Future of Food Essay Example for Free

Future of Food Essay In the passed couple of decades, the foods we deem to be natural or of the Earth are instead Genetically Engineered. The term Genetically Engineered does not mean that the entire vegetable or food is fake but rather means that there is at least one genetically modified ingredient in the food that is sold all over stores, which raises a great health concern for many people. In the feature production of the documentary known as The Future of Food looks at how modern day technology has changed the food we consume and the effects it can have on our health. In watching this film about all the advancements that science has come to in the world with the food being eaten everyday, both the positive and negative effects of all those technological changes, its only right to think of the countries that barely have enough food in general or the people who are losing their livelihoods because of the advancements created by science in first world countries. A first world country like the United States has not only a great amount but also lots of variety of nutrition; however, even this is still not enough to â€Å"satisfy† such a wealthy nation because steps are still being taken to continue to â€Å"improve† nature. Projects were done that helped produce corn in all kinds of different colors and creating bigger than normal sized strawberries. A question seems to arise, is all this technological advancement necessary? Are we as a society taking unnecessary measures to â€Å"fix† something that is natural and worked since the beginning of time? In the medical world, many health problems have been examined where food and nutrition were identified as partial contributors to the problem. This film helped in explaining how enzymes are used to knick corn DNA and how foreign DNA was then presented into the corn cell walls. Consuming the genetically modified corn caused allergic reactions and stirred a health concern about labeling genetically modified foods. In my particular opinion it should be the people’s right to know whether the food they’re ingesting has been altered genetically or tempered with from its natural state. Nevertheless, this does not belittle the question as to why it is necessity to alter the food in the first place. In order to formulate a ground based opinion I need to weigh the positives and negatives. Natural food always has the benefit of being â€Å"natural,† however, genetically engineered foods sometimes has the advantages of looking more appealing, tasting better and/or having a longer lasting flavor. I have experienced this first hand I have grown a distaste to certain organic foods simply because they just didn’t taste nearly as good as those that are genetically engineered even though the organic foods were supposed to be fresher and of course natural. This certain taste for food could just be that I got too used to the taste of all the preservatives that go into foods. It’s interesting how I got used to chemically preserved foods and genetically engineered tastes that overtime became the good tasting ones while the healthier ones were rejected by my taste buds. Another benefit is that genetically engineered foods end up being cheaper because they have a greater resistance to environmental conditions that would normally spoil the unaltered form and are also made in quantities not given the same attention organic foods are given to be fresh and ripe. Being that they are made in greater quantity, they are available for more people for cheaper prices, becoming the food of choice. The question would be, are the quantities made and the decrease in prices good enough to outweigh the negative effects of genetically engineered food? Another point and question would be why do many countries still remain unfed and continue searching for methods to feed their fast growing populations if these genetically engineered foods are produced in such a surplus manner? Keeping the advantages of genetically engineered foods in mind, there are definitely several noteworthy disadvantages too. An advantage was the surplus of food, however, how is it a benefit if such foods are harming the body? Some would agree that it is better to feed and raise a healthy smaller sized population with natural, unaltered forms of food than to infect a large population and have them suffer from the repercussion caused by the food they had consumed. Also, most people that are not keeping up with this field of work do not know that there are these bodies that have consumed the modified foods for such prolonged time periods and have overtime probably developed immunity to the side effects the modifications can have. In these genetically engineered foods the DNA is altered, and just as changes in human DNA lead to disorders, consumption of foods with altered DNA may have the same fatal effects. Certain genetic modifications can even go as far as cause cancers and brain and organ damage. A huge disadvantage that most people do not notice, especially those who live in urban areas, is that due to the production of the genetically altered foods a lot of farmers have been put out of jobs. These farmers are not needed as much anymore because more crops can be made for cheaper and therefore they no longer make as much money on each crop they plant and sow as they once did, as was shown in Central American countries. Now days, while technology could be helping the economy by decreasing the price of foods for people, it is also harming people who depended on the unaltered food to bring them income. The U. S. economy and industry is choosing quantity over quality, which is not beneficial to our health but instead just our wallets. I believe that its not fair for people not to know what is in their foods and usually people don’t seek food that can hurt them, therefore, it was crucial that the â€Å"Genetically Engineered Right to Know† act get passed. It would allow people to know what they are consuming from the labels on the foods and therefore prevented conditions that could’ve risen from individuals allergic to a modified substance. The Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration is supposed to be on top of the foods produced and their effects. Nevertheless, it seems that genetically modified foods don’t cause enough of a significant threat in order for them to take action and stop the advancement, rather than promote it and seek ways to improve it. What would bring this matter to a flashing red alert? Though I admitted that genetically altered food does taste better, I still do not agree with the fact that I am consuming and enjoying the taste of unhealthy food. People often look for the most ripe fruits and healthy looking vegetables when they go shopping, but for a lot of produce these bigger fruits and vegetables end up being the modified ones. Though I personally have only been able to see the advantages of these foods, I realize that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits of having genetically modified foods. From a realistic point of view, being a student on a low budget it would be unpractical for me to purchase anything but the cheap genetically altered food. Looking even at the bigger picture, many individuals and families have the same outlook I do. Therefore, many people may be against the genetic modification of food, yet not much course of action will be taken. People are comfortable with their life styles, making the cases and effects of modified foods not seem like such a big deal. This shows that the wrong approach is probably being taken to bring this to significant awareness. To promote foods that are not going to be altered, there needs to be ways to produce the same great quantities and keep prices affordable under the economic conditions of the country and the budget of the average American Family. It was crucial to pass an act that will help identify the genetically engineered goods but still it is not sufficient enough to solve the issue at hand. This matter is truly a very controversial issue, containing both pros and cons; therefore, we as a government and a knowledgeable society we need to take a stand and incorporate more ideas in to solving this domestic problem.

