ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE: GENETIC ENGINEERING (GE)

In GE, unlike traits of aspecies are combined genetically in biotechnology to form a transgenic.Plantingthesecrops contaminates wild plants to cause a biodiversity loss since some have chimeric gene blend that might result to biological contamination andaccelerate extinction of important organisms in nature. It is also a supposed seed terminator since GE plants cannot produce seeds, which are saved by farmers for food sustenance.Soil sterility is affected for instance by a GM bacterium called Klebsiellaplanticola, which cause a sterility of soil by killing essential nutrients.Bio-invasions results from GM crops, which kill beneficial insects like the monarchy butterfly and bees. As a result, it has become a controversial debate in the recent past due to its supposed violation of environmental health (UCS, 2010).

Biotechnology is the root source of GE where desired genes are combined to form a different species through artificial selection. There have been tight regulations and total bans imposed on the genetically modified foods especially within the Europe Union. GE is not only associated with direct effects to human health but most importantly, its adverse contribution to the environment that has raised concern of environmentalists all over the world. As a result, GE productshave been restricted in the market.This has calledfor more efforts through testing for such products, labeling GE foods, and in maintenance of natural crops to avoid effects of transgenic products and their release to the natural environment, which is restricted to avoid ramifications.

Thepotential effects of GE on the environmentinclude creation of super-weeds, thus causing unwanted impacts in inhibiting crop yield or even displacing natural flora to cause a disruption of the entireecosystems.Besides,geneticpollution may occur in that novel genes modifiedthrough GE are not restrictedagriculturally and if there are nearby related species in thefields, there is a high likelihood of transfer of pollen grain.Genetic pollution has no clean up since it might be hard to identify GE crops in the wild, causing irreversible effects.  As a result the new plats gain more vigor, resistance and therefore, difficult to deal with(LeVine, 2006).

Alterations in patterns of herbicide application occursince GE plants are modified to be herbicide resistant.This might result to more use of herbicides where farmers might use them in a liberal way (UCS, 2010). Sinceherbicides vary in environmental toxicity, moredevastating environmental effects are incurred.Moreover, such resistant crops would triggeran evolutionwhere weeds would becomemore resistantdue to more exposure or transferoftheresistant genes to related species.AIDitionally, GE causesa lavishing ofimportant pest vulnerable genes in insects,which are prevalent in natural insect’s populations. The genes are crucial sincethey let the pesticide to effectivelymanage pests.

Particular GE crops aremodified to have aBt endotoxin, which persist inside the soil for not less that eighteen months. They secrete the toxin in several tissueshenceexposing pests to it. Such timelyexposurecause a resistant gene in the pest, as the Btpesticide ends up being useless since it is transferred to wild plants to form super-weeds,that cause a disruption in balance of nature. There is also an emergence of harmful viruses since GE is geared at producing plants that tolerate virusesthrough incorporation of viralcomponent in their genome to resist infections. However, they might establish new harmful viruswith higher virulence in the process of recombinationor transcapsidation. In aIDition, poisoned wildlife mayresultfrom being endangered by consumption of plant debrissince it contains certain viral promoterse.g.CaMV attached to it. This is detrimental to mammalian organs and immune system.CaMV, being a Para retrovirus may causereactivation of dormant viruses andestablish new ones (Benny, 2009).

To sum it all, transgenic organisms when released in the environment may cause an injury to genetic diversity, as it might contaminate natural gene pools. Probable mutations might result, which could eliminate the natural genes. Thesemutant genes aredetrimental to the environment and thismightspoil the local ecology and the food chain where GE crops compete with related wild species(UCS, 2010).It is therefore the role of man to safeguard the ecosystem in order to promote sanctity, serenity, as well as development by avoiding technologies that would be detrimental. This will safeguard earth as our home and the resources therein, through united efforts for people from all walks of life, aspects that are in line with St. Leo‘s value of respect and responsible stewardship.

References

Benny, J. (2009). Environmental Studies.New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Education.

LeVine, H. ( 2006). Genetic Engineering: A Reference Handbook.Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-         CLIO, Inc.

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).(2010).“Risk of Genetic engineering.”Citizens and Scientists for             Environmental Solutions. Retrieved on June, 9, 2011 from             http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_genetic_engi  neering/risks-of-genetic-engineering.html