Ethical Issues Associated with Genetic Engineering on Crops and Humans

This essay delves into the ethical considerations surrounding genetic engineering, focusing on its application to crops and humans. It begins by introducing genetic engineering and its benefits, such as increased crop yields and enhanced nutritional value, while also acknowledging the role of genetic modification in addressing global food security. The essay then explores the ethical issues, including potential health risks like allergies and toxicity, environmental impacts such as soil texture changes, and concerns about the alteration of natural genes. The discussion also addresses the disturbance of the food chain and the need for antibiotics due to pest resistance. The essay concludes by recommending the use of genetic engineering for ethical purposes only, such as controlling pests and weeds, and emphasizes the responsibility of humans to use this technology without harming the environment or human health. The essay's conclusion stresses the importance of ethical guidelines and control measures to mitigate risks associated with genetic modification, which is a pressing global issue that requires careful consideration to ensure food security and environmental sustainability.

Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans

Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
Contents
Introduction:..........................................................................................................................................2
Benefits of Genetic engineering on crops and humans:........................................................................2
Ethical Issues:........................................................................................................................................3
Recommendation..................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion:............................................................................................................................................5
References:............................................................................................................................................5
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Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
Title: Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
Introduction:
The genetic engineering is based on the gene technology for modification of genetic
components included in the crops and humans. The recombination of the gene and
DNA helps in developing genetically modified components. It has been analysed that
there are some environmental based risks are associated with the crops and their
side effects on the humans. The health issues are getting tremendously high with the
use of genetically modified food items (Zhang, 2016). The genetic engineering is the
biological technology which can affect the genetic system of the living beings. The
manipulation and modification can be done in the breeding process of the crops for
improving the quality of the crop produced. The development of genetic modification
food is due to the over population and its expansion globally. The controlling of
human health is the major concern associated with the production of the food item
with the use of genetic modified crops. The land for carrying out agricultural activities
is not available due to the increasing growth rate of urbanization and the expansion
of population (Perkins, 2004). The other major factor is the availability of water for
irrigation which raises the concern of socio economic factors. The resistance from
the potential disease can be developed with the use of genetic engineering concept.
Benefits of Genetic engineering on crops and humans:
It has been analysed that the growth rate of the crops have been accelerated with
the use of genetic modification techniques. The increase in agriculture production
helps in improving the economy of the nation. The value of the yield or production is
increased due to the improving resistance capacity against of pest and weeds. The
farmers use this technology for increasing the sale of the production by making it
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Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
more attractive and fresh. The genetic modification helps in improving the nutritional
value of the crops produced. It helps in overcoming the problem of malnutrition which
the people faced due to unavailability of nutrition. It helps in improving the economy
and the growth rate of the nation. The processing of the food can be facilitated by
using the technology of genetic engineering.
Ethical Issues:
The carbohydrate value in the composition is changed in the transgenic product for
enhancing the quality of the nutrition present in the crop production. The major
negative impact can be seen on the environmental factors because the texture of the
soil is changed according to the requirement of the genetic modified crops. The
antisense genes are introduced for altering the genetic composition which results
into the slower down the process of ripening (Qaim, 2013). The appearance of the
food item is enhanced with the introduction of the glycosyltransferases gene in the
crop production. The negative impact of genetic modification food production can be
seen in the health of the humans and associated environment. The unethical
principles are adopted for enhancing the appearance of the common food item for
increasing the sale. The adequacy is not achieved in the generation of genetic
modification food items (Kruft, 2001). The controlling of human health is the major
concern associated with the production of the food item with the use of genetic
modified crops. It has been identified that there are three risks associated with the
genetic production of vegetables and fruits which are classified as allergy, toxicity,
and genetic hazards. These effects are mainly due to the occurrence of genetic
modified crops. The manipulation of the natural genes can modified naturally
presents components in the crop which results into allergy and other health issues
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Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
(Friess, 2011). The metabolic rate of the human can be affected due to the changes
in the natural genes of the crop with the use of genetic engineering. The toxicity is
introduced due to the growth of potential risks associated with the metabolic
activities.
The aim of the genetic engineering is to develop the product which can resist with
the inclusion of pests and weeds. The farmers use this technology for increasing the
sale of the production by making it more attractive and fresh (Key, 2008). This
creates the unethical scenarios which can results into negative effects on the human
health of the genetic engineering. The food chain is also get disturbed due to the
evolution of pest resistance techniques which affects the growth of the organism
such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. The need of antibiotic arises due to the growth of
genetic modification which is done in enhancing the crop production. The antibiotic
acts against the growth of th organism such as bacteria and viruses in the body of
the humans which can be the cause of health issues arises in the human body due
to the consumption of genetically produced foods and crops.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the control measures should be taken to improve the
appearance of the crop with the use of genetic engineering. The technology should
be used for ethical purposes only such as restricting the growth of the pest and
weeds which can affect the productivity of the agricultural field (Li, 2002). The
genetic modification helps in improving the nutritional value of the crops produced.
The global warming can be effected with the regular use of genetically modified
crops. From the analysis we have seen that there are many advantages and benefits
also with the use of genetically modified crops. It is the responsibility of the humans
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Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
to use the technology in the ethical manner without harming the environment and
health of the animals and plants.
Conclusion:
It has been concluded that the unethical principles are adopted for enhancing the
appearance of the common food item for increasing the sale. The countermeasures
should be taken to control the unethical activities associated with the deployment of
genetic engineering in the crop production. The steps should be taken to resolve the
potential risks associated with the growth of the genetically modified food. The
genetic modification helps in improving the nutritional value of the crops produced
which in turn enhances the economy of the nation.
References:
Friess, D. (2011). Environmental and health impact of GM crops. Retrieved from
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/PageFiles/434214/GM_Fact%20Sheet_Health_
%20and_Env_Impacts.pdf
Key, S. (2008). Genetically modified plans and human health. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/
Kruft, D. (2001). Impact of genetically modified crops and seeds on farmer. Retrieved
from https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/_file/aglaw/Impacts_of_Genetically_Modified.pdf
Li, S. (2002). Genetically modified plants for food use ad human health. Retrieved
from https://royalsociety.org/~/media/Royal_Society_Content/policy/publications/
2002/9960.pdf
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Ethical issues associated with Genetic engineering on crops and humans
Perkins, S. (2004). Human health effects of genetically engineered crops. Retrieved
from https://www.nap.edu/read/23395/chapter/8
Qaim, M. (2013). Genetically modified crops and food security. Retrieved from
http://www2.stat-athens.aueb.gr/~jpan/Qaim-PlosOne-2013.pdf
Zhang, C. (2016). Genetically modified foods: A critical review of their promise and
problems. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295
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