Playing video games, good or bad

Is playing video games good or bad? I believe many people have been arguing about this statement. Let us talk about it.

Video-gaming is indeed very addictive. A person developing a liking for it can go on and on with it for hours together, not even realizing the amount of time he has been spending on it. Gaming can also be extremely distracting. A person tends to lose interest in things he has been preoccupied with because the highly interactive video gaming interface tends to take control of his thought process as he gets involved. This has both positive as well as negative implications. In other words, video or computer games may have good as well as bad effects on the psyche of the individuals addicted to them. Positive impact of video games include development of qualities such as multitasking, quicker decision-making, teamwork and better response to challenges and risks. Games may also help people to develop better mathematical and analytical skills. But as the saying goes, 'there are two sides to every coin', despite the numerous positive effects that video games may have on an individual, some of the negatives of this technological innovation can prove to be extremely hazardous in the long-run. Given below are some of the negative and harmful effects that video gaming may have on an individual:

Addiction to video games hampers the health of an individual to a great extent. It is often very difficult to cure the ills that are caused by incessant gaming and hence trying not to get into such kinds of troubles as far as possible is the most advisable thing to do.

One of the most common health issues that is faced by most individuals, adults and children alike, addicted to playing video games is obesity. Addicted gamers often face this problem because they tend to sit in one place for a long time and hence their body practically misses out on any kind of physical activity. Being overweight may increase the risk of developing other ailments in the long run such as high levels of cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension and so on.

Playing video games for long hours at a stretch may also hamper an individual's sleep thus leading to the development of insomnia. This may further result in drowsiness and hypoactive immune system.

Back pains are also commonly experienced by gaming addicts since they sit in one place and in one position for long hours. Although these might seem to be minor ailments in the beginning, they may have much deeper implications as the addiction progresses.

Playing video games for incredibly long hours tends to adversely affect the social behavior of an individual as well. Excessive gaming can develop certain traits which may have negative effects on an individual's all-round development.

Social isolation can be an immediate consequence of continuous and ceaseless gaming. People, especially children, tend to spend lesser time with their friends and others because they want to get back home/gaming place as fast as possible and continue playing. This makes them aloof from others and so in the long-run lack abilities of social communication and develop a kind of anthropophobia (fear of human company).

Children and teenagers may face confusion about reality and fiction. Due to the fact that addiction to video games may hamper their social life, the scope for them to mingle with other people and to experience the realities of the world becomes very limited. The consequence is that they end up believing that the real world is similar to the virtual world of the game they have been playing and hence, behave and interact in the same way as they do during gaming.

Quick thinking, making fast analysis and decisions.  Sometimes the player does this almost every second of the game giving the brain a real workout. According to researchers at the University of Rochester, led by Daphne Bavelier, a cognitive scientist, games simulating stressful events such as those found in battle or action games could be a training tool for real-world situations. The study suggests that playing action video games primes the brain to make quick decisions. Video games can be used to train soldiers and surgeons, according to the study.

In conclusion, it is shown that playing video games has more disadvantages than its advantages.  Hence, I strongly recommend all of you to stop playing video games and focus the important things in your life.

Written by, Adriane J
SMJK Heng Ee

Playing video games. Good or bad?

            With the technology today, we able to play varies video games from the internet for free, or even in the television with our latest invention of PS3. Tons of video games are invented every year and are enjoyed by many despite the age or even sex. For example, Dota, Mayple Stories, Diner dash. With the exquisite graphics and exciting story lines, many are amazed how lively it is for the game to appeal in front of our faces. However, all this ravishing things could lead us to advantageous and disadvantages.

            From my point of view, video games somehow may cause to addiction of a person, especially teenagers these days, there has been thousands and thousands of complaints from parents of how addicted the children are to the video games and rather to stick their faces to the computer than being outside exploring the world. Long term addiction of video games is almost similar to drug addiction; it’s tough for a person to rehabilitate the addiction. So, addiction to video games may lead the person to darkness as in living in their own world of video games without socializing with the people around them. If one day they realize that they have to snap out of the addiction, it’s going to be very tough for them as they have quarantine themselves for too long until they have loss the knowledge of life or even, how to live their life in the future.

