PASSAGE 1: Genetically Engineered Crops
By Tony Esplanade
More than 11,000 years ago, humans began to alter plants. Farmers picked plants with certain traits and bred them to make new types of plants. In time, farmers cultivated plants that differed from plants that grew in the wild. Here is one example. About 10,000 years ago in an area that would become Mexico, farmers chose a type of grass called the teosinte plant. The plant produced grains of starch stored in small seedpods. Over time, farmers picked and grew plants that made more starch. The end result was the corn plant.
In modern times, scientists alter plants by genetic engineering. The word “engineering” refers to the science of designing and constructing things.
Genetic engineering uses science to isolate, analyze, and modify genes. Plants that have altered genes are called genetically engineered (GE) plants. U.S. farmers planted the first large-scale GE crop in 1996. Since then, people have argued about whether GE crops are harmful or helpful.
Those who oppose GE crops argue that the plants pose possible risks to human health and the environment. One argument against GE crops is that changing a plant’s genes might accidentally cause the plant to produce a toxin that would harm humans. After almost 20 years of experience, this problem has not occurred.
Another argument against GE crops is that GE plants may spread beyond their fields. GE plants that grow in the wild might breed to produce new types of plants. This problem has happened. The canola plant produces seeds that are used to create canola oil. In 2010, scientists showed that GE canola plants were growing outside of their original fields. They also found evidence that the plants bred in the wild to produce new types of GE canola plants. The study highlighted the need to restrict GE plants inside their fields with chemicals. These chemicals are not only costly for farmers but also harmful to the environment.
Other types of GE crops provide unique advantages to farmers. One type of GE crop can resist viruses that cause diseases. As an example, a serious outbreak of ringspot virus threatened Hawaii’s papaya crops during the 1990s. Today, most papayas sold in Hawaii are GE plants that resist the virus. Another type of GE crop is designed to enable farmers to decrease the amounts of chemical herbicides used to kill weeds. Yet another type of GE crop is designed to enable plants to survive under harsh conditions. For example, corn is a widely grown staple crop in Africa. African farmers often face the problem of drought. One type of GE corn tolerates these dry conditions.
PASSAGE 2: The Facts about Genetic Engineering
by Harriet Harrington
It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to genetically engineered plants. Some scientists claim that this type of genetic engineering is no different from the engineering that has always been done by farmers to breed for the best crops. This is not entirely true. Some crops have been genetically modified as a result of traditional plant breeding. For example, two types of corn plants might be cross-pollinated on purpose to create a hybrid (combined) version. On the other hand, some plants have been genetically engineered (GE) as the result of high-tech genetic tinkering. This kind of engineering produces plants that would otherwise not occur in nature. For many reasons, GE plants are concerning.
GE plants are made to have qualities that don’t occur naturally. High-tech methods are used to incorporate genes directly into the plant rather than alter it through cross pollination. The result is a plant with pest control properties. These plants can be antibiotic resistant, and they can be designed to be resistant to herbicides. This genetic engineering creates a man-made plant. This calls into question the safety of these genetically engineered plants, especially with regard to people’s health.
What's more, the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture have done very little research on genetically engineered plants. It is hard to trust research completed by the high-tech companies connected to the plants. Those companies have billions of dollars at stake in the results of the information. Due to this and other reasons, many people do not believe GE foods are safe.
There are many things to consider about high-tech GE plants. There are issues with environmental damage. GE crops may spread to native crops. There are also economic consequences. Consider the farmers who don’t wish to grow genetically engineered crops. Also, and perhaps most importantly, there are health factors to think about. Studies increasingly show that medical issues may be associated with eating food produced from GE crops.
Corn. Soy. Cottonseed. Almost all of these crops are genetically engineered. In addition, most sugar is GE. Unless the sugar is labeled certified organic cane sugar, it is GE. Frighteningly enough, no labeling is required to differentiate GE produced foods from non-GE. This is a mistake. Because GE crops are so prevalent, it can be difficult to avoid them as consumers. However, it is not impossible.
PART 2: ESSAY
You have read the passages “Genetically Engineered Crops” and “The Facts about Genetic Engineering” and have answered some questions about what you have read. Now write your argumentative essay in the space provided.
WRITING TASK
Genetically engineered foods use science to alter plant genes. Some people feel that GE foods are a good idea, while others feel that they are harmful.
Weigh the claims on both sides, and then write an argumentative essay in which you argue whether people should eat genetically engineered food and crops or not and why.
Be sure to use evidence from BOTH passages in your argumentative essay. Write your response in the space provided.
Before you write, be sure to:
think about ideas, facts, definitions, details, and other information and examples you want to use;
think about how you will introduce your topic and what the main topic will be for each paragraph;
develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting directly from the source texts;
be sure to identify the sources by title or number when using details or facts directly from the sources.
Now write your argumentative essay in the space provided. Be sure to:
introduce your claim;
support your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence from the texts;
acknowledge and address alternate or opposing claims;
organize the reasons and evidence logically;
use words, phrases, and clauses to connect your ideas and to clarify the relationships among claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence;
establish and maintain a formal style;
provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented; and
check your work for correct grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation.
Genetically engineered foods have been a topic of debate for many years, with strong arguments on both sides. Proponents of genetically engineered (GE) foods argue that they provide unique advantages to farmers and consumers. They point to examples such as GE crops that can resist viruses, decrease the use of chemical herbicides, and survive under harsh conditions. These GE crops have shown promising results in terms of increasing crop yield and sustainability.
On the other hand, opponents of GE foods raise concerns about the potential risks to human health and the environment. They argue that altering a plant's genes through genetic engineering can create plants with qualities that do not occur naturally. This raises questions about the safety of consuming GE foods, especially in terms of antibiotic resistance and herbicide resistance. Furthermore, there is limited research conducted by regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture on the long-term effects of consuming GE foods.
In considering the arguments presented in the passages, it is important to weigh the benefits and risks of genetically engineered foods. While GE crops have the potential to address issues such as crop diseases, herbicide use, and drought resistance, the lack of comprehensive research on the health and environmental impacts of GE foods is concerning. The spread of GE crops to native plants and the economic consequences for farmers who do not wish to grow GE crops are also valid concerns.
In conclusion, the debate over whether people should eat genetically engineered food and crops is complex and multifaceted. While GE foods may offer certain advantages in terms of crop yield and sustainability, the potential risks to human health and the environment cannot be ignored. It is crucial for regulatory agencies to conduct more thorough research on the long-term effects of consuming GE foods and for consumers to have access to information about the presence of GE ingredients in their food. Ultimately, the decision to consume genetically engineered foods should be made with a thorough understanding of the risks and benefits involved.