Development of Genetically Modified Foods - Annotated Bibliography Example

Assignment One: Developing Ideas Dr. Nathan Miles Development of Genetically Modified foods Student’s Name Course Tutor Date Development of Genetically Modified foods Assignment One: Developing Ideas Dr. Nathan Miles Name: Due Date: Student Number: Submission Date: Title: DECLARATION: I hold a copy of this assignment that I can produce if the original is lost or damaged. I hereby certify that no part of this assignment or product has been copied from any other student’s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made in the assignment. No part of this assignment/product has been written /produced for me by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised by the subject lecturer/tutor concerned.   .......................................................   Note: An examiner or lecturer/tutor has the right not to mark this assignment if the above declaration has not been filled in. Research Question: Does the development of Genetically Modified foods solve the problem of food insecurity and undernourishment in the world? Hypothesis – if appropriate: Development of the GMO technology has failed to address the food insecurity and under nourishment problems in many parts of the world. Aims and Objectives: To find out whether the existence of the GMO technology is helping in to fight the problem of food insecurity and undernourishment. The objectives are: 1. To determine the level of food insecurity in the world 2.To determine the role played by GMOs in reducing food scarcity 3.To find out the issues surrounding the infectivity of GMOS in reducing world hunger and undernourishment. References: O’Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage. O'Leary, Z. (2005) Researching Real-World Problems: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Young T. (2004). Genetically modified organisms and Bio safety: A back ground paper for decision makers and others to assist in consideration of GMO issues. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge UK. Berger, P. and Luckmann, T. (1967) The social construction of reality: a treatise in the sociology of knowledge, New York: Anchor. Evenson E. R. (2003) GMOs: Prospects for increased crop productivity in developing countries; Yale University economic growth centre. Birgit M. (2006) GMOs; Global objects of contention; Stichting Focaal. Flachowsky, G; Chesson, A; Aulrich, K. (2005). "Animal nutrition with feeds from genetically modified plants". Archives of Animal Nutrition 59 (1): 1. Engdahl, F. Wm. (2007). Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation. Montreal: Global Research. pp. 360 Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. & Tight, M. (2001) ‘Reading for research’, in How to research, 2nd ed, Maidenhead, Berks : Open University Press, Chapter 4, pp. 97-129 Bouma, G.D. (2004) The research process, 5th ed, South Melbourne: Oxford University Press Annotated Resource #1 O’Leary, Z. (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research. London: Sage publications Limited. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: Dr. Zina O’ Leary being a senior lecturer has a sociological back ground which makes her biased to social movements, social theory, research methods and change management. Currently she is involved in scholarship and teaching research methodologies. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The focus of the author was the researcher and student and the general academic community. She seeks to help students and researchers because they are the ones with need to know how to conduct research. Brief summary: ‘O’ Leary discusses how to do things such as the determination of the right size of sample and to handling with political processes in evaluative research. She then goes beyond the other introductory research texts that explain how to do things only. She focuses on the practical as she stresses the need for ‘doability’ in the process of planning and carrying out any research. The author puts emphasis on the fact that any good research must be viewed as the process through which a person does constant assessment of his work and decision making on how to acquire good data as well as results. Critical evaluation: The author chose a simple way to express her ideas which is easy to understand. The book is practical, comprehensive and a guide that engages one to understand and embark on research in social sciences. The author uses an accessible and clear approach to give students encouragement to consider and engage every part of the research process. The book therefore encourages lateral, creative as well as strategic thinking as it provides the essential skills and knowledge needed by researchers and students. Notes on relevance to your study: This study was very useful in providing the ways through which research in social sciences should be carried out. It provides a lay out of the research methods and the skills needed in conducting some good research in a variety of areas. Annotated Resource # 2 O'Leary, Z. (2005) Researching Real-World Problems: A Guide to Methods of Inquiry. London: Sage. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: Dr. Zina O’ Leary being a senior lecturer has a sociological back ground which makes her biased to social movements, social theory, research methods and change management. Currently she is involved in scholarship and teaching research methodologies. She has an interest in the development of research protocols which are actually practical approaches to the problems of the world. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The audience being targeted here are the researchers and the students with a desire to learn the methods of conducting research on real world problems. Brief summary: Through out the book Zina seeks to guide students on how to do research for themselves i what she calls the real word. She gives guidance to those without experience in research on the how-to, and why of the whole process of research. Critical evaluation: The book is written well in a precise manner and it addresses the needs of the student as it provides a practical and hands on guide from the beginning stage of formulating a question by use of the methods of collecting information all the way to the writing process. The authors makes it more relevant since she takes her examples from social sciences Notes on relevance to your study: The study was very useful especially in the area of researching on real world problems. It provides insight into the methods of conducting research on real world problems such as the one being tackled by the research question in this paper. Annotated Resource #3 Full Harvard Reference: Young T. (2004). Genetically modified organisms and Bio safety: A back ground paper for decision makers and others to assist in consideration of GMO issues. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge UK. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: Tomme Young was the lead author of the group that wrote this report which is the IUCN environmental law centre. The group comprise of other contributors with a bias in GMO and bio safety technologies. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The paper was written specifically to articulate issues about GMOs to decision makers and other people in position where such information is needed. Brief summary: The paper tries to solve the dilemma of GMOs whereby the technology has been promoted as a way of increasing food production without putting pressure on land and the environment but on the hand the issues of safety of the food produced counter the anticipated benefits. In this paper issues of safety of the food are handled. It delves in issues of development and socio cultural matters concerning GMOs. Critical evaluation: The paper has a lot of insight on the issues surrounding the safety of GMOS especially in food insecure regions of the world where the technology was intended to raise food security levels. It is important in provision of information on the potential and possibility of GMOs raising the level of food security in developing countries if the agri-biotech industry is handled well. It explores the issue of governance and sustainable environmental action and the controversial issues on GMO. Notes on relevance to your study: This paper is relevant to the study because it provides the information required in discussing issues of food security research and the contribution of the GMOS. It also has information on the issues that have prevented GMOs from achieving the goal of food provision and nourishment to the world’s poor. Annotated Resource #4 Full Harvard Reference: Berger, P. and Luckmann, T. (1967) The social construction of reality: a treatise in the sociology of knowledge, New York: Anchor. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: Peter Berger serves as a professor of Theology and Sociology at Boston University and he occupies the capacity of the Director for the Institute on culture, religion and world affairs. Thomas Luckmann is a professor Emeritus of sociology at Constance University in Germany. They have a wealth of knowledge in matters related to world affairs and sociology. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The authors develop a theory of institutions, socializations and legitimations which go beyond the sociology discipline. In this they target the anthropologists, philosophers, historians and social scientists since they take a very humanistic approach. Brief summary: The book presents a systematic and general account of the role played by knowledge in the society which aims at stimulating empirical investigations and critical discussion. The book focuses on the sociology of knowledge and in this case common sense kind of knowledge. The book analyses knowledge in daily life in a society theory context as a process between subjective and objective reality. Critical evaluation: The book is very much readable. The authors look at the formation, maintenance and modifications of knowledge by those institutions in which it is embodied and those people that embrace that knowledge. They build on the premise that subjective and objective knowledge is obtained from the society in which we live. The book provides a scientific foundation to the relationship between a community and an individual. This book is very scholarly but can be accessed and has many common place examples that help to illustrate the ideas. It is enjoyably brief and direct to the point and has laudably little philosophical tedium and academic backbiting which could weigh it down. Notes on relevance to your study: This is a very influential book. It has influence because it helped me understand how to deduce form the daily experience the way people create realities and believe that those realities will be real. It gave an insight on how to hand research knowledge and use it to create relevance in my work. Annotated Resource #5 Full Harvard Reference: Evenson E. R. (2003) GMOs: Prospects for increased crop productivity in developing countries; Yale University economic growth centre. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: Robert Evenson has worked for McGraw Hill companies Inc in which he rose to the position of the president of the education publishing unit of McGraw –Hill. He got a B.B.A at St. John’s university with an M.B.A from New York Institute of Technology. He has a lot of experience in education Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The paper targets stake holders in the agricultural sector who are charged with the responsibility of using technology as one of the things to increase food production and distribution. Brief summary: From the paper we can see that the Private firms from which GM plant products come from lack any interest in taking their products to disadvantaged areas for sale. The study argues that those present rDNA techniques tend to allow static gains alone from particular improvements in traits. Such GM products however can be may be installed on varieties of green revolution in which ongoing dynamic improvement in variety is possible. Consequently the green revolution is complemented by the Gene revolution and since incorporation of traits increases the area under green revolution varieties we can still get productivity improvement potential in places that are disadvantaged. Critical evaluation: This paper is well written with a smooth flow in the ideas presented. The author digs deep into some of the issues that are not very much talked about especially in the inefficiency of the use of GMO technology to help raise the supply of food in areas that are disadvantaged. Notes on relevance to your study: The study was important on illuminating the reasons that cause the failure of GMOs to contribute to alleviation of poverty and hunger especially in the area of food distribution. Annotated Resource #6 Full Harvard Reference: Birgit M. (2006) GMOs; Global objects of contention; Stichting Focaal. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: The author works at ISOE in the capacity of research assistant as from January 2010. She is among the members of the research unit Population and supply systems. She studied political science and Human geography at the University of Potsdam. At Georg-August-University she did her doctoral thesis in Environmental and resource economics. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The study is targeting the academic world. Researchers and learners in the area of human geography are set to gain much from her works. Stake holders in matters of food production and supply are targets as well. Brief summary: In crop production GMOs have generated a lot of contention since they have crystallized some major social and political controversies of today. This study is concerned with why urgency is placed on GMOs although they have consequences that cannot be predicted and can only be seen whenever the GMOs are released into the environment. It questions the relevance of GMOs since as it appears their role in increasing food production does not surpass their disadvantages. Critical evaluation: The author Birgit Muller clearly and elaborately brings out her argument about GMOs. The book is easy to read and is very understandable. However one needs background knowledge on GMOs. Nevertheless she is articulate and appealing in the way she argues out. She opens the eye of the reader on the issues surrounding the GMO technology and how much it has failed in benefiting the poor of the world. Notes on relevance to your study: The study is very resourceful and has really helped me in getting to understand the things that make GMO technology fail to be beneficial especially in the things it was thought to bring such as increase in food security and protection of plants. Annotated Resource #7 Full Harvard Reference: Flachowsky, G; Chesson, A; Aulrich, K. (2005). "Animal nutrition with feeds from genetically modified plants". Archives of Animal Nutrition 59 (1): 1. Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: The lead author Flachowsky has co-authored over 125 articles most of them in the area of nutrition of animals. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The authors seek to reach a wide audience ranging from students to researchers, farmers and other stake holders in the farming sector. Those dealing in biotechnology for production of food are also possible targets. Brief summary: The book raises and examines issues a round the production of animal food products by use of animals bred on Genetically modified feeds. Using new techniques in the modification of the plant genetic make up so as to improve their properties bring a bout another crop generation, new grains and by product for animal feeds. The author digs into what is called the inappropriateness of the GMO feeds and food products produced by explaining the influence of GM products in feed for animals and the quality of food products obtained from these animals. Critical evaluation: The authors are keen to discuss the issues of utmost interest to many people in the farming and biotechnology areas which must be dealt with for the GMO technology to achieve the intended goals. In discussing these issues they do not forget the lay people since their language is simplified and the ideas are present in very elaborate ways. There is a lot of consistency in the way the authors use their methods and the overall presentation is good. Notes on relevance to your study: The topic and the methods applied in the paper are relevant and the content was important especially in the area of the controversial issues surrounding GMO animal feeds and food products such as safety. Annotated Resource #8 Full Harvard Reference: Engdahl, F. Wm. (2007). Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation. Montreal: Global Research. pp. 360 Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: Engdahl has a B.A degree in engineering and jurisprudence from Princeton University. He also did some graduate study in comparative economics form the University of Stockholm between 1969 and 1970. He has worked as a freelance journalist and economist in Europe and New York. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: Engdahl targets the academic world among them researchers, educators and students among other in the academic community. Brief summary: The book describes the methods used in genetic manipulation and gives explanations on why the author believes that the process is not genuine. It also highlights some of the problems with health and safety that may arise from this type of manipulation. Critical evaluation: The article is written with a very scientific touch with a good description of the methods. The research can easily be verified and the author has some consistency in the way the ideas are presented. Notes on relevance to your study: The topic area is relevant to my research topic even though the methods used in the study were different from what the ones I was applying. Annotated Resource #9 Full Harvard Reference: Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. & Tight, M. (2001) ‘Reading for research’, in How to research, 2nd ed, Maidenhead, Berks : Open University Press, Chapter 4, pp. 97-129 Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: The lead author Loraine Blaxter works as a senior research fellow in the institute of health in the school of health and social sciences at the University of Warwick. She has published 7 books and 11 journals. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: The academic community is the main audience since the author is trying to elaborate the methods used in research. Brief summary: The book is full of the information on how to carry out the social research process. It explains a number of methods that are appropriate for research in various disciplines. The procedure of a good research process and the skills and qualities of good research are the things featured in the book. Critical evaluation: The authors use a language which can be understood by students and researchers alike. The methods used have been elaborated well and are easy to follow even for beginners in research and there is a lot of consistency in the way the methods outlined are approached. Notes on relevance to your study: The book was very much relevant to my research methods since it outlines the same methods that I found applicable to my own study. Annotated Resource #10 Full Harvard Reference: Bouma, G.D. (2004) The research process, 5th ed, South Melbourne: Oxford University Press Brief comment on Author’s background/ bias/ credibility: He has a PhD in sociology from Cornell University and Masters degree in social psychology from the same university. Many of his works are in research and religion and cultural diversity. He has published more than 15 books and over 20 peer reviewed articles. Brief comment on the nature of the intended audience: Researchers are the main audience targeted. The author provides them with information on the process of research. Brief summary: The book is full of research methods and skills on how to carry out a proper research process. The methods deal with research in social sciences for social scientists. Critical evaluation: The article is very subjective and its methods are applicable outside its frame of reference. The author approaches the methods outlined with a lot of consistency. Notes on relevance to your study: The methods outlined in the study are very appropriate to my research making the book very relevant. There are many things in the research process that i have obtained from the book. Read More