Rantetoding 1

Samuel Palungan Rantetoding

Ibu Alissa
Biology Grade 10
14 September 2015

GM Poplar Tree
GMO are living organisms that have been manipulated through experiment by genetic
engineering. We need 3 main components to make the GMO, which are gene
we want to transfer, the target we want to put it into, and the vector to
bring the gene to the target. The GMO transfer usually done using the
enzymes called restriction enzymes. Restriction enzymes are enzyme that
cut DNA in the species chromosomes that found in bacteria. The GMO
that I used for this essay is GM Poplar Tree.
The GM Poplar Trees were being genetically modified because it can clean heavy
pollution from contaminated soil. The contaminated soil happens because of Xenobiotic. The
tree can remove up to 91 percent of trichloroethylene. Trichloroethylene is used sometimes
for industrial solvent. It can decrease the grease of metal that were used in industry. (ATSDR)
Just imagine when the world could decrease the toxic up to 91% only by plant the GM Poplar
Trees. This chemical (trichloroethylene) could affect our organ systems. Central nervous
system impacts are the essential impacts noted from intense inward breath presentation to
trichloroethylene in people, with side effects including sleepiness, fatigue, headache,
confusion, and feelings of euphoria. Impacts on the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal
framework, and skin have likewise been noted. (EPA) To make the GM poplar trees, the
scientist combined many enzymes that are use to cut the DNA, so the tree could be
manipulated, so it can grow faster.

Rantetoding 2
With the GM poplar trees, it can defuse toxic pollutants in the world better than the
normal poplar trees. This species could also be a good choice for the environment because
other than the function, this tree could also grow faster and could grow for several years
without flowering.(Choi) The government in United States is now considering to put the
transgenic trees or the modified trees in the forests because the function of the trees. Tree will
be the most important part of environment because it can make the environment becomes
better and also it can produces oxygen, which human need to breathe. I thoughts that the
government doesnt need to change the normal trees with the transgenic trees. Just put the
transgenic trees at the other place where no trees were plant there. If we replace the normal
trees with the transgenic trees, it would be useless because the amount of trees would be the
same. There is no difference with replacing the normal tree with the transgenic one. The
difference is that with the transgenic one, they can grow faster than the normal one. The
advantage of having GM poplar trees or other types of tree is that it will make a better
environment because genetically modified trees require less chemicals than the normal trees.
The chemicals can grow into pollution, which was the global issue that the government wants
to stop. It also impacts to the cost. It will keep us affordable to plant the tree because it only
use little chemicals, which will make the price becomes lower, so the government could ask
the citizen to plant a tree at their house. (Thenetgalaxy.com) The price will be cheaper in
American territories, but In Asia for example, the price will be much expensive than the
normal trees because in Asia, people need to take the chemicals from other country and they
also need to find a land to plant it because the population in Asia is so big. There also a moral
issues that happen because of the GMO. Some people have questioned that man has the right
to manipulate the laws and course of nature. (Answers.com) This will be a huge disadvantage
for the government because they need to explain the answer of that question, if they approve
the GM trees will be plant in the forests. Some people also questioned about Darwins theory

Rantetoding 3
survival of the fittest which has worked in the 20 th of century. People ask why they need to
change the theory? Let the one stronger will survive from extinction.
In my opinion, its fine for the government to plant the genetically modified trees in
the forests or other places, but they need to make sure that it already approve by the citizens.
It not only happens in US, maybe someday it will happen in other country. They need to
make sure that the normal trees also grow in the forests. Just make it variety because this
problem is not only happen with the GM trees, but it also happens to GM crops and animal.
For example, in crops, people make it to become a food and the GMO are not proven enough
to be safety to eat. The government need to make sure that the GM trees or other kinds of
GMO is safe to be used by the citizens because it only tried by scientist. It still not approve
by the world, so they need to make it safe before used.

Works Cited
ATSDR. "Trichloroethylene (TCE)." Toxic Substances Portal. ATSDR, 3 Mar. 2011. Web.
11 Dec. 2015.
EPA. "Trichloroethylene." Trichloroethylene. EPA, 9 Oct. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
Choi, Charles. "Genetically Engineered Plants Could Clean Humanity's
Messes." LiveScience. N.p., 15 Oct. 2007. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
Thenetgalaxy. "Disadvantages and Advantages of Genetically Modified
Crops." Thenetgalaxy.com. N.p., 19 May 2015. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.
Answers.com. "What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetic
Engineering?" Answers.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015.