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The Uncertainties of Genetically Modified Seeds

            In the early 1800's the Secretary of the Treasury initiated a program requesting U. Ambassadors and military officers to gather seeds and seed data from their posts around the world. This program became more methodical in 1839 when the U.S. Patent Office established an agricultural division that began collecting seeds and launching free seed distribution programs. In 1862 the United States Department of Agriculture was established and at this time the department devoted at least one-third of its budget to collecting and distributing seeds to farmers across the country (Center for Food Safety). .
             For over two centuries the U.S. government and the U.S. Patent Office classified life forms as a product of nature and therefore excluded them from patent laws. The introduction of the Plant Patent Act of 1930 changed all of this and agricultural patenting of seeds became permissible. In 1980, a revolutionary decision changed this one step further after the ruling of the landmark Supreme Court case, Diamond v. Chakrabarty, affirming that living things have eligibility for patent protection. Chakrabarty had genetically modified a strain of bacteria with foreign genes thus giving it the ability to breakdown hydrocarbons. This modification of the bacteria's genes were made in hopes of one day using it to assist with the clean up of oil spills (Actionbioscience). Unfortunately, there still continues to be too many uncertainties and possible harmful effects to the environment when it comes to the use of this oil eating bacterium or for them to perform other kinds of "environmental bioremediation" (Masnick). .
             Genetically modified (GM) seeds are currently used for production of agricultural crops and a significant step forward in the agricultural industry. GM seeds are seeds that have been modified to contain certain characteristics such as resistance to herbicides or pests, drought resistance, increased crop yields, and nutrient enhanced foods.


Essays Related to The Uncertainties of Genetically Modified Seeds

1. Understanding Genetically Modified Foods

However, many people are questioning whether these genetically modified crops are actually good for us. ... These are examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). ... Although genetic engineering has made a major breakthrough in terms of elevating science, it still has the issue of uncertainty when questioning long term effects on humans. ... Monsanto uses technologies that genetically modified seeds such as cotton and corn in order to promote yield. They refer to this as agricultural biotechnology, but it has become commonly referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). ...

  • Word Count: 2358
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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified foods have been one of the biggest issues in the news do to uncertainty of the outcomes. ... Genetically Modified foods are used to describe the crop plants created for human and animal consumption. ... There are a few advantages with genetically modified foods that people should know about. ... Genetically modified foods could solve some of these problems. ... Farmers that do not use genetically modified seeds are saying that the seeds from the farmers that do use genetically modified seeds have circulated into their crops. ...

  • Word Count: 947
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  • Grade Level: High School

3. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's)

Each plant in the traditional method has a unique combination of genes that cause variations in seed size, branching pattern, in height, flower color, fruiting time, or flavor, only the plants with the best genes tend to survive. Some scientist's rebuttal with the argument that genetically modified plants are less vulnerable to viruses and diseases, this is sometimes the case however no two environments are exactly the same, so every crop's vulnerability differs considerably. ... However genetically modified foods made from transgenic plants have the capability to carry vaccines in...

  • Word Count: 1689
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Arguments on Consumption of GMO's

In recent discussions of genetically modified food, a controversial issue has been whether genetically modified food should be labeled or not. ... Therefore, American consumers should demand that a law be passed that requires genetically modified food to be labeled so that they can avoid eating genetically modified food. ... Could consumer be eating genetically modified corn and not even know it? ... When did genetically modified corn start to appear in our market? ... Genetically modified corn fed rats were compared to the control groups (parental non genetically modified equivalent), follow...

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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. GM Foods, Harmful or Helpful?

I"ll tell you how, with the use of genetically modified foods or otherwise known as GMO's. ... Some people think that the use of these chemicals and genetically altered seeds are dangerous and harmful. ... The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. ... "To alleviate concern and increase consumer confidence, more research needs to be done." says William Muir, professor at Purdue, "If scientists cannot agree on a unified methodology for testing the safety of genetically modified organisms, the public will reject transgenic technology on the basis of uncertain...

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6. The Scientific Method

But rejecting or not rejecting a hypothesis is often based on a statistical analysis of experimental data, and with statistical analysis, you'll have some known uncertainty about your decision. The uncertainty is frequently called error, but it does not imply a mistake or deliberate flaw. ... A good example of known uncertainty (error) is found with polling results. Those results are often presented this way: 40% favor the proposition; 60% are against it; with an uncertainty of plus or minus 3%. That 6% range of uncertainty (error) is an example of known uncertainty, and its size depends ...

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  • Grade Level: High School

7. Creation...

In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, and other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. ... Through random mutations a population's genes explore the neighboring portions of "design space" (the set of all possible genetic configurations). ... In other passages design space seems to be the abstract set of all genetic possibilities, with little inherent structure. ...

  • Word Count: 7861
  • Approx Pages: 31
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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