Genetic Engineering's Effect on the Environment
Cons of Genetic Engineering's Impact on the Environment:
Herbicide and Pesticide Resistance
Just as our body's tends to become immune to a disease it has previously been introduced to, insects can evolve to become immune to herbicides as well as pesticides. This can cause problems with agriculture overall, there would have to new ways to prevent insects from coming in contact with the food.
Genetic Pollution
The idea of the GMOs contaminating wild plants is a scare because of the unknown risks or consequences that may take place. The long term effects can cause harm in our biodiversity, to the environments food chains, in fact, the term genetically engineered is very contradicting.
The term engineer means to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance. GMOs are nowhere near controllable, wind, birds, water, can cause the spread of the GMO seeds which can lead to many unknown consequences. Because the seeds are capable of being spread anywhere, and the consequences are unknown, some GMO's can become an Invasive Species or an Alien Species. Alien Species can compete with the native species in the area they invade, and they can out compete them as well. To out-compete the native species in the area means that the Alien Species, in this case the GMO, will begin to take nutrition from the native species causing the native species to die. This could cause economic problems for farmers who have organic farmlands, eventually effect the public as well.
There was also a situation that occurred with Monarch butterflies due to Genetic pollution. Genetically Modified or a GM maize pollen in the "US damaged the caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly". The cause of the Monarch Butterflies being exposed to the GM maize pollen was the fifty percent of the Monarch butterflies died, and the half that did not die only grew fifty percent of their normal size. The argument being made here is if the GM maize pollen can damage a single species, then there is no telling what other damage this kind of exposure can cause. And if the GM products happen to be introduced to a new area, like an organic farmland, and take over as an invasive species, there's no telling the damages it can cause to the human body.
Bacillus thuringiensus (Bt-toxin) is "The bacteria naturally occurs in soils and secretes a toxic substance that protects it against other soil organisms." Biotech companies have put a "slight variation" of Bt in the Genetically Modified Crops, these Crops are consumed by humans, and no one knows of the effects that this pesticide may have on humans.
The term engineer means to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance. GMOs are nowhere near controllable, wind, birds, water, can cause the spread of the GMO seeds which can lead to many unknown consequences. Because the seeds are capable of being spread anywhere, and the consequences are unknown, some GMO's can become an Invasive Species or an Alien Species. Alien Species can compete with the native species in the area they invade, and they can out compete them as well. To out-compete the native species in the area means that the Alien Species, in this case the GMO, will begin to take nutrition from the native species causing the native species to die. This could cause economic problems for farmers who have organic farmlands, eventually effect the public as well.
There was also a situation that occurred with Monarch butterflies due to Genetic pollution. Genetically Modified or a GM maize pollen in the "US damaged the caterpillars of the Monarch butterfly". The cause of the Monarch Butterflies being exposed to the GM maize pollen was the fifty percent of the Monarch butterflies died, and the half that did not die only grew fifty percent of their normal size. The argument being made here is if the GM maize pollen can damage a single species, then there is no telling what other damage this kind of exposure can cause. And if the GM products happen to be introduced to a new area, like an organic farmland, and take over as an invasive species, there's no telling the damages it can cause to the human body.
Bacillus thuringiensus (Bt-toxin) is "The bacteria naturally occurs in soils and secretes a toxic substance that protects it against other soil organisms." Biotech companies have put a "slight variation" of Bt in the Genetically Modified Crops, these Crops are consumed by humans, and no one knows of the effects that this pesticide may have on humans.
US concerns about GMOs
According to the "Genetically Modified Foods" article the US excuse for its intensified use of pesticides and the wiping out of "wild animals and plants in the huge crop fields of the US" is that the United States can afford to do that because of the many wilderness conservation's established in the US. This Carelessness can be the cause of environmental situations that the US may face in the future, and could be the cause of the environmental problems the US faces today.
Pros of Genetic Engineering's Impact of the Environment:
Reduction in the use of Herbicides
Herbicides are a substance or preparation for killing plants, especially weeds. Farmers use this substance to kill weeds that may sprout amongst their crops, risks include killing their own crops, or at least contaminating them. Genetically modified crops have shown reduction in the "application rates for herbicides used on herbicide resistant crops" according to the "Ecological Impacts of Genetic Engineering of Crops" article.
Reduction in the use of Pesticides, Deforestation, and Famine
Genetically Engineered crops "can produce toxins that kills insects," this can benefits our biodiversity because insects and Animals can come in contact with the pesticides sprayed on some of the plants, therefore resulting in possible severe effects in our biodiversity. Also scientists have Genetically Engineered crops that are being created to be able to withstand and grow on land conditions that natural grown crops would not be able to withstand. Land conditions such as acidic soils, salty soils, and dry soils. This can help reduce famine in other countries, if crops are able to be grown in dry soil conditions then crops would be able to withstand the conditions of land that may be experiencing a drought. These "drought-resistant crops" can be the cause of a reduction in famine in the world, along with the reduction of death rates in countries as well. It's also said that crops are being creating to help improve the soil by "Removing heavy metal from the soil" according to the "Genetically Modified Foods" article.
Precautions for Biodiversity
Unlike the United states, we have some countries that take precautions for the safety of our biodiversity. India takes time to make sure their public is aware of the benefits and the harm that GMOs can cause, and India carefully studies the effects that the GMOs may have on biodiversity. " The existing biosafety framework now requires that all genetically modified organisms must undergo a rigorous review and safety assessment prior to their import, field testing, or release." This shows exactly how the world is beginning to take their concerns into their own hands, and taking the responsibility to do what they have to do to keep their country, and the world safe.