            Long term addiction of video games may also lead one to disaster in education. Usually teenagers who are addicted to video games neglect their education in school due to the long time gaming whole day. Without any revision or dedication to study means they maybe lead to jobless in the future. This is what worries the parents most as every parents just want their children to be someone useful to the society, even just being a normal employee in a factory is a kind of relief to them.

            Besides that,  playing video games may lead us to unhealthy lifestyle. This is due to long term being beside the computer or any kind of technology, radiation sent out from these technology are very harmful to the body. It could be fatal as well as in leading us to cancer of any kind. What will you do when you’re playing your video games? But of course, sit down all day long with your fingers moving only. Without exercises, it may lead to obesity, if you are obese, it will lead you to diabetes, as well as heart attack, hyper tension or any kind of sickness you can think of when you are obese. So, it’s very bad for us to not exercise and feel the fresh air outside with the sun shining.

            All these disadvantages are terrifying, however there are advantages, some of the games are good to human being. Action games or detecting games may stimulate ones reflexes, for me, I love to play some brain storming games and action games, as it improves my observations and reflexes as maybe it could help me some techniques in studying and life. Besides that, playing video games is a good way to release stress as we live in this hectic world.

            In a nutshell, there are pros and cons in everything. But with proper adjustment in time, video games can be enjoyable to everyone.

Group 8
Name : Soon Hui Sing

          Group 10

Advantages and Disadvantages of Playing Online Games

          Today people can enjoy many kinds of amusements which include playing sports, shopping, going camping or playing online games. Online games are now liked by most of the people and are now growing fast in part of the internet based industries. Many people can play these online games together in a network. There are many free online games available on the net that can be downloaded easily. As these are open for public to try and have fun.

         

One of the most obvious benefits that online games bring to the players is that it is much more convenient than traditional ones. After a working day at the office or at school, people do not need to go anywhere to entertain or play some games because they can enjoy many interesting games via their computers connected to the internet. They can just sit at one certain place without needing to move even a single limb to enjoy the game and entertain your selves.

             

For playing online games, there is no need to care about the setup and cleanup required for playing. Additionally, the player has the benefit to play alone or with other online players depending on options that are easier than occasionally playing traditional games. Every traditional game cannot be definitely played by a single person and many need involvement of more people. In addition, online games are less costly to play as compared to other games; some games can be totally free of cost.

             

One can also benefit  from online games just by attempting to clear a stage or a level. Some of the games require brainstorming such as a puzzle online game that needs the players to think of certain ways on how to solve a puzzle. Through that, I think that a person could gain an increase in his or her IQ level which will really benefit in the future. As IQ is important these days to work your way through the upper corporate level.

              

However, sometimes children play too many video games. This is time consuming and can have an affect on their social and academic life. Also, it can be expensive to buy the consoles and also the actual games. Furthermore, some games can be aggressive and violent which can have an effect on someone’s behaviour. There are a lot of games that are for 18 year olds however, children may still play them. This can seriously effect the way the child behaves and speaks. That child may also suffer from depression after a long period of just sitting closed in front of a pc.

            

In conclusion, online games can alter the way people spend their leisurely time positively or negatively depending on whether the players have enough self control or not. Being fully aware of the benefits and drawbacks of online games, the players can maximize their advantages and avoid the addiction.

Written By
Members of Group 10
SMJK(C) Heng Ee

What are the effect of playing video games to children?

                The good and bad effects of children playing video games always a hot topic discussed by people. Some children turn into bad habits with their homework because most of their time occupied by playing video games. That’s why most of the parent not allows their kids play with video games.  In my point of view, I disagree with children plays video games.

                Let’s talk about the bad effect of playing video games. A 2001 study found that exposure to violent video games correlates with at least a temporary increase in aggression and a decrease in prosocial behavior. This is a serious problem brought by video games. Former military psychologist and moral reformer David Grossman argues that because the military uses games in training, the generation of young people who play such games are similarly being brutalized and conditioned to be aggressive in their everyday social interactions. Children who are still not enough mature cannot differentiate good and bad. If they waste most of their time in playing video games, they are affected by the content in video games easily.  Besides, children are tend to become insensitive and cold towards other people.

