Generic Engineering

Just what is generic engineering?  According to UCSUSA genetic engineering refers to a set of technologies that are being used to change the genetic makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel organisms. The techniques involve highly sophisticated manipulations of genetic material and other biologically important chemicals.  These genes are what gives organisms their characteristics (blueprints).  By transporting these genes or traits from one organism to another, it creates a new organism with a new set of genes or characteristics.  

Generic Engineering is now being used in the farming industries that produce some of the foods that we eat.  Some of this generic engineering are more extreme than others.  For example, the golden rice project.  It is said to be the solution for the poor countries starvation problem.  How so?  Well it is a bio-fortified rice or a rice that has been chemically enriched with vitamins.  It sounds like a good idea doesn't it?  I think it is a great idea that something like this is being developed for those who are less fortunate than others.  I also believed that there are other ways of helping countries that are in need.  I believe that instead of genetically engineering food, we tax those "rich" individuals, major companies and donate that money to buy more food for the needy.  I believe generic engineering food is not the only answer.  What about the water that these people so badly need?  Why not help these people grow their own foods and help them with acquiring  an education.  Why not help them with more stable living environments?  I believe if we have the money to make new foods, then we have the money to help them in other important ways.  I do like the idea of the golden rice project, but I feel that if we just rely on helping poor countries with  fortified rice as a solution for their starvation problems, then other health problems might get over looked.  As good as generic engineering sounds, some it has some individuals worried.  I mean this is in a way brand new science.  I don't think we know if this could have some medical effect on our bodies.  How would our bodies process these foods?  Does the fact that the foods that are fortified with some vitamins mean that people will be deficient in other vitamins?  So is this really a problem solver or a creation of a new problem, such as developing other vitamin deficiencies, which also causes illnesses.  People don't even know that some vitamins work well  with the help of other vitamins and minerals.  Another problem that I see with generic engineering food is that some of these foods are being made so that insects and other pesticides don't eat  up the plants, because it kills them off if they do eat them.  This has people wondering if we," the consumer" could be harming ourselves by ingesting these foods.  I my self believe that some of these processed foods are the cause for the increase in the cancer rates here in the U.S.  I worry that the rate of cancer will continue to increase, if we continue to manipulate the foods that we eat.  I also believe that these chemicals that are being put into the soils for the growth of these processed foods, will have an effect on other plantations and animals  near them, through cross contamination (water leaks, winds, etc.).   Some individuals see this as playing GOD and to a certain extent, I feel the same way.  I believe that the more things we learn about science, the more harm we will be causing not only to our selves, but to our living environment in the near future.  Some of the harm, like I mentioned prior, will be the increase in cancer rates, and other diseases, such as early deaths caused by some chemical that was used.  The scary thing is that these problems don't arise, until years later, so it will be very hard to know for sure, if generic engineering foods is safe or not.  This is why I believe that the government should not have a complete say on what products should be genetically engineered.  We as the consumer, should also have a say in this, since we are the ones who will be paying for what we consume.