Genetic Engineering

Definition: Genetic engineering is a process in which recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology is

used to introduce desirable traits into organisms
Diseases, superbugs (antibiotic resistance) M ackenzie Batt
Decreased biodiversity -> Monsanto crop thing Valeriya Dedushkevich
Allergies: unregulated chemicals, genetic defects -- A lison Riddle
Morals/eugenics -> playing God?
Reduces individuality of humans Sarah Franks
Expensive---> Elise Matthes
Untested results of genetic modification
Monsanto copyright/patents -> prohibits research/innovation J esse Lin
Insecticides on foods? -> toxins
Reinforcing norms of good genetics -> discrimination against certain
traits/disabilities?
More than 10:
Thrown away embryos
Animal rights

Introductory Speech:
Genetic engineering is defined by the FDA as a process in which recombinant DNA technology
is used to introduce desirable traits into organisms. GMOs or genetically modified organisms
used in agriculture are the most commonly discussed facet of genetic engineering but the
genetic engineering of livestock and even humans is also practiced. We argue that genetic
engineering is undesirable for numerous reasons, but most can be summed by pediatric
neurologist Dr. Martha R. Herbert, who calls it one of the largest uncontrolled experiments in
modern history. Genetic engineering gives away the control of our diets, our agricultural
industries, and even ourselves or our children into the hands of large corporations with major
economic, public health, and moral ramifications. In the end, say NO to GMOs!
PUT YOUR NOTES HERE:
Monsanto patents
http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/the-farmer-vs-monsanto-a-supreme-court
-showdown/article_529543b2-b224-5b1b-acfe-b7b2896805af.html
One key issue with genetic engineering is the contentious status of genetically
modified organisms in patent and copyright law.
The Supreme Court ruling in favor of Monsanto in Bowman vs. Monsanto means
that the company creating for example GMO crops control and own the seeds as
opposed to the farmers who plant them.
This expansion of industry control results in higher seed and thus crop prices as
well as waste of second-generation seeds which farmers are contractually
forbidden from replanting.
Monopoly
Another result of the patent viability of GMOs is the destruction of competition in
food markets
 Farmers nowadays are required to use GMO crops in order to compete in the
market. This compounds all the possible negative effects of GMO because it
almost guarantees youll have to eat it but more importantly it leaves thousands
of peoples families, finances, and lives in the hands of Monsanto which controls
90% of the GMO market.

Valeriya (reduced biodiversity)

Another potential downside to GM technology is that other organisms in the ecosystem could be
harmed, which would lead to a lower level of biodiversity. By removing one pest that harms the
crop, you could be removing a food source for an animal. Also, GM crops could prove toxic to
an organism in the environment, leading to reduced numbers or extinction of that organism.

http://www.geneticallymodifiedfoods.co.uk/fact-sheet-pros-vs-cons.html

Maintaining genetic diversity is important for the environment and agriculture because increased
variability in DNA will provide a better opportunity for organisms to adapt to a changing
environment

One example of when a lack of genetic diversity contributed to a major agricultural problem is
the potato famine that afflicted Ireland in the mid 1800s. At this time, Ireland was heavily
dependent on potatoes for nutrition, and the type of potatoes they cultivated were not grown
from seeds. Instead, they planted sections from a parent potato. In this way, a ll potatoes were
clones of their parents and contained identical genetic information. The lack of genetic
variability in these potato crops proved detrimental when an invasive pathogen, P. infestans,
wiped out the entire population [1]. Because all potatoes had nearly identical genes, there
were no populations of potatoes with favorable traits that allowed them to evade P.
infestans. Had Ireland grown different varieties of potato crops with more genetic diversity, it
would have been more likely for a population of potatoes to contain genes that provide
resistance to the pathogen. If a large enough percentage of potato crops in Ireland were
resistant to P. infestans, perhaps this famine would not have been so catastrophic.

http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/challenging-evolution-how-gmos-can-influence-genetic-di
versity/

Today, the Cavendish is a universal foodstuff, much like a Big Mac: supermarket bananas are
pretty much identical anywhere you buy them.
That's because they have nearly no genetic diversity -- the plants are all clones of one
another. The Cavendish is a monoculture, which means it's the only variety that most
commercial growers plant every year. Which is also why it is now under threat itself, from a new
strain of the Panama disease. And once it infects one plant, it can infect them all.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/22/africa/banana-panama-disease/
Dan Koeppel, author of the book "Banana: The fate of the fruit that changed the world,"
Antibiotic Resistance
Another issue of genetically modified organisms the antibiotic resistance developed
from using a specific which in return creates a resistance to certain antibiotics. The
most widely used antibiotic resistance marker for the selection of transformed plant cells
is the nptII gene, which confers resistance to the antibiotics neomycin and kanamycin.
This gene is present in ten of the fourteen GM plants containing antibiotic resistant
marker gene. This is used in making a delayed ripening tomato, herbicide-tolerant and
insect-protected corn and cotton varieties.
Kanamycin is used in initial therapy of infections involving e. coli and proteus
infections.
Neomycin is used to treat bacterial infections by stopping the production of proteins
that bacteria need to survive. It's also used to treat hepatic encephalopathy, which is a
serious brain complication that sometimes results from liver disease, treat ear
infections, and treat skin infections.

Antibiotic resistance is becoming more and more widespread to where some of the first
generation antibiotics are no longer in use. The more GM foods that are created, the
more resistance that is likely to appear. What used to treat an infection is no longer an
option as we are forced to find new avenues of treatment.

Allergies
It has been proven that gmos do not increase allergens, however it is possible that in the future
geneticists could become more careless in the prevention of genetically modified allergens.

https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/04/16/are-gmos-causing-an-increase-in-allergies/
Research from the debate team:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2013/07/02/gmo-crops-mean-more-herbicide-not-less/
#173d2fa3a371
GMO crops -> more herbicide usage

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/12/us-glyphosate-idUSTRE77B58A20110812
Harm to Soil

http://www.amjbot.org/content/99/4/700.full
Harm to Soil

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-09-03/news/0009030374_1_genetically-modified-new-pr
oteins
Untested

http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
Expensive and misc evidence

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/in-india-gm-crops-come-at-a-high-price/
Suicide Rates

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/health/index.php
Human Health

http://www.fhs.d211.org/departments/science/mduncan/bioweb/Biotechnology/Genetically%20M
odified%20Foods.pdf
Everything (definition)

http://www.globalresearch.ca/potential-health-hazards-of-genetically-engineered-foods/8148
Health

http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=69
Soil

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm
Health

http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ento.50.071803.130352
block agaisnt Environ Harms
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/299/5608/900.short
block against Environ

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/monoculture-gardening.htm
Monocropping

http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/2012/09/monocropping/
Monocropping

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/03/08/monsanto-watch-targeting-american-farmers-with-lawy
ers-fear-an/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/roundup-herbicide-health-issues-disease_n_315657
5.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/roundup-health-study-idUSL2N0DC22F20130425

http://www.carbontradewatch.org/issues/monoculture.html

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/15/how_did_monsanto_outfox_the_obama_administration/

http://inspiredeconomist.com/2013/02/26/economic-argument-against-gmos/

http://panamadisease.org/en/theproblem

http://nature.berkeley.edu/~miguel-alt/modern_agriculture.html