                Furthermore, playing video games surely affect the academic result of the children, as the pay more effort in playing video games rather than studying.  Study is one of the responsibilities of a child, they should study hard to have a bright future. Play with video games does not bring any benefits to their career in the future. Gaming can be very addictive and just leave a little time for them in learning. Thus, playing video games are not meaningful at all.

                Moreover, another consequence brought by playing video games is the negative health effect. Children who addicted with video games always stay in the their room or cyber café, instead of going for exercise or other outdoor activities. This may cause obesity as they just sit in front of the computer and does not do any physical activity. Not only obesity, those who play video games for a long period may suffer an eye problem as they use too much time to stare at the screen of computer. In a study conducted in 2011 in Karachi, Pakistan, an experienced gamers have lower heart rates compared to others.

                Although there are a lot of consequences of playing video games, there are some potential pros by video games. Video games can test a child’s brain. A lot of games need good solving problem abilities to successfully complete a game. Sometimes, this kind of skill cannot learnt from real life of a child or even in school. This might help in their life in the future.

                In the nutshell, it is not necessary to stop children from playing video games but it is needed to control by parents. Use a little time in playing video games might bring some benefits to children, but not addictive in playing video games.

                                                                                                                                                Loh Wei Shan, group 8

PLAYING VIDEO GAMES? GOOD OR BAD

    

PLAYING VIDEO GAMES? GOOD OR BAD

Thanks to the new and improve world we have here in the 21^st century, there is no doubt that the we are showered by the wonders of technology and its application. The most common one is application is non-other that the vast variety of video games to venture in. However ,the existence of this game have been a pain in the neck for the nation .So, what are the points or factor that make playing video games being categories  as bad?

     For starters, the most common reason that most people complain about video game especially parents is that their child is addicted to it. There is no doubt that the games played are  really addictive because when you start playing there will be a goal for you to reach and based on human instinct you will surely strive hard to achieve that goal. After you succeed you will feel happy and confident, this will make you continue challenging your limits and that’s how you ended up glue on to the desktop.

Next reason is that it is very time consuming when you play and you won’t know that once you settle down you will waste at least two hours on playing that particular game or level. Time pass by fast when you are focus or having fun. Obviously, when you are playing you are mostly having fun and focusing because there is no games in the world, the fun kind that do not need you ultimate focus, so when you combine both of these factors there will definitely be no return.

The games that are mostly popular or trilling to play all share a common secret that can make there a game popular that is by putting a dash of violence .Violence in the game can consist of eerie or bloody high definition graphic that can make the gamer feel more realistic when he or she is killing virtually .This can actually deteriorates the mind of the gamers especially the youth. To give an example ,the mass shooting incident that have repeated more than once in the America clearly portrays the virtual violence can be brought in to reality if precaution or restriction is ignored.

   However, we still cannot deny that video games have brought joy to many in the world and defeated boredom for some people. The existence of video games provide us new experience like getting a feel on what is like on the battle field or when you’re on a mission to assassinate someone. The chance of having tried out dangerous jobs virtually can increase your general knowledge on that particular job and you will be grateful that those jobs exist in reality          to protect you.

    Generally based on my opinion, I strongly disagree on playing video game because it brings more cons that pros to us and is a fact that video games will always be a parasite in our daily life if not getting rid of.

                                                                                                                                            Ng Pei Nee

                                                                                                                                              (Group 8)

Effect of video game

Is playing video games good or bad for you?  I totally agree that there are more advantages than disadvantages of playing video games.

Some video games teach kids the wrong values.  Violent behavior, vengeance and aggression are rewarded.  Negotiating and other nonviolent solutions are often not options.  Women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or sexually provocative.  

Games can confuse reality and fantasy.

Academic  achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video games. Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school. Studies shown that video game addicts argue a lot with their teachers, fight a lot with their friends, and score lower grades than others who play video games less often. Other studies show that many game players routinely skip their homework to play games, and many students admitted that their video game habits are often responsible for poor school grades. 

