Key Purpose: The purpose of the article is to show the readers how insects and different weeds are changing due to genetically modified crops.
Key Ideas:
- Different types of weeds have become resistant to herbicides that are distributed to different plants
- Different types of insects have also become resistant to crops that create their own pesticides
- Crops are genetically engineered to resist the herbicide: glyphosate. This allows the weeds to be eradicated without damaging the crops
- A resistance in weeds and insects that have been exposed to the herbicide and pesticide.
- Both the weeds and insects have developed the resistance through evolution: the insects and plants that could survive the herbicides and pesticides lived and passed this trait down through their offspring.
- All of this will save farmers money; farmers will not have to till fields and crops will be healthier without the use of pesticides
Key Conclusion:
A person could react to this article and genetically modified crops in several ways. I see a very large down side, and some very big benefits from this process. The biggest up side to genetically modified foods is that it saves farmers and the people money. Because the farmers do not have to till the fields and buy pesticides, farmers are able to produce more crops. These crops also live longer because of they are genetically modified. But, genetically modified foods do not also just save money, they can be healthier for the people. Because of the lack of pesticides now used, the crops do not contain as many chemicals. While there are several benefits to genetically modified foods, there are some down sides. Possibly the biggest is the fact that it isn't 100% real food. Because the food is modified, many people believe that the food is not safe to eat. Another downside is that we are not certain what can happen with genetically modified foods, if there is a mutation or sudden change in the environment. All of these problems and benefits are needed to be taken into account, but I believe that this is a good thing that can help many people. The problem that farmers have now about the resistances that are occurring in weeds and insects can be solved. There are methods for decreasing the evolutionary processes that are taking place. All in all, I believe that genetically modified foods will be good for the world, but there are some problems that need to be taken care of before we can perfect the production of the food.
"Some Weeds, Bugs Grew Resistant to Genetically Engineered Crops - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 19 Apr. 2010.
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