Summary of 2 articles I have read

I have read 2 articles about genetical modified food(GM food) to prepare my group roundtable discussion. My group disscussion is about a set of technologies which certain group have resisted. One of the technologies we will discuss is GM food, so i chose this two articles-"The true story of GM food" and "Genetic engineering, food and our environment".

In the past decade, the issue of whether Genetically-Modified(GM) foods are beneficial to people has been debated and investigated by the scientists, public interest groups, environmental organizations, food experts and the communities all over the world. While some accept the GM foods that are nutritive, others argue that harmful substances may be created because they are genetic engineering foods.

GM foods are foods produced by altering genetically modified organisms’ DNA through genetic engineering. Many people support that GM foods are beneficial because there are numerals of advantages brought by the nutritive contents of GM foods. The major reason is that, according to Healthy Eating Club in Australia, GM foods can enhance human health because of their extra vitamins. There are thousands of children who go blind and die due to lack of vitamin A every year in developing countries. GM food may help them.

Another strongest reason is that GM foods with increased levels of chemicals and nutrition help to protect against cancers and heart diseases, for example, transgenic tomato. Flavonol is substance against cancer and heart diseases. The gene inserted in this tomato boosts the production of enzyme chalcone isomerase (CHI) and flavonol synthesis in tomato is controlled by chalcone isomerase (CHI). A large amount of Flavonol which can help to protect against cancer and heart diseases is produced in the GM foods.

Some people, however, are opposed to the ideas of GM foods are beneficial because considering the safety of GM foods is an essential part of the arguments. A strong objection is the fact that, introducing foreign genes into food plants may trigger some unexpected risks, side effects and impacts on human health due to the changing of chemical compositions. The effects of incorporating genes into plants are not predictable.

GM foods are safe for eating is still questionable. It is apparent from the above information that there are both benefits and potential effects of eating GM foods. Benefits include providing extra sufficient vitamins to human body and protecting against cancer and diseases. Potential effect is unpredictable chemical reactions to human body.



Andrew Rowell, 2003, The true story of GM food, 15th July 2003 p.146-147

Anderson, 1999, “Genetic engineering, food and our environment” Luke Green Books


Vocabulary:
prestigious-classic,famous
verdict-judgment,decision,determination
rebut-counter, prohibit, controvert
falsified-tell lies
daffodil-one type of flowers

Summary the lecture on 30 January

Three lecturers Mr Palmer, Mr Benjamin and Mr Bala, each one gave us a presentation on the lecture of 30 January. They all had concerned about global warming in different views and aspects. In the first presentation, Mr Palmer elaborated the emission of carbon dioxide in recent years; in the second presentation, Mr Benjamin used science and technology to address energy and technological problems; in the final presentation, Mr Bala simply talked about the causes, effects and solutions of global warming.

Firstly, Mr Palmer focused on the emission of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide throughout his presentation. He showed us the curve of emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from 1750 to 2000 at the beginning. It had been risen rapidly and the tendency is continuing. He then analyzed the ways of reducing carbon dioxide in fuel efficiency and conservation, switching to alternative energy sources and mitigation. He also showed us another curve that the emission of carbon dioxide had reduced after actions had been taken in UK. Finally, he said that "We will be lucky if the problem can be tackles in next 100 years".

Secondly, Mr Benjamin expounded about four different stands of determinism, technological, structural, autonomous technology and consequential determinism. Since there are cultural and behavioral challenges, public apathy and misunderstanding, psychological resistance and environmental concerns, not all the technologies is acceptable from public. To make people accept new policies or technologies, social concerns are important. Mr Benjamin stated that science and technology study methods provide a useful lens to evaluate new technologies.

Finally, Mr Bela talked about the human activities and factors affecting the climate change, greenhouse effect, future predictions, potential result of our earth, difficulties in dealing with the global warming problems and how to reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. Those information is similar to the first presentation and it is very common. I believe everyone had heard about it from public media.

Personally, I found more interests from the first two presentations. About the first one, Mr Palmer showed us some facts, it is more realistic. Furthermore, the curve that the emission of carbon dioxide had reduced after actions had been taken in UK can encourage us to take actions and the final sentence of Mr Palmer impressed me so much. About the second one, it seems be some information new to us. We can know more strategies to implement policies and new technologies, so i like it as well. After this lecture, anyone knows what can we do to save our earth. It is valuable and worth.