Compare and Contrast Essay between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds
The use of both Hybrid and Genetically Modified Seeds (GMO seeds) has been a popular strategy towards feeding the exponentially growing global population but are very distinct and should not be termed as interchangeable. The term “hybrid seeds” is often used on seed catalogues indicating that they have been obtained after controlled cross-pollination of two different parent plants. Get legit paper writing services now.
Compare and Contrast Essay between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds Hybridization
This process, known as hybridization, does not have to happen in laboratories and can be done by cross-pollinating two plant varieties and can even happen naturally or by a farmer on their field (Mikhaylova & Kuluev). Genetically modified seeds, on the other hand, are obtained by scientists in laboratories by manipulating the plant’s genome. However, the two are obtained through selective breeding by combining the desired qualities of the two species and improving the yield of each of the outcome plant variety.
Compare and Contrast Essay between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds Hybridization
The most conspicuous distinction between the two seeds is the duration of their usage in improving plant yield. The hybridization process can be traced to the discovery and exploitation of metaxenia, the property of pollen affecting the maternal properties of a fruits properties of pollen by the Assyrian and Babylonian civilizations before 700 B.C. HybyidF1 Hybrids, a hybridization method, was first used in the mid-1800s, which was the first hybridization since the agrarian revolution changed a plant in just one generation but can happen naturally, taking several generations to entirely obtain the desired traits (Sohn et al.).
Compare and Contrast Essay between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds Genetic Modification
The process of genetic modification of seeds to obtain the desired qualities to another generation can be traced back to 1994, when the first genetically engineered tomatoes were approved after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved them for sale in the United States after evaluations.
GMO seeds are developed using sophisticated laboratory technology as gene –splicing, different from hybridization that involves low-technology methods like grafting. The genetic modification of seeds can include several species’ genes, which cannot occur in a natural setting. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacteria added to a corn variety developed by Monsanto, killed European corn borers (Sohn et al.).
The farmers were able to eliminate the parasite from their fields for decades with little success, by the use of sophisticated GMO technology allowed the addition of the bacteria to the GMO seeds. On the other hand, the hybridization process is less sophisticated and can be controlled by a farmer for example by cross pollinating two varieties of a fruit to make the outcome species sweeter and larger and harvest the seeds for future use (Mikhaylova & Kuluev).
The manner through which the two parent plants are manipulated to produce the outcome seeds is another difference between the two. The traditional hybridization process introduces genetic diversity to the outcome seeds by combining the properties of the two plants. Viable hybrid seeds, therefore, can be obtained by a farmer in the field. On the other hand, after genetic modification, the seeds from the next generation of plants are not viable, meaning that the farmer has to buy seeds every season. This makes GMOs seeds economically detrimental for use by large-scale farmers (Sohn et al.).
Compare and Contrast Essay between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds Conclusion
In conclusion, GMO and hybrid seeds are very distinct and should never be used interchangeably in food security debates. All food industry stakeholders need to ensure a clear demarcation between the two and encourage the farmers to use legitimate hybrid seeds. This protects them from exploitation by GMO seeds producing companies. However, the use of GMO seeds should be encouraged in counties with food security problems unless a given variety is deemed detrimental to the consumers’ health.
Compare and Contrast Essay between Hybrid Seeds and GMO Seeds Work cited
Mikhaylova, E. V., & Kuluev, B. R. (2018). Potential for gene flow from genetically modified Brassica napus on the territory of Russia. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 190(9), 557.
Sohn, Soo-In, et al. “Characteristics analysis of F1 hybrids between genetically modified Brassica napus and B. rapa.” PloS one 11.9 (2016): e0162103.