Although some studies suggest that playing video games enhances a child’s concentration, other studies, such as a 2012 paper published in Psychology of Popular Media Culture, have found that games can hurt and help children's attention issues — improving the ability to concentrate in short bursts but damaging long-term concentration.

Besides the good sides of playing video games, video games may also have bad effects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome.

When playing online, your kid can pick up bad language and behavior from other people, and may make your kid vulnerable to online dangers.

A study by the Minneapolis-based National Institute for Media and the Family suggests that video games can be addictive for kids, and that the kids' addiction to video games increases their depression and anxiety levels. Addicted kids also exhibit social phobias. Not surprisingly, kids addicted to video games see their school performance suffer.

Kids spending too much time playing video games may exhibit impulsive behavior and have attention problems. This is according to a new study published in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Psychology and Popular Media Culture. For the study, attention problems were defined as difficulty engaging in or sustaining behavior to reach a goal.

               In a nutshell, it is undeniable to say that playing video games has more advantages than disadvantages. Therefore, I strongly recommend all of you to play video games.

Written by, Mr Gooi Song Hean
SMJK Heng Ee

Advantages of playing video games

              A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Gaming both video and computer has become more than a fad, it is a part of life. First generation video game players have now become adult and carry their passion to adulthood. Parents and teachers worry about games having negative effects on children and a great deal has been written about games leading to violent behavior and addiction. However, all is not negative about gaming, studies by leading researchers have shown that video and computer games have many benefits.

                  It has been shown that action video game players have better hand-eye coordination and visuo-motor skills, such as their resistance to distraction, their sensitivity to information in the peripheral vision and their ability to count briefly presented objects, than nonplayers. Researchers found that such enhanced abilities could be acquired by training with action games, involving challenges that switch attention between different locations, but not with games requiring concentration on single objects. It has been suggested by a few studies that online/offline video gaming can be used as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of different mental health concerns. To experience game, the player must first determine the objectives, as well as how to complete them. They must then learn the game controls and how the human-machine interface works, including menus and HUDs. Beyond such skills, which after some time become quite fundamental and are taken for granted by many gamers, video games are based upon the player navigating (and eventually mastering) a highly complex system with many variables. This requires a strong analytical ability, as well as flexibility and adaptability.

                     Indeed, most games require a great deal of patience and focus from the player, and, contrary to the popular perception that games provide instant gratification, games actually delay gratification far longer than other forms of entertainment such as film or even many books. Learning principles found in video games have been identified as possible techniques with which to reform the U.S. education system. It has been noticed that gamers adopt an attitude while playing that is of such high concentration, they do not realize they are learning, and that if the same attitude could be adopted at school, education would enjoy significant benefits. Students are found to be "learning by doing" while playing video games while fostering creative thinking.      

                             However,  there is also conflicting data that suggests video games have no real positive effect, or that they have negative effects on other aspects of cognition, such as attention span. Particularly, the issue with attention is that video games are meant to be engaging and addicting, as this will get the developers more sales. People without any real attention deficit will have an easier time playing video games for hours on end, while at the same time, show symptoms of a decline in attention when subjected to comparatively less engaging tasks, such as academics. Studies conducted in this fashion do not necessarily take into account possible "types" of attention used for video games, and those used in a school.

                  The world of gaming is constantly changing. The internet is replete with articles and tips written by experts on gaming, benefits, and disadvantages, it is important to be informed parents and game players. Read up on games and learn how to choose games that are beneficial. Know what your child is doing at all times. Place your trust in your child but ensure that he or she is able to gauge accurately right from wrong. Conclusively, I strongly agree that advantages of playing video games more than disadvantages.

