Genetic Engineering: Questions of Ethics and Effectiveness

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They also cited evidence of more financial benefits for farmers. On the other hand, critics of GE argued that there was no definite proof that GM crops were better than conventional crops in terms of yield or profitability and that GM crops sometimes increased the need for pesticides. They added that since the health effects of consuming GM crops were not known, and whatever damage that they might cause would take years to manifest, it would be wise to conduct a thorough analysis of the biological (human health), environmental and socio-economic impact of GM crops before allowing their use.

Even as late as mid-2007, the debate showed no signs of abating. The supporters of GM crops argued that it would be foolish to disregard a technology that had huge potential, while critics maintained that 'Frankenfoods'⁹ were no answer to falling productivity and that the scientific community should come up with more conventional solutions to increase food production.

In the 1950s, with the discovery of the structure of the DNA¹², scientists realized that it might be possible to change the genetic signature of an organism so as to bestow traits or characteristics that evolution or selective breeding could not engender. In the 1970s, when the method of isolating and copying genes was developed, the scientific community became aware of the unlimited possibilities of genetic modification...

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9] Detractors refer to GM foods as Frankenfoods, inspired by the character Frankenstein from the 1818 novel of the same name written by Mary Shelley.

10] Genotype is the internally coded inheritable information carried by all living organisms.

11] The phenotype of an individual organism describes its observable structure, function or behavior, which includes the physical parts, atoms, molecules, macromolecules, cells, metabolism, tissues, organs, reflexes, etc.

12] Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is a nucleic acid molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of all living organisms. Within cells, DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes and the set of chromosomes within a cell make up a genome. (Source: http://:en.wikipedia.org)