Document from the year 2018 in the subject Health - Public Health,
grade: 1, Egerton University, language: English, abstract: In recent
years, biotechnology has been the mainstay technology in both
agricultural and medical field. This technology has led to the
development of new medical techniques such as gene therapy for genetic
disorders and diagnostic tools. In the field of agriculture,
biotechnology, primarily genetic engineering has led to a substantial
breakthrough in food production. It has led to the creation of
transgenic plants and animals which express the desired characteristics
such as high yield productivity, drought and disease resistance, as well
as nutritional profile. In practice, genetic engineered organisms;
plants and animals, are created through modifying their wild genomic
composition to express new traits (FDA, 2014). These organisms are
described as genetically transformed and their genetic composition is
relatively different from that of the original or natural organisms
referred to as 'wild type.' These genetically engineered plants have
been found to enhance food production; thus considered as the modern-day
solution to global food crisis. Despite the benefits associated with
genetically engineered crops, seeds by Monsanto have been shadowed by
immense controversy over safety issues. An endless debate over the
safety of genetically engineered seeds has raised an unprecedented
outcry over health and environmental concerns. Therefore, this research
paper will provide an elaborate discussion on the impacts of genetically
modified food.