Written by Michelle - Group 7

THE ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF PLAYING VIDEO GAME

THE ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF PLAYING VIDEO GAME

First of all , what is GAME ? A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device,but it now implies any type of display device that can produce two or three dimensional images. The electronic systems used to play video games are known as platforms; examples of these are personal computers and video game consoles. These platforms range from large mainframe computers to small handheld devices. Specialized video games such as arcade games, while previously common, have gradually declined in use. Video games have gone on to become an art form and industry

While playing game, there are too much of thing can always harm you. This rule also applies to video games. Playing video games too often and for too long can harm you in more than one way. Many people argue that video games are ruining the lives of many children in today’s world. This is because they have no restrictions on what they play and how long they play it. Many video games these days include a lot of weaponry and, and an objective that involves killing or having to injure someone. Of course it would be terrible if a child killed someone in the real world, so why should killing them in the virtual world be any different? According to Violent Video Games (2010), “playing violent video games can make some adolescents more hostile, particularly those who are less agreeable, less conscientious and easily angered”.

The disadvantages that are so commonly packaged with the word “video game” only come out in a child with the excessive use of them. There are good and bad games, and good and bad ways to use them (Chatfield, 2010). Blake (2006) found that “When kids play these games and see their favorite character commit some type of violent action, they want to repeat it”. Another negative affect that video games have on children is that they can put a bad image of women into their heads. Blake (2006) discovered that, “Women are not usually used in video games, and when they are, their purpose is usually sex appeal”. This causes children to think of women as just good looking objects to have sexual relations with. Another disadvantage of video games is that it causes children to be isolated from the social world around them. Whenever they are at home the child will go straight to the gaming console or computer. Also, while they are at school or somewhere else outside of the house, all they can focus on is thinking about how they are going to beat that next level once they get home. According to Blake (2006), “It causes the student not to care about grades or learning and to want to stay as far away from the real world as possible because of how much the player likes the videogame world”. Video games can have many bad affects if not limited. It is crucial for parents to limit their children’s video game intake, in order to avoid the horrible affects that it causes.

However, there is also some advantages of Playing Video Games. Most people think that video games only cause the corruption of a child’s mind, and destruction of someone’s physical ability. However, playing video games can have many benefits. Video games require that the player can use a controller while looking at a television screen. According to Impact of Video Games on Children (n.d), “this causes the player to train their manual dexterity and can make it better”. Video games have been proven to be much better for you than watching television. Manali Oak (n.d) found that, “this is because video games are interactive; the player has to think a little bit and analyze the situation they are in”. Playing video games involves problem solving, planning, estimation and analysis of the moves or actions of both you and your opponent.

According to Manali Oak (n.d), “This affects the player positively by developing in him/her problem-solving skills, analytical and estimation skills and quick decision-making”. Video games can help you learn lifelong skills. One of these is resource management. Children might have to manage their time or things like armor. Doing this while focusing on the actual gameplay is what helps build resource management. Manali Oak (n.d) discovered that when you play video games, “you learn to recognize types of situations and react to them quickly”. Some children have social disorders where they lack self-confidence. Playing video games can actually be used in therapy for social disorders such as these. A child gets a sense of participation, a sense of achievement, thus building his/her self-confidence. Children, after playing video games begin to feel excited about their lives, they start feeling positive and enthusiastic. Manali Oak (n.d) found that, “this enables them to defeat their psychological disorders to a certain extent”.

As a conclusion, we should enable to control our time when doing something. Make sure that you are in the right road before you doing something. That’s all !Thanks !

written by L.Theng
Group 7

The effect of playing video Game

2003 study hypothesized that video game players possess increased attentional capacity, of which they found people who play video games regularly possess more attentional capacity than those who do not.They observed the differences in attention capacity in video game players compared to non video game players using the flanker compatibility task in which participants are briefly presented a shape  in one of 6 large rings. Participants were asked which of the two shapes appeared in one of the 6 rings, There were also relatively larger squares and diamonds outside of the circle that the 6 rings formed, as well as irrelevant shapes inside the actual rings that served as distractors. The difficulty of the task was increased with the distractors. Results for the task had shown that as the task became more difficult, the non video game players' ability to guess correctly had declined, while the video game players' ability remained relatively constant. However initially, the ability of non video game players were better. Still, not only were the video game players able to consistently find the right shape in the rings, they were also able to report some distractors even as their numbers increased. Therefore, it did not take complete attention to find the shape for video game players. Another task in this experiment was where participants were asked how many squares they were briefly presented with, with video game players being able to report 33% more squares than non video game players, with about 26% less error.

