Genetically-modified organisms and the environment Essay

Genetically-modified organisms and the environment - Essay Example However, like two sides of a coin every new technology has its drawbacks and genetic modification is not an exception. â€Å"Despite the potential benefits of this new technology to improve the reliability and quality of the world food supply, public and scientific concerns have been raised about the environmental and food safety of GM crops† (Jan-Peter et al,2003). Most impacts of genetically modified plants and animals maybe seen clearly at the environmental even though environmental scientists are yet not sure of what impacts these modifications will have on the environment in the long run. The concept of selective reproduction is not new and has been in use for hundreds of years in both agriculture and animal husbandry. However, this control has today reached the molecular level where it is possible to target particular desirable genes and selected the desired trait. Organisms which include plants, animals and even microbes whose genome has been manipulated to enhance expression of a certain gene or allele primarily for some kind of benefit are known as genetically modified organisms. With the help of genetic engineering researchers can obtain any desired gene expression. Genetically engineered corps or transgenic crops such as cotton, potato and corn were modified such that they could express Bt toxin which diminished the usage of chemical insecticides while being grown. Genetically modified crops can also be used for therapeutic purposes such as Golden rice which was inserted with a gene that could express and help in the production of beta carotene; a source of vitamin A. Microbes mainly bacterial genome has been modified to produce chemicals and enzymes. Larger animals such a fishes, mice and Drosophila have been genetically modified mainly for research purposes. However, each of these modifications mainly that of growing crops which is in direct contact with the natural environment i.e. away from the laboratory setting, has impacts that