Compounding the problem is that when people are lifted out of poverty, they eat more, and thus recent economic improvements, particularly in Asia, have put additional pressure on food production to meet this new demand, even without feeding a single additional hungry person. Clearly, major increases in crop yields are going to be needed to meet future demand for food, given these trends (Lobell & Asner, 2003)
Such modifications can only be expected to have increase yields in a roundabout way, by reducing the amount of crop lost to such herbs and pests. Given that there is substantial evidence that herbs and pests are developing resistance to the herbicides and pesticides used in conjunction with the genetically modified crops (Owen & Zelaya, 2005), even this roundabout improvement seems temporary in nature
The Population Problem The biggest reason that we still have world hunger, all other factors being equal, is that the human population is rapidly increasing. The population of the Earth was 2 billion in 1927 and 3 billion in 1960, and just fifty-two years later sits at over 7 billion (Rosenburg, 2012)
Biology - Genetic Engineering GENETIC ENGINEERING: APPLICATIONS and CONTROVERSIES Genetic engineering is the process of deliberately changing the genetic material of an organism by manipulating its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecular structure for the purpose of transmitting those specifically designed changes to successive generations via genetic inheritance. The first documented (albeit unintentional) experimental demonstration of genetic engineering actually preceded the identification of the DNA molecule by almost thirty years (Aldridge 1998)
In fact, so much research into the mechanics of human heredity were conducted in the interim between Griffith's first experiments that culmination in their 1957 announcement for which they shared a Nobel Prize, that the work of Watson and Crick is considered by many to unfairly overshadow the valuable contributions of Griffith and other predecessors (Gibbon 2002). Since then, genetic engineering techniques have been widely used for different beneficial applications: in agriculture, modern farming incorporates genetic engineering to produce higher quality crops and healthier cattle; and in industrial applications, genetically modified bacteria have been developed into organisms capable of absorbing toxic wastes and oil spills (Elias 2006)
One of the applications of genetic engineering with the most beneficial potential relates to the isolation of human stem cells for the treatment of disease. Embryonic stem cells, in particular, represent the greatest beneficial applications, because they are capable of being extracted from the same embryos already made available through the IVF process and then used to develop virtually any type of human tissue required (Pollack 2007)
However, because it involves the very mechanism of inheritable human characteristics, genetic engineering has also generated intense political debate and opposition, primarily from religious groups who view it as interfering with "God's work" (Sagan 1997). In that regard, the most controversial form of genetic engineering relates to human cloning, mainly because the general public is largely ignorant of the fundamental difference between the myriad beneficial applications cloning technology and the actual use of those techniques to clone an actual human being (Saunders 2001)
The use of stem cell technology will eventually make organ (and bone marrow) donation unnecessary, because genetically engineered replacement organs will be able to be developed using the patient's own tissues. In addition to eliminating the need for powerful anti-rejection drugs currently required to prevent organ recipients from rejecting their transplants, the incorporation of genetically engineered replacement organs will provide life-saving organs for the many thousands of patients who die every year while waiting for one of the few compatible organs that become available (Zuckerman 2005)
While most of the world expressed distrust with regard to this process, "a few more cautious voices were heard, both suggesting some possible benefits from the use of human cloning in limited circumstances and questioning its too quick prohibition, but they were a clear minority." (Brock) Controversy regarding cloning is strongly powered by the media world, taking into account the numerous disturbing media representations of individuals sustaining genetic engineering or human clones
"Hundreds of genetic tests are now available which can identify individuals who carry one or more gene mutations associated with an increased risk of developing common health conditions." (Greco, Tinley, & Seibert, 2011, p
This calls into question the ownership of the child's DNA. (Bereano, 1995) Modifying a child's gene to save his or her life, without a very young child's consent, might be considered within ethical guidelines, like providing resuscitation to an unconscious person who cannot give consent, but non-necessary procedures are far more questionable
A debilitating disease caused by genetic mutation which results in the absence of an important enzyme which leaves the carrier of disease severely weakened and incapable of fighting off any infection." (Dinham, 2005) Unwittingly, with the best of intentions, Ashi's loving parents had passed on genes that almost inevitably limited the life of their child
"If there are some areas of genetic engineering that can safely benefit humanity while respecting other forms of life, then efforts need to be redoubled not only in the area of scientific risk assessment, but also in developing broad ethical guidelines. (Epstein, 2005) The time is now not simply to seek cures to disease, but also set clear, if modifiable guidelines as to how the technology should be used to mitigate the potentially negative consequences to humanity
The genes can be incorporated into microscopic fatty droplets called liposomes. (Heaf, 2001) Provided that research on genetic engineering continues, the engineering will become safer, rather than riskier
For example, scientists working "to mend nature's mistakes," are currently attempting to "trick" mutated genes into working properly, "potentially treating hemophilia, increasing the body's 'good' cholesterol or providing therapies for genetic diseases." (Rosenwald, 2005, p
Hungry for Profit posits that if the world community has input into agricultural policies interested citizens would no longer be "blind" to practices that presently are "risky" and indeed "compromise the public welfare" (69). Can biotechnology help the African farmer? "For many, under-nutrition and malnutrition lead to death, not necessarily through starvation, although this may happen in famine situations, but because a poor diet reduces the capacity to fight disease… [throughout the world] seventeen million children under five die each year and malnourishment contributes to at least one-third of these deaths" (Conway, 1997, p
3). A report produced by the Michigan State University Department of Agricultural Economics claims that "…agricultural biotechnology has the potential to help African smallholders" and the report stresses that biotechnology can be beneficial to the environment and to the health of farmers and those that work in the fields in Africa (Eicher, et al
" Neth Dano of the Southeast Asian Institute for Community Education (SEARICE) believes that these revolutionary seeds "…could drive millions of farmers out of plant breeding and, since no one else will breed for their needs, out of agriculture altogether" (Shand, 5). Defending & questioning genetically engineered seeds and crops The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) seems on the side of GM seed expansion -- with some qualifications -- in general, and asserts that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are "here to stay" (Fresco, 2001, p
If this scenario is valid, that means there must be a "doubling of imports of grains to the developing world," especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where people are "least able to deal with the consequences of declining yield growth," Scoones explains (115). Will the pro-GM food production organizations and corporations be able to provide adequate supplies of safe, nutritious foods to the sub-Saharan African nations? This question could not be more pertinent to contemporary problems in Africa, because according to an article in The Sydney Morning Herald "Up to 13 million people are at risk of starvation in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti" today because of the worst drought in 60 years (Gartrell, 2011)
g., seed from this terminator technology) it becomes the property of its creators… [and] as a result, corporate ownership now extends into the reproduction of life itself" (Hammers, 2002, p