... could be used to engineer plants to help halt the spread of deserts; to develop microorganisms and plants to synthesize essential biologics, such as insulin and antibodies; to help in water treatment to remove pesticides (bioremidiation), heavy metals, and other industrial and agrochemical poisons. Scientists must be extremely cautious about releasing genetically engineered organisms into the environment. The deliberate ... supplement, tryptophan, have been suspected to produce toxic contaminants that killed 37 people and permanently disabled 1,500 more. Genetically Engineered foods will...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... in organisms, more specifically in plants. For example, tomatoes are sensitive to frost, which shortens their growing season. Fish, on the other hand are able to survive in very cold water. Scientists identified a particular gene in a flounder that enables it to resist cold engineering to insert this 'anti-freeze' gene into a tomato. This makes it possible to extend the growing season ... , genetic keys to rapid growth have been found for 11 species of commercially used fish, including shrimp. Scientists are hoping that the fish will be able to live in colder water, as well as fight off ...

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... been the scourge of the 20th century, biological pollution from GMO crops poses even more hazards as we enter the new millennium. Unlike chemicals that are released into the environment, GMOs are living beings that will reproduce and spread ... the GMO crops growing in the U.S. are engineered to withstand high doses of toxic weed killers. These herbicide tolerant crops will likely lead to more pesticides in our food, drinking water, and the environment. Recent evidence links exposure to biochemical giant Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, the chemical used with most herbicide tolerant crops...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Consumers usually frown on food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards. Additionally, the run-off of from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison water supplies and cause harm to the environment (Whitman). Growing GM foods such as Bt corn, which harms insect predators and parasitoids but is considered safe for humans, can help ... to grow crops in locations previously unsuited for plant cultivation. Jeremy Rifkin reports in an article in the Boston Globe that to combat cold weather, an antifreeze gene from cold-water fish has been introd...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... food. According to Biotechnology Unzipped, "world population growth adds about 90 million new mouths to feed every year" and crop production has slowed due to insects, and damaged soil, and pollution (110). In order to feed the anticipated world population growth, crops will have to double over the next thirty years ("Editors" 1). Since the world may eventually become overpopulated, multinational ... such as glyphosate are also toxic to such organisms as spiders, earthworms, and fish" (Grace 108). A transgenic crop can also kill weeds that compete for the same space, light, water, and nut...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... planet as populations grow. No-till farming, meaning no ploughing is a major change in the agricultural process, since ploughing has been the standard for over 10,000 years. Ploughing facilitates pollution run-off, erosion and release of greenhouse gases. Today's ground-breaking farmers are working on ways to eliminate ploughing. The benefits of no-till farming are not only environmental, but ... . Presently, that increase can be represented by the size of Greece of Nicaragua EACH year. Virtually all types of farming practices pose some sort of liability. Organic farming can pollute wate...

• Word Count: 714
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate