Friday, January 31, 2020

Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

Genetically Modified Foods Essay Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) are crops that have had changes made to their genetic material (DNA) in a way that does not occur naturally through the introduction of a gene from a different organisms. The use of genetically modified foods has been debated about for some time now. One side argues that GMO is more sustainable and economically efficient. It is also argued that GMO has not been properly tested for any negative effects on humans, other animals and the environment. GMO foods are seen as the future in agriculture by scientist as it solves so many worldwide problems. Industries claim GMO foods have been changed to make the food last longer, give the crop herbicidal tolerance, resistance to insects and different climates, taste better and the crop will produce more food. This results in more food for the rapidly growing population of the world as less crops will spoil as a result of insects, while also increasing the nutritional value of the food. Foods that previously weren’t able to grow in varying climates will now be able to, this will especially benefit countries such as Africa where their climate is very harsh. It has been argued that scientists have not done enough research and have not fully tested their products properly. This has been the concerns of many people all over the world. Do the benefits really outweigh the negatives? While GMO products may be very beneficial to society in theory very few have been properly tested for how they impact humans and other organisms in the long term. Tests have been done on rats testing the effects of GMO products on their health, in all cases rats feed GMO products were more likely to develop tumours and suffer server liver and kidney damage. Recent studies also show that despite the claims of GMO food supporters GMO crops don’t produce larger amounts of food. In addition to these problems it has been found that weeds have crossed bread with these GMO plants resulting in herbicide resistant weeds which mean stronger pesticides are needed which possess a huge threat to none GMO plants. In 2010 Germany introduced a ban on Monsanto genetically modified corn as it was considered dangerous. In 2011 Peru passed a law banning genetically modified crops for 10 years, the same year Hungary also destroyed 1000 acres of corn that was found to be grown with genetically modified seeds which are banned. If countries are going to such lengths to keep GMO foods out there must be an issue with them. The main issue with GMO is that it is big companies that are creating GMO foods. They only care about making a profit. This results in sloppy long term tests and in some cases false information being provided to the public to promote their product. In most cases the negatives clearly outweigh the positives of GMO foods although that does not rule out all GMO products. If governments got involved more and incorporated better restrictions on the production of GMO foods results will improve. With more research and tests maybe GMO foods really will be the way of the future.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Real World or the Fake World :: Literature Science Fiction Books Papers

The Real World or the Fake World Real World or Fake World? Science Fiction not only deals with science in todays world, but also with science in the future. In the futuristic novel Snow Crash, by Neal Stevenson, and in the movie The Matrix computers become a huge part of the future society. Even though technology advances so much in futuristic societies, these futuristic societies still share some of the same aspects of todays world. Snow Crash and The Matrix express what life in the future might become. Both the novel and the movie have similarities and differences. Snow Crash is a novel dealing with the near future. Even though the characters live on the west coast of the Americas, the whole world has been destroyed by humans. In this book the main characters and any other human are able to freely choose between two worlds. The Matrix also takes place in the future. The Matrix is a futuristic time when the world has become dark and gloomy from the result of machines that were built by humans taking over and controlling their creators. Already there are similarities between these two works. Slowly the humans destroy their own civilizations over time in one way or the other. One aspect the future holds in these works is the idea of having two different worlds. In the film the two different worlds are the realistic world in which machines use humans as energy sources, and the matrix. In the matrix humans are unaware they are in a fake world unless they are freed and detached from the system which controls them. Until they are detached or if they are never detached, humans have no idea of what the real world is. In the novel the characters are totally aware when they go into the fake world which is referred to in the novel as the metaverse. In the novel the real world is so destroyed that the metaverse is a way for society to get away from it and be who they want to be instead of who they are. Humans are able to choose who their avatar, or what their character is, in the metaverse. They are free to be who they want to be with only a few limitations. For example, they are not allowed to be any size they want to be because if they decided to be a large avatar there would be a metaverse filled with giants overwhelming the other avatars.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Macbeth and ‘throne of blood’

‘Throne of Blood’ is a close adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth to the life style and culture of feudal Japan; a 1957 film in black-and-white contrast that has been acclaimed as one of the best plot transposition of the Macbeth. It depicts the deceit, and greed associated with ambitious fervency to acquire power and engage in tyrannical acts. No doubt, there are similarities between the two plays; however, one of the original script was used in ‘Throne of Blood’. Instead, Washizu Taketori replaced but not as violent and deadly as Macbeth; Lady Macbeth was replaced with Washizu’s wife, Asaji a master-schemer far less humane as Lady. Macduff was not represented in the plot. But the threat for the throne was halted when General Miki was killed; but the latter returned as a ghost Unlike the Macbeth where the king was killed in a fight as prophesied by the three witches, Washizu was shot by his own archers, a nemesis reward of betrayal for a greedy and treacherous leader. Washizu’s fate was prophesized by a malevolent ghost, and not witches. Indeed, the film depicts clear eerie scenes of interactions marked by evil at high places, extensive use of symbols and mystic prowess to carry the viewers from ‘the Island’ to the intricacies of Japanese culture and practice. The theme of the story was not altered in any significant way; it clearly shows the fate of greed and craze for power. The characters employed used the uniqueness of the contemporary culture to relay the message of Macbeth: greed for power never pays; beware of friends, they can become traitors. The force of language lost in this translation was however replaced almost adequately with vivid imagery and sound. The film is great; and a must watch for lovers of Japanese culture, marshal arts especially Samurai styles.