First, what is a gmo?
According to The World Health Organization, GMO's (genetically modified organisms) are, "Organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally." GMO's are made through biotechnology, and are made for the purpose of creating desirable features in animals and foods. Desirable features may include bigger size, resistance to insects, or even resistance to disease. Some common GMO's include corn that has been modified to have an insect-killing gene and tomatoes that have been made to have a longer shelf life.
More on how GMO's are made...
Examples of GMO's
How are Gmo's Beneficial?
GMO's are beneficial in many ways. First, genetically modified foods typically taste better. This would make GMO's more popular, because the average person wants to buy the best tasting foods. Also, GMO's have more nutritional benefits, because vitamins and minerals can be added to them. For example, there is a type of rice called "golden rice" that has been modified to have higher amounts of vitamin A. If more people are eating GMO's, then more people are receiving extra nutritional benefits.
GMO's have an increased yield compared to crops that have not been genetically modified, and the crops grow faster. If crops are growing faster, then there would be a higher yield because more crops would be able to be grown per year. In this situation, there is a lot of crops being produced, which means the crops will also be lower in price. As surplus increases, price decreases. Also, if more developed countries are producing surplus, then they may be able to provide food to less developed countries who need it.
Next, GMO's are insect, disease, and drought resistant, which means that there will be a stable supply of the crop. If crops didn't have any sort of insect, drought, or disease resistance and some sort of outbreak were to happen, then there would be a decrease in the yield of that particular crop. For example, if a pest were to infect a crop, then there would be a lag in the production of that crop, which may be tragic to a country who is desperate for it. Furthermore, if a crop has the ability to resist insects, then there is a decrease in the use of pesticides, which would improve the environment.
Environmentally, by using biotechnology to genetically modify organisms, there is a decrease in soil erosion and preservation of topsoil. According to the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, "Biotech soy, corn and cotton have decreased soil erosion by 90 percent, preserving 37 million tons of topsoil." By preserving the environment, there will be more land suitable for agriculture, and a decrease in desertification in certain areas. Overall, GMO's are beneficial due to an increase in taste and nutritional value, an increase in yield and the rate at which crops grow, and they last longer.
GMO's have an increased yield compared to crops that have not been genetically modified, and the crops grow faster. If crops are growing faster, then there would be a higher yield because more crops would be able to be grown per year. In this situation, there is a lot of crops being produced, which means the crops will also be lower in price. As surplus increases, price decreases. Also, if more developed countries are producing surplus, then they may be able to provide food to less developed countries who need it.
Next, GMO's are insect, disease, and drought resistant, which means that there will be a stable supply of the crop. If crops didn't have any sort of insect, drought, or disease resistance and some sort of outbreak were to happen, then there would be a decrease in the yield of that particular crop. For example, if a pest were to infect a crop, then there would be a lag in the production of that crop, which may be tragic to a country who is desperate for it. Furthermore, if a crop has the ability to resist insects, then there is a decrease in the use of pesticides, which would improve the environment.
Environmentally, by using biotechnology to genetically modify organisms, there is a decrease in soil erosion and preservation of topsoil. According to the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, "Biotech soy, corn and cotton have decreased soil erosion by 90 percent, preserving 37 million tons of topsoil." By preserving the environment, there will be more land suitable for agriculture, and a decrease in desertification in certain areas. Overall, GMO's are beneficial due to an increase in taste and nutritional value, an increase in yield and the rate at which crops grow, and they last longer.
How does this relate to AP Human Geography?
This subject corresponds to chapter 10 of AP Human Geography. The vocabulary terms it relates to are agriculture, commercial agriculture, "round-up ready seeds," genetic modification, biotechnology, and genetic modification.
Why gmo's?
I chose to research GMO's because they are all around us. They are in our food and we are affected by their benefits. Also, I want to major in biology and genetics, and this subject is highly related to what I am interested in. When I go to college, I think it would be cool to learn more about GMO's and how they are made. Last, I thought chatper 10 of AP Human Geography was one of the most interesting chapters of the course.
Images
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130920000016&cid=1103
http://inhabitat.com/gmo-tomatoes-could-stay-fresh-for-over-a-month/
http://www.corvallisadvocate.com/2013/0711-southern-oregons-sugar-beets-assaulted/
http://izreal.eu/2013/10/17/soy-a-not-so-healthy-food/
http://parentinghealthybabies.com/health-benefits-of-zucchini-for-babies/
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/20121017/how-to-cook-a-whole-squash
http://health.wikinut.com/All-time-fruits-Papaya/rcegwie6/
http://health.wikinut.com/All-time-fruits-Papaya/rcegwie6/
http://www.12ozprophet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131443
Bibliography
Swenson, Kristie. "GMO Foods." . Common Ground, n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://findourcommonground.com/food-facts/gmo-foods/>.
"Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods." .
HealthResearchFunding.org, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-genetically-modified-foods/>.
Whitman, Deborah. "Genetically Modified Foods; Harmful or Helpful?." .
ProQuest, 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php>.
Bocco, Dianna. "Top 10 Genetically Modified Food Products." . Discovery,
n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-genetically-modified-food-products.htm>.
"Genetically Modified Foods: Get the Facts." . The Dr. Oz Show, 1 Jan.
2012. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/genetically-modified-foods-get-facts>.
"GMO primer: How genetically modified foods are used, regulated, labeled and
avoided." Chicago Tribune 1 Jan. 2014, sec. Business: n. pag. Print.
"12 bizarre examples of genetic engineering ." . Mother Nature Network,
n.d. Web. 30 May 2014.
<http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/photos/12-bizarre-examples-of-genetic-engineering/mad-science>.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130920000016&cid=1103
http://inhabitat.com/gmo-tomatoes-could-stay-fresh-for-over-a-month/
http://www.corvallisadvocate.com/2013/0711-southern-oregons-sugar-beets-assaulted/
http://izreal.eu/2013/10/17/soy-a-not-so-healthy-food/
http://parentinghealthybabies.com/health-benefits-of-zucchini-for-babies/
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/20121017/how-to-cook-a-whole-squash
http://health.wikinut.com/All-time-fruits-Papaya/rcegwie6/
http://health.wikinut.com/All-time-fruits-Papaya/rcegwie6/
http://www.12ozprophet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131443
Bibliography
Swenson, Kristie. "GMO Foods." . Common Ground, n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://findourcommonground.com/food-facts/gmo-foods/>.
"Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods." .
HealthResearchFunding.org, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-genetically-modified-foods/>.
Whitman, Deborah. "Genetically Modified Foods; Harmful or Helpful?." .
ProQuest, 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php>.
Bocco, Dianna. "Top 10 Genetically Modified Food Products." . Discovery,
n.d. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-genetically-modified-food-products.htm>.
"Genetically Modified Foods: Get the Facts." . The Dr. Oz Show, 1 Jan.
2012. Web. 1 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/genetically-modified-foods-get-facts>.
"GMO primer: How genetically modified foods are used, regulated, labeled and
avoided." Chicago Tribune 1 Jan. 2014, sec. Business: n. pag. Print.
"12 bizarre examples of genetic engineering ." . Mother Nature Network,
n.d. Web. 30 May 2014.
<http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/photos/12-bizarre-examples-of-genetic-engineering/mad-science>.