Wow, I knew that genetically modified seeds were taking over normal ones, but not to the extent that 90% of crop species have dissapeared. I feel that some type of action should be taken. We need to save the other species so our crops are not just all genetically modified plants. One way of doing this could be to limit the amount of GMO seeds planted in an area. Even though the seeds might still take over some parts, other parts will still left to grow normally. I can relate this back to the lab we are currently working on in class. We just started the experiment but we are testing to see if GMO seeds, and the normal seeds with die if we put the roundup ready seed on top. Whats predicted to happen is that the GMO seeds will not die, but the normal seeds will. Overall, I think that something needs to be done to save our plant species, and not let the genetically modified plants take over.
1.) What do you think could be done to prevent GMO seeds from completely taking over?
2.) Do you think GMO seeds are okay to plant?
3.) How would you feel if you were a farmer and your plant species were dissapearing due to GMO seeds taking over?
Title- Saving The Seeds
Author- Suzanne Elston
Publication date- April 2, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/life/greenplanet/2011/03/30/17811271.html
I can't believe that more than 90% of crop species have dissapeared because of the genetically modified seeds. I knew that the GMO's are lowering the biodiversity but it is already up to 90%!? That is not right! I do support GMO's but not al the way. I beleive that we should have GMO's for increase in food porduction and sales but have buffer zones between the GMO plants and the organic plants so the organic farmers can keep a buisness and still sell their food as organic. This article made me realize that once we had the round up herbicide to our plants that the GMO plants will survive and the non GMO won't which means if the GMO plants and the non GMO plants were together the GMO would take over.
ReplyDeleteTo answer emily's first question I think we should create buffer zones between the GMO plants and the organic plants the so the GMO can't wash into the organic plants, or put the GMO plants in a green house so the wind can't spread the GMO's. To answer emily's second question I believe GMO seeds are okay to plant beause they can provide us with and increase in food production, but they should be controlled so they won't take over.
I never really liked GMOs because I don't think that scientists know enough about them and what they could do to our health. And this makes me dislike them more. There must be something wrong if the plant species are decreasing faster than animal species. Everyone knows about the problems with animals and the polar bears, but a lot of people don't even know about GMOs led alone how they are taking over and decreasing the species. No one wants all of the same thing, you get sick of it. So if the GMO seeds are taking over, GMO plants will be the only ones we have. If I was a farmer I would be pretty angry because you would loose my plants and therefore loose money. There is a lot of time and effort in farming and growing plants, and to loose it all over GMO seeds would not be something that I'd be happy about.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even really know about GMOs until we started learning about them in class, so this problem is very surprising to me. It is hard to believe the more than 90% of crops have been killed off by GMOs, especially considering the fact that GMOs were not widely grown until fairly recently.I am for genetic engineering, but if this is how it's going to affect the environment, then my opinion might change.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the first question, I feel like it should be fairly easy to contain GMOs. Organisms can be sterilized so they do not reproduce if they somehow escape into the wild. Also, plants can be grown in greenhouses so the pollen does not blow away.
If were only allowing these types of plants to grow we are mostly just setting ourselves for disaster. Biodiversity is a necessary, and crucial part of out ecosystem and continuing to lose them at this rate is setting ourselves up for a ecological downfall. If we don't at least show some concern for what is happening (such as building more farms with no GM plants) we'll be eating corn and beans for the rest of our lives. To be bluntly honest, if i were a farmer and these planngs started taking my farm over when I was actually trying to be natural I'd be extremely furious. All that time and effort that these farmers put in basically just goes to waste, and it is sad that this is happening the way it is.
ReplyDeleteWow 90 percent of normal crops are being taking over by GMO's. I knew from watching videos in class that this was happing but I didn't expect 90 percent of crops to be taken over. If this percent keeps going up it cause lots of problems like low biodiversity and super pesticide. This is just like if a foreign species was introduced to to the beak lab that we did and it became dominant species.
ReplyDeleteI think GMO's are OK to plant but the need to have alot of more restriction on the farms, like wall or nets to block the plant from spreading. Or having certain distance a GMO farm must be from a regular one.