The document discusses genetic modification of cows to produce more milk with fewer fats and more meat. Genetically modified cows grow faster but are also more likely to die young. People who consume GM cow products may also grow and develop obesity faster with a shorter lifespan due to increased cancer risk. Many view genetically modifying animals as unethical for religious reasons. The document questions why cows rather than plants are modified, noting beef and cow milk are commonly consumed foods.

1. Cows
Genetic modification on cows
Cows are genetically modified to make them produce more milk, with more nutrients, less fats, and also meat to
have more fat. Through genetic modification, a cow also grows faster, and when something grows faster, it is the
most likely to die faster as well.
Effect of GM food on people
As the saying goes,“You are what you eat”, people who eat beef often or drink milk often will grow quickly, be
fatter, and die quickly as well. This can be easily justified by the population of Singapore and people around the
world being fatter and a higher percentage of people being obese. People are also taller and grow much faster
as well than they used to be around a century ago. In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were
overweight. In addition, over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese. Genetically
modified(GM) food is also not exactly “natural food” and through modification of cells, this may also result in
them being carcinogenic. By this theory, people who eat too much GM food will have a shorter lifespan as well,
which is true, as cancer kills an abounding number of people and there were 8.2 million deaths from cancer in
the world in 2012, especially at an old age of 60, which is a huge gap from what it used to be.
Ethical issues
Many people think that making animals grow faster is unethical and refuse to eat GM food. Also, many religions
like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism think that cows are holy animals and are strongly against
eating or modifying the genes of animals. Genetic modification of animals are also looked on negatively by all
sorts of people due to religious reasons. By changing the genes of cows, even if it is done by people of a different
religion, indirectly, it is a form of disrespect to Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.
Why cows and not some plant or other animal?
Why beef? Beef is a very commonly eaten meat and cow’s milk is a drink that many adults drink, and children
drink it in its powdered form. Hence, it is important to know whether GM food, especially cows, affect the lifespan
of the human body.
Bibliography
● World Health Organisation (2014). Obesity and overweight. Retrieved January 15, 2015 from:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
● Cancer Research UK (2012). Worldwide cancer statistics. Retrieved January 15, 2015:
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/world/cancer-worldwide-the-global-picture
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