Learning and Memory Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Learning and Memory Learning and memory are not unitary processes. Learning is the process by which new information is acquired; memory is the process by which that knowledge is retained. Learning can be divided into two types: 1)Explicit memory is the conscious acquisition of knowledge about people, places and things. It occurs in the highly developed vertebrate brain ,mainly in the diencephalic structure (1). 2) Implicit memory is the non conscious learning of motor skills and other tasks. It does not depend on the temporal lobe, but involves the sensory, motor associated pathways in the expression of learning process. This type of memory can be studied in higher invertebrates whereas explicit learning is only studied in mammals (2). After reviewing the enormous amount of information pertaining to memory and learning, I decided to focus on two areas of interest: the actual mechanism of learning and the process of consolidation which relates to how something that is learned is then stored as memory. The first area of interest involving learning has been elucidated by the concept of long term potentiation (LTP) in mammals and vertebrates and the second related area of consolidation has been elucidated by an invertebrate model of Aplysia. Long term potentiation can be defined as a long lasting increase in synaptic effectiveness which follows from high frequency of stimulation of afferent fibers. Although LTP occurs throughout the nervous system, it's focus has mainly been in the hippocampus which is involved in the formation of certain memories (1). Furthermore, LTP has been found to occur in not only the mammalian brain but also in other vertebrates such as the goldfish, bullfrog, bird and lizard. Characteristics of L... ...ns needed for growth. This shows that long term changes in both mammals and Aplysia are linked to gene induction which leads to synaptic growth (3,4). In conclusion, the structural changes implicated in long term memory are due to new protein and mRNA synthesis. These changes in transcription and translation can be initiated by repeated exposure to modulatory transmitters (5 HT) which mimic the effects of hormones and growth factors. Furthermore, through second messenger systems that regulate gene expression, modulatory transmitters utilized for learning can initiate synaptic growth. Internet Sources: http://oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/apstracts/1995/jn/April/8n.html http://oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/apstracts/1997/jn/December/353N.html http://oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/apstracts/1997/jn/February/45n.html http://oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu/apstracts/1997/jn/December/320N.html

Accounting Entity

An accounting entity is any organizational unit for which financial and economic data are gathered and processed for the purposes of decision making (Hillman, Kochanek and Norgaard, 1992, p. 15). The purpose of an entity is to work for the good of all the stakeholder groups and obtain funds at favorable rates to create future profits (Boland, 2010, pp. 41-44). †¢Rights of the stakeholders of an entity. Stakeholders are individuals and groups that are affected by an organization's policies, procedures, and actions (Advameg, 2011). The stakeholders include creditors, employees, customers, government bodies, special interest groups and the local community. Stakeholders, such as employees and owners, may have specific legal rights and expectations in regard to the organization's operations and them include (Boland, 2010, p. 44). the right to equal opportunity and non-discriminatory treatment †¢the right to security of persons; the rights of workers and their families; consumer rights and protections; and environmental rights and standards †¢require corporations, within their respective spheres of activity and influence, to promote †¢encourage corporations to consult with stakeholders and communities about their activities, influence and impact †¢Our group’s general ethical philosophy. In addition to being aligned with the ‘Stakeholder’s theory’ and ‘reporting’, Group A’s general ethical philosophy also focuses on sustainable development of an entity, specifically on how organizations need to make commitment to sustainable business practices towards communities. For the reason that reporting and providing information about social and environmental performances of an entity increases the trust that communities have in the organization ( Deegan, 2006).

