. No matter the route of modification taken, overall improvement of plant traits is achieved, a result which enhances the productivity of the crop in question.
Biological basis of the genetic modification of plant crops
Description of the process
Reproduction in any living organism is compulsory for a species to ensure survival. However, the method of reproducing is not short on occurrences and instances one of which is the passing over of characteristics from the parent to the child, a prerogative of the DNA within the cell of a living organism. Therefore, the best way of describing genetics is to categorically state that it is interference with the characteristics of the mother organism to strengthen its weak spots. The process is achievable through any one of two means one of which involves coating metal surface with the desired DNA and the other is implanting the desirable traits via a virus or bacterium. In the first method, the metal particles are coated with the genome intended for addition and then it is bombarded into the plant cells. The latter process involves engraining the genome required as a bacteria and infecting the cell with the same.
Accomplishments
The process is intended to strengthen the plant to immunize it against diseases, infections, and weeds that affect the growth and development of the crops, all agents which interfere with the productivity of the vegetables. In inhabiting the effects of the same on the plant, genetic modification guarantees an enhancement in the productivity rates of the plant under scrutiny as it does improve the health by reconstructing the perseverance of a plant. The reconstruction is in regards to consumption and requirements for specific nutrients from the soil, a contribution that ultimately results in the crop becoming hardy thus productive in other areas that may not have possessed what the parent plants required to flourish.
Principles of genetic modification
Entities that conduct genetic modification have responsibilities towards the farmers they encourage to plant and nurture their crops as much as they do to the consumers of those crops. Because GM is a relatively new field, it is guided by a raft of principles five to be precise to ensure that the practitioners do not overstep their boundaries. The laws though five, cover approximately two fields of human dignity and respect which form the basis of their formation chief of which is proper access to information and the respect for freedom of choice.
The first principle requires the producers of GM to respect the right of the consumers to choose soberly on the healthy foods of their choice. The companies are bound by trying to impose on the world through deception or impositions that may influence an individual negatively to consume products of genetic modification. Secondly, they are bound by law to avail answers to all questions on matters that concern foods that are modified by genetics. In this way, people who opt to partake of genetic foodstuffs have a better understanding of what they are up to and to make the right choices in cases of adverse reactions. As is the second principle, the third one focuses on information access which according to the policy should be more comfortable and more accurate helping the stakeholders make sober decisions on matters involving the process. Finally, the farmers who opt to grow crops of genetic modification have to be supported by the organizations that introduced them to the idea so that the results of the venture are positive and beneficiary just in the same way the farmers must be accorded the freedom of choice without enticements and misinformation forming the fifth principle.
Socio-ethical implications of genetic modification
Socially, the health risks that come with scientific crops are many given the mysterious nature of the phenomenon thanks to unfamiliarity with the concept from which humans suffer. Additionally, environmental effects if negative could go unmitigated because the crops have been unleashed to the forces of nature for its reproduction process since the process of multiplication is left to take care of itself by natural means once genomes have been established. On the flipside, the social status of the members of the society is expected to rise drawing from the improved economic situation of the farmers since the productivity of their productivity increases.
Ethically, the scientific process is unpredictable making its release somehow unethical given that the effect on humanity at large is unknown. Apart from that, the issue of awarding patents to companies for procedures that were otherwise local and have been in use by farmers seem unfair. The imbalanced profit margin from the proceeds of the practice where developed countries benefit more as compared to their underdeveloped counterparts despite the fact that the latter is responsible for more diversity and land resources than the former is also an unfair practice.
Benefits and risks of modifying crop genetics
Lower production costs are one immediate benefit of the process since increasing productivity of the farming process is cheaper through the application of the practice. Additionally, farming processes such as pest and weed control are more competitive and yet increase the productivity of the processes involved. Environmentally, the method is suitable for value addition since saving for an unmitigated spread of the end product; there would not be a need for application of chemical inputs in improving plant health which is one of the biggest causes of environmental pollution hence in a way it mitigates ecological destruction.
Risks of GM
For any process whose results are yet to be predetermined, the presence of hazards are galore, and the GM process is not any different. In fact, the possibility of an environmental disaster based on the existence of inability to control the crops to one area. There is fear that the crops developed may spread in a fashion that is disastrous to other environmental forms. Additionally, there are fears that many a food processor may be disrupted with the implementation of the practice. With little or no weeds and pests, the predatory birds that feed on such pests that rely on plants will become obsolete and therefore threaten the ecosystems of some environments.
Personal viewpoint
Familiarity is good, but since familiarity with concepts frustrates change, I’ll go with acceptance of instances, events or practices that have been confirmed and results are predictable for their implementation. On that note, I believe it is entirely realistic to suggest that through genetic modification has shown that it is profitable to plant life, the effects on the environment and human health are yet to be fully understood. For that reason, I’m of the opinion that the best option would be the experimental implementation of the procedure under controlled conditions until the pending issues are established before it is unleashed to the world.