In the same study, non video game playing participants played Medal of Honor, a first person shooter for one hour for 10 consecutive days. Another group played Tetris, a game which they hypothesized required less attention, because one only needs to pay attention to one object. The participants were tested for attentional capacity with the flanker compatibility task and the enumeration task before and after 10 days of their group's video game. The participants who played the first person shooter showed better results, which shows that video games' abilities to improve attention depends on their genres, which determine how many objects one must pay attention to, with shooters having more of an effect. In fact, the Tetris game had shown no significant effect on attention in the study. Not only did the study support that action video game players have better attentional skills, it also demonstrated that one needs as little as 10 days to see an increase in performance as a product of video games.

 Coordination and Motor SkillsResearch supports the theories that people who play video games possess improved visual ability, higher reaction time on average, and enhanced motor skills.Studies have also demonstrated a reduction in attentional blink among video game players, increasing their ability to recognize more stimuli as they are presented in quick succession (as fast as blinks of the eye). Such findings are important because they infer that video games are sufficient enough of a supplement to the teaching of trades involving quick decision making and precise movement.

Research also supports the possibility of video game players having better hand-eye and motor coordination. Their ability to find targets regardless of distractors while at the same time pay attention to intricate details outside of their immediate vision (such as "hit points" at the corner of the screen) in the video games they play are perhaps the factors involved in increased cognitive ability.

 DebateThere is also conflicting data that suggests video games have no real positive effect, or that they have negative effects on other aspects of cognition, such as attention span. Particularly, the issue with attention is that video games are meant to be engaging and addicting, as this will get the developers more sales. People without any real attention deficit will have an easier time playing video games for hours on end, while at the same time, show symptoms of a decline in attention when subjected to comparatively less engaging tasks, such as academics. Studies conducted in this fashion do not necessarily take into account possible "types" of attention used for video games, and those used in a school.

However, a definitive attack on the theory that video games promote cognition is a study by Boot, Blakely and Simons,whose research suggests "action" video games - those that are fast-paced - have no significant effect on mental ability. They state that past studies have shown difficulty in the construction process of testable research designs used to determine positive cognitive effects of video games. Their own study puts more of an emphasis on non-video game players, and the importance of testing the effects of prolonged exposure of video games to people such as these, of which they have found no significant change.

People tested in past studies were established to be gamers, and if most of those people were labeled as gamers, and knew the study was about gamers, the distribution of their average cognitive processes would not vary. Studying non-gamers would directly demonstrate the true effects of video games on people in general. Otherwise, it is implied that video games are simply a hobby that people with above average cognitive ability tend to partake in. People with naturally better attentional skills decide to play video games because they are naturally better at them, while people who were not as successful avoided video games. This confound was noted in previous experiments, and was assessed by having non video game players develop skills in video games to see if video games themselves had any effect.

Boot's study, however, highlights the lack of improvement in non video game players: that regardless of whether video games had an effect, that the nature of test-retest procedures should yield better results the second time, but instead results typically remained constant. This will skew interpretations because the experimental group will seem that much better than the control. The study stresses that the cognitive benefits of video games are not ideally researched, costly, more elaborate research will need to be conducted, and that as it stands, video game players are inherently better at paying attention to details. It is necessary to use inexperienced video game players to gauge the effectiveness of video games on cognition

written by jane
Group7

GMO Is Helpful Or Harmful?

GMO is helpful or harmful ?

Genetically modified foods are seen by many as the answer to the challenges posed by population growth and climate change. But the question still remain, whether they are safe or not.  These are some of the promises that biotechnology have promised:  Rice with built-in Vitamin A that can help prevent blindness in 100 million children suffering from Vitamin A deficiency, A tomato that softens more slowly, allowing it to develop longer on the vine and keep longer on the shelf;  Potatoes that absorb less fat when fried, changing the ever-popular French fries from junk food into a more nutritional food; Strawberry crops that can survive frost.

Many agricultural scientists and food policy specialists view GM crops as an important element in sustainable food security and environmental management.

