(picture:http://uk.vwr.com/en_GB/content/product_range/micro_manipulation/images/transgenics.jpg)
I believe that transgenics is a term known by lot of people; however more than that same amount of people doesn´t know what it means and how often we are in contact with them.
What does it mean “Transgenic”? An organism is transgenic when it has DNA from other different organisms. This «DNA input» is done by scientific methods and it has the purpose of improving the original organism.
Transgenics have a scientific purpose (since they can be a cross between two - or even more - organisms that wouldn´t mix together by natural methods or that crossing would take thousands of years, and therefore scientists can study new forms of life), a medicinal one (because they can enhance and highlight some of the medicinal characteristics of an organism - algae’s and some frogs for example)and transgenics are also used as food and therefore they have a commercial purpose (some fruits - for example- are transgenics so they can resist bad weather conditions, grow faster and resist an increased storage time).
Obviously there are some advantages and disadvantages from the use of transgenics.
The creation of some vegetal species which are immune to some diseases and plagues, which results in a decrease of the costs of maintenance (e.g. pesticides) of that same species is one of the advantages of the use of transgenics. The crossing between transgenics and another species is a great disadvantage, since it may cause the birth of mutant species - which affects drastically the ecosystem –.
These amended organisms can cause IMMEDIATE DAMAGES in our environment and it´s my opinion that agriculturists should think twice about putting our planet at stake for economical interests.
Ricardo
SOURCES:
* "ALIMENTOS TRANSGÉNICOS, Ameaça ou Benesse?":
http://legion.geleia.net/AP/tema3.html
* "WIKIPEDIA":
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transg%C3%AAnicos
I agree with you… Transgenic can have many advantages when it comes to medical purposes but I think that they should not interfere with agriculture. Agriculture is essential and it’s true it’s a very difficult job (you are dependant of the weather conditions, diseases, etc.) and it’s understandable that farmers tend to follow this genetic manipulations. But transgenic is not the only way of having better profits, you can have a good profit without harming the environment and humans!
ResponderEliminarI believe that transgenic is something that can be dangerous so it should be controlled.
Ana Rita Costa
I agree with Ana, I Think transgenics only should be use for therapeutics porposes! I defend also that most terrible of the use of transgenics, is the possible introduction in the human body, because it could cause a biggest damage for our health.
ResponderEliminar