Genetic Engineering
Genetically Modified Food
Genetic engineering is one of the breakthroughs in the agricultural sector introduced in the last four decades. Traditionally, agricultural production relied on natural methods such as crossbreeding to achieve the desired plant species. Such methods were associated with disadvantages such as its slow nature and inability to produce the desired plant traits in the desired period. However, the introduction of genetic modification led to the elimination of these barriers. Genetic engineering is faster as compared to the traditional crossbreeding as it involves the extraction of a gene from the desired plant species and introducing into a DNA of different plant. Among the perceived benefits associated with the genetic modified food crops, include having more yields as compared to the conventional food crops, its economic nature, safety for human consumption, and lack of evidence for its harm to the environment. Despite this, the issue of genetic modification of food has faced numerous criticisms in the recent past. Some scholars argue that it has negative effects on the human health and the fact that there is no empirical evidence that suggests its long-term effects on the human health (Hodge, 2009). Therefore, this research paper analyzes the historical perspective/context of the genetically modified food. It also discusses the cultural perspective of the technology alongside the influence the media has over the topic.
Historical development and context of the genetic modification of food
Despite the recent introduction of genetic modification of organisms in the global environment, its history traces its roots throughout the human history. The year 1980 marked the turning point of the technology as scientists found out that certain DNA pieces could be transferred from one plant (organism) to another. This formed the foundation of the whole technology of genetic manipulation of organisms globally. However, the history of genetic modification can be traced back to the prehistoric times of Charles Darwin in the year 1859. Charles Darwin availed the book entitled "the origin of the species" that gave extensive knowledge and information based on breeding at that time. In 1865, Gregor Mendel published findings from his studies concerning breeding of peas. This formed the basis of the modern genetics. In 1869, Fredrich Miescher a scientist discovered the nuclei. He described it as a major component of the DNA. Later, his idea of the nuclei was discovered to carry the DNA trans-scripted information on the features of a species (Cockburn, 2002).
Around 1900, farmers from Britain used yeast and fermentation to introduce the desired hybrid. The gatherers of the food plants found in nature used the technology. In addition, the farmers during this period relied on natural cross breeding to introduce the desired plant species. The system was associated with disadvantages such as its slowed ability to develop the desired species and the fact that the new plants did not have the desired characteristics such as pest and disease resistance (Prakash, 2001). Besides, the European scientists applied the principles of Gregor Mendel theory of genetics to try to manipulate the food crops. According to Mendel's theory of gene selection, crossing a plant with the desired traits with low yielding plant results in the development of a moderately producing crop species. These scientists refereed this technology as "the classical selection of the plant species." Despite the fact that the plants introduced the desired species, it did not produce results such as disease and pest resistance and its time consuming nature. This made it have little differences from the traditional method of cross breeding plants of the same variety to introduce the desired features (Herring, 2006).
In 1902, scientists Theodor Boveri and Walter Sulton proposed that inheritance occurs under the influence of chromosomes. They describe chromosomes as double stranded inside the DNA nuclei. In 1910, Morgan T.H. demonstrated that the chromosomes are the entities that carry genes determining the characteristics of an organism. In the year 1913, Sturtevant came up with the structure of the genetic map. The map showed the constituents of the DNA that play a role in influencing the characteristics of an organism. In the year 1916, Clavin Bridges concurred with Morgan (1910) that inheritance is under the influence of the chromosomes. Muller A.H. showed that X-rays induces genetic mutation and can transform the characteristics of the DNA and the organism in the year 1927. Harriet Creighton and Barbara McClintock brought into the light the idea of DNA recombination in the year 1931. They defined DNA recombination as the process of linking...
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