Scientist: Task 2

 1)   I believe that genetically engineered foods need to be labeled. On the label producers should include ingredients, what other organism the DNA came from that caused the crop to have specialized characteristics, and allergy information. Naturally, consumers want to know what they are buying. Some consumers may not like the idea of their foods being "genetically manipulated". Before genetic engineering, farmers used the process of selective breeding to get the best traits out of their products.  Unfortunately, there was no way to cross important traits from animals with plants that needed to be changed. For example farmers who had crops of tomatoes that froze and split had no way to selectively breed their crop so that the product would not go to waste. Fish, on the other hand can survive extremely low temperatures and not die. This is where Genetic Engineering comes in. Through a process called splicing, scientists can take the gene from fish that enables them to survive cold temperatures and combine it with the normal DNA of tomatoes.  This causes the tomatoes to be able to undertake low temperature and not freeze. Some people may find this process disturbing and may not want to eat foods that have been genetically engineered. For this reason and many others, it is important to have labels on genetically engineered foods. For the people who are skeptical about the foods that they eat, the government should overview the industry for producing and selling genetically modified food regularly. Every GE food to enter a store should be tested to prove that they are safe for the consumption of consumers. Understandably, consumers can be afraid to try new foods in fear that they may be unsafe and unjust. The addition of clear and understandable labels on GE foods will help consumers understand that producers are not trying to hide the fact that their products have been genetically modified, only that they understand that consumers have the right to know.

2)    Since genetically engineering foods can be harmful to the environment, the government should oversee the production and distribution of these products. If scientists do not find out a way to keep GE foods somewhat isolated from other plants, GE foods can pollinate weeds and cause them to become much stronger and more resistant to pesticides.  Since the pollen from GE foods has the DNA of the strengthened product, the weeds will then share the DNA, which will make them much stronger. Other pests such as insects can also become stronger. Since the crops are stronger the insects will, in turn, adapt to become stronger as well.

Some regulations should include the testing of each harvest to be distributed. The government should strictly supervise the distribution of these GM products. Also, EVERY GM food to enter a store should have a clear and VERY understandable label stating that the product has been genetically modified and has been tested numerous times. Since DNA splicing is not a natural process the government should oversee the process each company takes to produce their GM food. This way the government can make sure no company is taking any shortcuts is the splicing process.

Since there is still a chance that GM foods can harm the environment, more testing should be done. We need to know what the impact these foods can make on our bodies, the plants and animals being affected and long-term affects this new discovery can have on the world.