Genetic Modification of Food

Sienna Perry

Period 8

Basic Principles of Genetics• When the dominant alleles is present, it

shows no matter what

• When there are two recessive alleles, the recessive shows

• When alleles are co-dominant, both alleles are shown since neither is dominant or recessive

• When the DNA splits, the offspring receives half of the alleles parents have when the halves of the DNA combine to form one

Genome Project• Launched in the 1980’s in hopes for scientist to

understand genetic basis of genes• Problems: Who should know about you genetic

makeup… health care providers, schools, employers… if they knew how would they treat you, would they think you’re not capable of something

• These problems resulted in the law G.I.N.A, signed by President Bush, which protected citizens from being discriminated against by insurers and employers

Genetic Disorders• Single Gene Disorders: . Cased by mutation in a single gene. this can

actually be found in the families pedigree since it is inherited to the child from the parents if they had the disease or carried it from their ancestors. The alleles from the parents go from them to the child from when the two halves of the DNA combine. Example: One caused by recessive allele is sickle cell, where the blood lacks oxygen, causing pain and weakness.

• Chromosome abnormalities: caused when there is failure of replicated chromosome during it going through meiosis the 2nd time. Chromosome lacks a gamete to produce correct embryo. Examples: In Down syndrome, there is a problem with the 21st chromosome, which leads to mental retardation problems for the person

• Multifactoral Disorders:

Genetic Disorders• If parents go in for genetic counseling, they can

find out whether they are at risk of actually passing a disorder to the baby by looking at the family pedigree, which can tell them if they are carries of one of these possible disorders???

• Karyotpe, show pictures of all of the chromosomes in a cell in arranged pairs. This can reveal if the baby has the right number of chromosomes in it’s cell. So if the doctor does see something is wrong, like a missing chromosome, they could either predict or possibly tell what disorder the baby could have.

What is genetically enhanced food… why do they do this?

• Genetically enhanced food when the crop’s genetic makeup is changed purposely to either grow better, or be better quality then the original

• They have started to do this to have food stay fresher longer, reduce man power in planting with pesticides, make it richer possibly in certain vitamins, or in crops to possibly make them withstand weather

Genetic Modification of FoodArguments on Topic

My opinion on this topic is totally against it. I personally don’t think that we should enhance food. Here are some reasons to support my thinking on this topic.

Argument 1

Argument 2

Argument 3

Argument 4

Conclusion

• What can be the long term affect? We don’t know how it will effect us or the organism in the future. Genetically enhancing food could possibly lead to unknown or new diseases.

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