GM supporters tell all the farmers that they will get an enormous profit from growing GM crops. Farmers could spray these crops with herbicide to kill the weeds, without killing the crops, which means a reduction on spending money on pesticides. And it takes shorter time to produce a desired product.

Genetic modified fruits and plants are better quality than the plant breeding one. Besides, animals could also be modified to be leaner, grow faster, and need less food, leading to improved productivity for farmers and costs ultimately lower for the consumer. They could modify them to have special characteristics, such as for cows to produce greater milk.Modified crops for animals to eat can help farmers eventually. They could perhaps prevent outbreaks such as foot or mouth disease which has devastated many farmers. Also, biotechnology companies are even experimenting with crops that can be modify to be drought and salt-tolerant, or less reliant on fertilizer.

There has been lots of concern about the safety of GM foods, since some crops are modified using the DNA from viruses and bacteria. Will we see a new disease emerge?

People who have allergies are the one whose very concern about their food supply, particularly about the proteins in their food. Most allergies are caused by the human immune system reacting to specific proteins, such as those found in nuts, fish, or eggs. And this is where GM food is really concern to allergen, because if a protein form nuts, for example, were inserted into a common food crop, and people who are allergic to nuts would not be able to eat the altered food. If they try to, it can cause a dangerous or even fatal immune reaction.  

Changing plants may have long lasting effects on the other organism in the ecosystem, but the change in plant itself may cause it to be toxic to an insect or animal that uses it as its main food source. Insects may be become resistant to the genetic due to the widespread use of insect resistant genes in crops. This would lead to a widespread loss of crops and plants that have the natural immunity and leading to a loss in biodiversity.

A huge concern is that genetic modification could cause allergies in humans due to gene modification of plants. People may find that they are now allergic to other food products – people because they contain a gene from the allergen they have. One example is the use of a Brazilian nut gene in corn.

The genetic modification could cause allergies in humans due to gene modification of plants. People may find that they are now allergic to other food products because they contain a gene from the allergen they have. One example is the use of a Brazilian nut gene in corn.

The disadvantages of GM foods are more than the advantages. Hence, GM  food are harmful to us as human.

Written By

Khoo Siew Ling

Is Cell phone a necessity at school?

Is Cell phone a necessity at school?

           There had been a widespread popularity of modern communication technology in our society. In today's world everyone relies heavily upon modern technology for communication. A cell phone is one of the most popular resources of modern technology. In an enlightened society, cell phones are no longer a luxury but a very basic need of every person.

           In my opinion, I do not agree student to bring cell phone to school. The problem is that if student can use the phone then, they will not pay attention on the lesson. Since there's no way to really control cell phone usage and limit it to certain times, many schools just tell students to leave the cell phones at home. Our country education department also put a strict order that we are not allowed to bring cell phone to school.

          Nowadays cell phones can be addictive, and again cell phones can be a distraction in the classroom. When they having a discussion at school, it would be highly annoying for someone to get their cell phone out and start texting, or uploading their status on the various social networking websites. Some of the students use short message service (SMS) and forgot to turn off their cell phone during class. Even if set to silent, cell phones can still cause distraction, since text messaging has become a high-tech method of passing notes in school. Besides that, ringing cell phones can also disrupt classes and distract students who should be paying attention to their lessons.

           In addition, cell phones can be used as cheating devices during exams. Students can share information during exams. They can also store any information they want on their cell phone. The latest cell phones with cameras could be used to take photos of exams, and send it to others, and get a text back with the answer. The calculator function can be downloaded from the apps in the cell phone and used to cheat on math tests.

           Camera phones are very popular it can be used to take pictures. Sometimes they used in an inappropriate way in schools, for example in bathroom that would be embarrassing to the subject and post them on the web. Not every family can afford to buy one for their children, because it is quite expensive.  These factors often lead to cell phone theft. It is possible a student might have a BlackBerry Bold and another just another old Nokia model. And this could lead to status issues within friends.

