As you respond to your peers (2 replies, 100 words each), try to fill in any gaps you see in their understanding of the pros and cons of the issue. In addition, evaluate the thesis statement. Does it make a limited and arguable claim about the topic or issue? If not, suggest ways to improve the thesis.

As you respond to your peers (2 replies, 100 words each), try to fill in any gaps you see in their understanding of the pros and cons of the issue.  In addition, evaluate the thesis statement.  Does it make a limited and arguable claim about the topic or issue?  If not, suggest ways to improve the thesis.

Peer 1:

Genetically Modified Foods

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), genetically modified foods are those that are obtained from organisms with modified genetic material. Genetic modification involves artificially introducing a desired gene from a different organism into another organism (World Health Organization). Different people have varied viewpoints regarding genetically modified organisms. Those supporting this scientific practice give reasons including, but not limited to, food security, reduction of pesticide use, improved food taste, and enhanced health. Those against genetic modification of foods argue that the practice leads to environmental and health risks, big GMO companies “eating” small scale farmers, and the fact that natural foods have a better taste. Genetic modification is a subject that continues to raise a lot of controversy among different groups of people.

ARGUMENTS FOR GENETIC MODIFICATION OF FOOD

The following arguments have been used to make the idea of genetically modifying food a plausible one.

Food Security. It is expected that by 2050, the world population would hit 9 billion. This means that food production needs to increase so as to meet the demand. Since the size of land for farming is decreasing, genetic modification remains the only option to meet the food demand for the growing population (Cook).

Genetic Modification makes crops stronger and reduces use of pesticides. Through genetic modification, scientists are able to introduce pest resistance genes into food crops. This means that farmers will use little or no pesticides, thus reduced fuel emissions and decreased global warming.

Improved taste. Genetic modification can be done to improve food texture and flavor. For instance, genetically modified corn is sweeter. The technology is also known to produce pepper that is spicier. The flavors of several other foods have been enhanced through genetic modification.

Boosted health. Biotech is known to lead to the production of healthier foods. For instance, genetically modified lettuce has a higher concentration of nutrients and GMO tomatoes have a higher composition of oxidants which help inhibit heart disease or cancer.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST GENETIC MODIFICATION OF FOOD

Despite the arguments made to substantiate the practice of producing GM foods, there are some people who do not buy into the whole idea. Some argue that the benefits of biotechnology is a fabricated story meant to enrich those in the business.

Environmental and health risk. Seeds created through biotechnology are capable of forming pesticide-resistant weeds through cross pollination (Goldstein and Goldstein). These weeds threaten the lives of wild plants other crops. Interfering with crop genes is known to cause defects in animals. For instance, use of biotechnology is known to have led to birth defects and reduction of butterfly populations in the U.S. Mixing up genes of different crops makes them more allergic to people suffering from such. Genetically modified foods could result in antibiotic-resistant diseases, thus reducing medicine effectiveness.

Big companies “eating” small farmers. Farmers who are too much dependent on GMO crops are under the control of businesses owning the patents and thus setting the prices as they wish. Such companies use terminator technologies force farmers to continue buying seeds from GMO companies.

Natural crops tastes better. Food crops which have not been modified taste better and have more nutritional value than genetically modified ones.

Peer 2:

Vaccines

Children are the future. It is the most important that children are provided with a chance for not only a future but also a healthy future. Vaccines have been considered as one of the greatest health developments. Vaccines prevented illnesses, like rubella, diphtheria, smallpox, polio, and whooping cough. “Should any vaccines be required for everyone?” This question is rather ambiguous.

Arguments for vaccines

Vaccines can save children’s life. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014. The measles vaccine has decreased childhood deaths from measles by 74%.

Vaccines protect future generations. Vaccinated mothers protect their unborn babies from viruses that could potentially cause birth defects. For example, global rubella in 1964-1965, rubella epidemic swept the United State. During that short period time, there were 12.5 million cases of rubella. Twenty thousand children were born with CRS: 11,000 were deaf, 3,500 blind, and 1,800 mentally retarded.

The ingredients in vaccines are safe in the amounts used. Common ingredients, such as thimerosal, formaldehyde, and aluminum, can be harmful in large doses but they are not used in harmful quantities in vaccines. Children are exposed to more aluminum in breast milk and infant formula than they are exposed to in vaccines. Also, the FDA requires up to 10 or more years of testing for all vaccines before they are licensed.

Arguments against vaccines

Despite all the superfluous facts above, vaccines should be considered by all parents whether or not to have a child vaccinated.

Vaccines can cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. According to the CDC, all vaccines carry a risk of life-threatening allergic reaction in about one per million children. The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) says that vaccines may be linked to learning disabilities, asthma, autism, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and other disabilities.

Vaccines contain harmful ingredients. Some physicians believe thimerosal, an organic mercury compound found in trace amounts in one flu vaccine for children and other vaccines for adults, is linked to autism. Aluminum is used in some vaccines and excess aluminum in human bodies can cause neurological harm. Some vaccines for the flu contain chicken egg protein, which can be harmful to children who are allergic to egg.

Vaccines are unnatural, and natural immunity is more effective than vaccination. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia notes that “It is true that natural infection almost always causes better immunity than vaccines. Whereas immunity from the disease often follows a single natural infection, immunity from vaccines occurs only after several doses.” Kurt Perkins stated,”Immunity is a natural thing. Vaccines are an artificial thing.”