Understanding the harms and benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on humans is interesting to me since I strive to eat a healthy diet and I am concerned with what goes into my body. Many people carelessly consume food that can be harming themselves, other people, or the environment. This research question affects my everyday life since over eighty percent of food is genetically engineered in North America. Where I buy my food and my everyday food intake may be changed by this research topic. This topic also touches on my values, since I care about ethical and environmental repercussions of this problem. I have some personal experience with this GMOs, since during my freshman year I became interested in what our food is made of. I did personal research to understand how GMOs are created and why. From this research, I learned the negative affects of genetically modified foods out weigh the positive aspects. I am qualified to write about this topic because I am interested about it, I have prior knowledge, and I am capable of doing credible research. In order to answer my research question, I will discuss three sources. 

The first source is a scholarly article by the Environmental Health Sciences department at the University of Minnesota titled "Genetically Modified Organisms-Harmful Effects of the Agent." This first article explains that genetically modified organisms are a broad group of plants, animals that are engineered for a wide variety of applications ranging from agricultural production to scientific research. The article then goes into detail explaining four potential hazards to human health posed by GMO's. The four hazards included are new allergens, increased toxicity, decreased nutrition, and antibiotic resistance. The values and interests at stake here for the authors are health related issues for consumers. They are interested in providing creditable information to warn readers of the negative effects caused by ingesting genetically modified foods. This source seems very credible since it is published by an honorable university, therefore it has been review and revised by experts. Also, the authors are professors and graduates of the prestigious school of University of Minnesota, and are highly knowledgeable about GMOs. This article had very little bias, since it is strictly information based. 

The second source is an article of frequently asked questions and answers about genetically modified organisms. This article, "Frequently Asked Questions on Genetically Modified Foods," was published by the World Health Organization. It presents nineteen of the most common questions or concerns and their answers regarding the nature and safety of genetically modified foods. Topics such as what are GMOs, why are they produced, safety concerns with human health, regulations, and opinions are touched on. The interest at stake here is whether or not genetically modified organisms are healthy for the human body. The major values here are safety and regulation in the international market for GMOs. This source is credible because The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations, that is concerned with international public health. This article was not written with bias because it was written by an impartial source. 

The third source is a very recent news article from The New York Times written by Stephanie Strom.  In this article, "Campbell Labels Will Disclose G.M.O. Ingredients," Strom examines how the famous food producer, Campbell, is beginning to disclose the presence of genetically modified ingredients on their packaging. Ingredients like genetically engineered corn, soy and sugar beets will now be labeled on all packaging. Strom discusses the affects that FDA regulated labeling will have on the food market and large food suppliers. This unusual step might possibly risk sales by alienating consumers averse to genetically modified organisms, but Campbell hopes that with FDA regulation, all companies will soon follow after their footsteps in order to spread awareness of these harmful substances. The interest at stake in this article is understanding how labeling of GMOs will affect the food market around the country. The author, Strom, is a well-known author for the credible and popular source, therefore this is a trustworthy source. There is no bias present in this article. 

The argue-ability of my question was confirmed from my research. It has been argued, or discussed, previously in many scholarly journals, news articles, and by world health organizations. So far, my sources agree that genetically modified organisms pose potential harm to human bodies, and they should be regulated. Although, the sources disagree on how detrimental those harms can be and how strongly they should be regulated. These articles help me understand the consequences and benefits of genetically modified foods so I can make an educated argument. They also show me what large food suppliers have recently been doing in response. As a result, I may need to revise my question to focus on how this problem should be solved in the upcoming years and how it has already and will affect the food market in the future. 

