THE GMO DEBATE

Rosie Mestel wrote an article titled "Scientists Defend Safety of Genetically Modified Foods." Mestel believes that the use of genetically modified organisms has many beneficial effects for us. She feels that genetic modifications modifications allow farmers to grow crops with easier weed control and fewer pest-killing chemicals. Many feel that these genetically modified organisms are dangerous, but Mestel and many other scientists agree that such crops aren't dangerous. She notes that they are as safe as those generated for centuries by conventional breeding (par. 5). There are benefits in inserting other genes into plants to make them more nutritious, resistant to drought or able to capture nitrogen from the air so they require less fertilizer. These are some of the many traits that Mestel would like to see the use of for genetically modified organisms in the future. Mestel also reports how many studies have concluded thatvgenetically modified plants are not only safe but in many respects friendlier to the environment than their nonengineered counterparts grown via conventional farming methods. In addition, "a review this year of 24 long-term or multigenerational studies found that genetically modified corn, soy, potato, rice and wheat had no ill effects on the rats, cows, mice, quails, chickens, pigs and sheep that ate them" (par. 9). This further shows how the use of genetically modified crops and their ingestion can be seen as safe.