TPO 21. Genetic modification, a process used to change an organism’s genes and hence its characteristics, is now being used to improve trees through genetic modification. It is possible to create trees that produce more fruit, grow faster, or withstand

Essay topics:

TPO 21. Genetic modification, a process used to change an organism’s genes and hence its characteristics, is now being used to improve trees through genetic modification. It is possible to create trees that produce more fruit, grow faster, or withstand adverse conditions. Planting genetically modified trees on a large scale promises to bring a number of benefits.

First, genetically modified trees are designed to be hardier than nature trees; that is, they are more likely to survive than their unmodified counterparts. In Hawaii, for example, a new pest-resistant species of papaya trees has been developed in response to ring spot virus infections that have repeatedly damaged the native papaya tree population. Planting the genetically modified papayas has largely put an end to the ringspot problem.

Moreover, genetically modified trees promise to bring a number of economic benefits to those who grow them. Genetically modified trees tend to grow faster, give greater yields of food, fruit, or other products and be hardIer. This allows tree farmer to get faster and greater returns on their farming investment and save on pesticides as well.

Finally, the use of genetically modified trees can prevent overexploitation of wild trees. Because of the growing demand for firewood and building timber, many forests around the world are being cut down faster than they can be replaced. Introducing genetically modified trees,designed for fast growth and high yield in given geographic conditions,would satisfy the demand for wood in many of those areas and save the endangered native trees, which often include unique or rare species.

The reading passage introduces some benefits of planting genetically modified trees that are questioned one by one by the lecture as follows.

To begin with, the professor clarifies that genetically modified trees are only resistant to one specific condition, unlike natural tree species whose specimen are genetically diverse. This is an advantage for the latter since there are always a few trees within the species that would survive under climate changes or other hardships. Conversely, she points out that genetically modifies trees are more genetically uniform, therefore, they might all die when different environment conditions occur rather than the one they were resistant to. Hence, she challenges that resistance of the modified trees guarantees their survival stated in the reading.

Furthermore, the lecturer states that hidden costs exist for those growing up genetically modified trees. Wholesalers that produce those trees charges a higher price for modified trees, and besides that, new seeds coming from already purchased trees can not be used freely, there is also a fee for them. Thus, these costs might outweigh the extra benefits they make to grow modified trees as the passage suggests.

Finally, the professor underscores that modified trees cause more damage to natural trees than protecting them opposing the last benefit mentioned by the reading of these plants. The reason is because modified trees grow more aggressively competing for resources such as the sunlight, soil, or water with natural trees.

Votes
Average: 8 (2 votes)
Essay Categories

Comments

Wholesalers that produce those trees charges a higher price
Wholesalers that produce those trees charge a higher price

the professor underscores that
Description: check books how to use 'underscore'

-----------------------

Attribute Value Ideal
Score: 25 in 30
Category: Very Good Excellent
No. of Grammatical Errors: 2 2
No. of Spelling Errors: 0 2
No. of Sentences: 10 12
No. of Words: 236 250
No. of Characters: 1268 1200
No. of Different Words: 141 150
Fourth Root of Number of Words: 3.919 4.2
Average Word Length: 5.373 4.6
Word Length SD: 2.564 2.4
No. of Words greater than 5 chars: 93 80
No. of Words greater than 6 chars: 78 60
No. of Words greater than 7 chars: 53 40
No. of Words greater than 8 chars: 33 20
Use of Passive Voice (%): 0 0
Avg. Sentence Length: 23.6 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 5.834 7.5
Use of Discourse Markers (%): 0.8 0.12
Sentence-Text Coherence: 0.452 0.35
Sentence-Para Coherence: 0.673 0.50
Sentence-Sentence Coherence: 0.208 0.07
Number of Paragraphs: 4 4