4.4.12.B--+Agricultural+science+has+influenced+Biotechnology

    ** Biotechnology ** Biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques, such as genetic engineering that are used to improve plants, animals, and microorganisms (specifically plants here).

Genetic engineering has been used since as early as 1995 by farmers in the United States. The genetically engineered crops are also called biotech crops or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). In 2005, there were an estimated 5.5 million farmers who grew biotech crops on 130 million acres in 15 countries, and the leading countries were the U.S., Canada, and Argentina. Most biotech crops on the market today were developed to reduce crop damage because of weeds, disease, and insects. GMOs can cause many problems as well as help in many ways. It causes controversy becuase there are studies that show that genetically modified organisms can make health problems more likely in people. For these reasons and many more some countries such as Europe have already decided to not allow there to be any foods made from GMOs in their countries.

There are also many good things that bioengineered crops can do. Some say that they are less vulnerable to pests and can grow better in harsher living environments that regular non bioengineerd crops. Therefore leading to the production of more crops over a shorter amount of time considering the better they can grow the less that will die. This helps us meet supply and demand in our country as well as foregin supply in which we provide. Many aid organizations are for the use of GMOs becuase it will help the United States to be able to offer aid to countries that need our help in supplying food for the starving such as countries like Africa. The higher the production rates the more products we can supply to other countries once our needs are met.

There are many types of bacteria which are used to help fight pests. Different types of bacteria can help control and even in some cases kill off the pests and protect the crops. The types of bacteria can help fight against such pests like black flies, mosquitoes, cabbageworm, armyworms, some types of beatles and larva and many more.

Genetically engineered bacteria and yeasts have been used for over 20 years to produce vitamins and nutritional supplements. Biotechnology has also been used to produce medicines to treat human diseases such as arthritis and heart disease. Most insulin used to treat diabetes is now produced biotechnically. Genetic engineering is commonly used to create detergents, textiles, pulp and paper, leather, metals, fuels and minerals. ("Agricultural Biotechnology")