DNA transfers into the DNA of organisms in the human stomach, reproducing indefinitely and causing a number of gastrointestinal issues (Benson, 2013). Effects of GMOs on the Environment The largest affect of GMOs on our environment is the declining bee population. Bees are extremely important to the human ecosystem, fertilizing 80% of flowering crops. While this may seem to only effect produce, the affect of honeybees reaches much further, threatening the dairy and beef industries is alfalfa is not pollinated and available for livestock feed (Boland, 2010). GMOs have been found to be largely responsible for the decline in the bee population in two major ways. First, the Bt protein in GMO crops causes the stomach of insects, such as bees, to implode, thus killing entire hives of bees. This decline in the bee population has affected entire ecosystems, and threatens to endanger the lives of humans. Since commercial beehives pollinate 1/3 of crops, the people of the world rely America’s on these insects to keep the farming industry strong (Boland, 2010). The second major cause of bee health issues due to GMOs is the increased use of pesticides because of GM plants. While some genetically modified organisms produce their own pesticides, others are modified to form a resistance to pesticides. Because of this, farmers often use pesticides more liberally around GM crops, thus increasing the amount of pesticides in the surrounding environment (Dill, 2010). Since GMOs were introduced, pesticide use has increased by over 527 million pounds (Benson, 2013). Another affect of GMOs on the insect population is infertility. Many genetically modified plants are created to purposefully produce infertile seeds that farmers cannot replant, therefore creating the need for farmers to purchase more of the
DNA transfers into the DNA of organisms in the human stomach, reproducing indefinitely and causing a number of gastrointestinal issues (Benson, 2013). Effects of GMOs on the Environment The largest affect of GMOs on our environment is the declining bee population. Bees are extremely important to the human ecosystem, fertilizing 80% of flowering crops. While this may seem to only effect produce, the affect of honeybees reaches much further, threatening the dairy and beef industries is alfalfa is not pollinated and available for livestock feed (Boland, 2010). GMOs have been found to be largely responsible for the decline in the bee population in two major ways. First, the Bt protein in GMO crops causes the stomach of insects, such as bees, to implode, thus killing entire hives of bees. This decline in the bee population has affected entire ecosystems, and threatens to endanger the lives of humans. Since commercial beehives pollinate 1/3 of America’s crops, the people of the world rely on these insects to keep the farming industry strong (Boland, 2010). The second major cause of bee health issues due to GMOs is the increased use of pesticides because of GM plants. While some genetically modified organisms produce their own pesticides, others are modified to form a resistance to pesticides. Because of this, farmers often use pesticides more liberally around GM crops, thus increasing the amount of pesticides in the surrounding environment (Dill, 2010). Since GMOs were introduced, pesticide use has increased by over 527 million pounds (Benson, 2013). Another affect of GMOs on the insect population is infertility. Many genetically modified plants are created to purposefully produce infertile seeds that farmers cannot replant, therefore creating the need for farmers to purchase more of the
gmos_seeds_of_deception.docx