Poverty Is A Serious World Problem - 920 Words

If you were asked to donate a few of your own items or money to help fight poverty, would you commit to it? A substantial amount of the world’s population suffers from a form of poverty, whether it be monetary poverty, or food poverty. Poverty has become such a prevalent issue throughout history, that it isn’t put into consideration as much as it should be. Poverty is a serious world problem, and truly needs to be stopped. With the guidance of citizens of the world, groups and charities, the percentage of poverty stricken people around the world could be greatly shrunk. Above all, poverty has countless effects on people, society, governments, etc. One of the multitude of effects, mainly caused by food poverty, is malnutrition. A handful of families who suffer from poverty can’t afford to buy food, or buy healthy foods. The figures on food poverty are closer to reality than the monetary poverty statistics, says Ivan Hidalgo. Hidalgo stated that the food poverty statistics are more at large than the monetary poverty. Malnutrition can also lead to health issues such as diseases, while the greater portion of families cannot afford hospital care. Poverty also causes problem in education and societies. A manifold of people struggling with poverty are unable to attend school, which will affect them for the rest of their lives. The lack of education also greatly harms the economy of several countries. Those who lack any schooling often are not able to be employed anywhere,Show MoreRelatedPoverty Is A Serious World Problem Essay923 Words   |  4 Pageshelp fight poverty, would you do it? A substantial amount of the world’s population suffers from some sort of poverty, whether it be monetary poverty, or food poverty. Poverty has become such a prevalent issue throughout history, that it isn’t put into consideration as much as it should be. Poverty is a serious world problem, and truly needs to be stopped. With the help of citizens of the world, and different groups, and charities, the percentage of poverty stricken people around the world could beRead MorePoverty Is A Serious World Problem924 Words   |  4 PagesFighting Poverty If you were asked to donate some of your own items or money to help fight poverty, would you do it? A substantial amount of the world’s population suffers from some sort of poverty, whether it be monetary poverty, or food poverty. Poverty has become such a prevalent issue throughout history, that it isn’t put into consideration as much as it should be. Poverty is a serious world problem, and truly needs to be stopped. With the help of citizens of the world, and different groupsRead MoreThe Problem Of World Hunger1258 Words   |  6 Pagespervasive threat of death have been streaming on various media. World Hunger is one of the main problems that a large portion of the global population faces today. Hunger varies with severity but in this case it is the want of food in a third world country. World hunger is a problem that has existed for much of our known history; it has faded away from central concerns because it is barely brought up in everyday conversations. World hunger has many aggravating factors and principal causes, such asRead MoreAssessed Essay Question:. ‘The Problem Of Poverty Is A1179 Words   |  5 PagesAssessed Essay Question: ‘The problem of poverty is a problem of riches’. Analyse with reference to recent trends in global economic inequality. Essay Number: 30923 Word Count: S_37/20 114/22 555/23 666 989/24 1612 2127/25 3107/26 3851/27 1 Introduction In the context of globalization, the unbalanced economic development as the basic rule of global economy and nations’ economic development has been widely accepted by the public around the world. 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The poverty that takes place in more underdeveloped countries such as Kenya, Africa, is majorly affecting the citizens because of the diseases that are being spread throughout the entire state, the lack of medical supplies that is needed for each doctor, and unsanitary water and a very insufficient amount of food. The health and well being of the citizens of Kenya, Africa is horrific, many of the diseases that are spreadRead MorePoverty As A Social Problem1739 Words   |  7 Pages Poverty as a Social Problem Magdalena Brania Mrs. Kropf May 27, 2015 Poverty is inscribed in the history of the world, but it is not inherent fate of every human being. It is also not related to the human nature, which does not mean that it can not be due to its nature. All communities experience it, with a greater or lesser extent way causing psychological and sociological conflicts. Society who have to deal with poverty is not only from undeveloped countries, but also developedRead MoreHunger Is A Serious Problem910 Words   |  4 PagesWorld Hunger Hunger is an everyday battle in America and all over the world. Hunger is a feeling of discomfort, or weakness caused by lack of food. Another definition for hunger is having a strong desire or craving for food. I’m sure everyone has heard once before in their lives from their friends,parents or other family members that you are not truly hungry even though you say otherwise. Every time I would say, â€Å"I don’t like that,† and I was talking about some type of food my parents would alwaysRead MoreSocial Darwinism and Poverty1717 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Social Darwinism and Poverty The concept of Darwinism is more mundanely known as survival of the fittest. That means that the animals that are best suited for survival, which is best adapted to the society in which they live will be the ones that survive. Those that do not have skills and abilities which will allow them to live and thrive will die out. Consequently the next generation will be more comprised of far more creatures that have the more appropriate characteristics. Some have suggestedRead MorePoverty And The Poverty Of Canada1236 Words   |  5 PagesUnfortunately for every group of seven people in Canada there is one person who knows this isn’t impossible at all; it’s their reality, and it’s called poverty. Being one of the eight richest and highly industrialized countries in the entire world, and apart of the G8 countries, Canada is still the only one that hasn’t devised a national anti-poverty plan or even a housing plan. Which is absurd, because according to a 2010 re port by the Wellesley Institute titled Precarious Housing in Canada between