          In a nutshell, students are not allowed to bring cell phone to school. The students are not always being used for educational purposes, but instead we see a negative side. As the old adage goes, “if you give an inch, they’ll take a mile”,

   Written by

Khoo Siew Ling

Should Human Clone Be Allowed?

Should Human Clone Be Allowed?

            Should humans be cloned? That is the question that many people all over the world have been debating. Some say it is morally wrong, that we would be nefariously attempting to "Play the role of God." At the present time the science has achieved such high level of the development that it became possible to clone not only the cells but the whole organisms. If the law allowed human cloning, it would not only save lives, but it would lead to a number of advancements in scientific research, and improve the quality of life.

          Human cloning would be a positive harbinger for mankind, and an excellent opportunity for the advancement of science. In the past century, scientists have been assiduous workers in making numerous achievements, discoveries, and inventions, giving us the knowledge we have acquired about ourselves and about the world around us. For years, scientists have studied and made tremendous progress in cloning. If cloning research was legal we could find better treatments and perhaps even cures for many terrible diseases that so many of us suffer and die from each year. For example, AIDS. This is a well-known illness that damages the human immune system. There are treatments available, but statistics show that three million people die from AIDS each year, and yet so far, no one has been able to find a cure. With cloning, scientists could copy and create more white blood cells to fight off and kill the deadly virus. This would save millions of innocent lives and also help in making new medical discoveries and expand our knowledge.

          Clones would be the best organ donors. Imagine your mother suddenly gets cancer in her kidneys and she needs to have a transplant. Assuming you love your mother and would do anything for her, you decide to be her donor. Then after the operation, her body rejects the new, foreign organ, and the kidney fails. The doctor says that the only way she would survive would be to find a kidney with the same type of tissue as her original, healthy tissue. The solution to your mother's problem and the answer to your prayers would be cloning. Because a clone is an exact copy, she would have no worries about her body accepting the organ or not. This would be the only way to save her. But there is just one problem, cloning humans is not legal.  

          Furthermore, cloning would save many lives the use of cloning would also aid in the creation of life. Infertile and homosexual couples would be able to use their own DNA to produce children.  If the husband were the source of the DNA and the wife provided the donor egg that received the nuclear transfer, the infertile couple would have a child biologically related to each of them rather than using anonymous gamete or embryo donation. New cloning technology would also prevent the transmission of genetic disease.  Doctors could use advanced forms of gene therapy to treat embryos at high risk of inheriting genetic diseases. The modified DNA from the embryo could be transferred to eggs to create children entirely free of the genetic disease. Therefore, cloning would promote life and fulfill the desires of many couples to have children.  This advancement in reproduction would aid society by giving more people the opportunity to live and contribute to society.

          Additionally, a handful of wary people say that cloning is unethical and would be deleterious to the human race. They say that there should only be one of each person in this world, because our individuality is what makes each person special and unique. I too believe that our individuality is what makes us special. So what do these people say about identical twins? It is proven that twins have the same genetic information. That would mean that twins are not unique or special individuals. Their minds, personalities, health, and fitness grow and change depending on how they are raised, the things they are exposed to and the activities they become interested in. Clones would be just like twins. The only difference being that the twin is born later. It would be impossible for a clone to grow up to be exactly like his original. He would be brought up differently, have different life experiences, and have relationships entirely unique to that person.

          Lastly, human cloning would be entirely beneficial for science, and the quality of life, in addition to helping the prosperity of the human race. It would save, create, and improve lives all over the world. Human cloning would help the human race, the world of science, and the age of technology. The government would be blind not to see the benefits and allow human cloning.

          In a conclusion, I totally agreed with the statement above. Human clone can improve the quality of life and expand our knowledge.

Written By,

Khoo Siew Ling(L6Sn1)

Should human cloning be allowed?

Human cloning is a very controversial issue, with the battle of science vs. religion. Human cloning involves the asexual replication of an individual human being at any stage of development. The entire concept of human cloning is surrounded by a lot of misconception, fear, religious ethical barriers. The idea of human cloning has been around for quite a while now and has been a source of constant debates and even fiction. I choose to believe that despite the fact that we are currently faced with many barriers in this area, yet in the future there will be a greater realization of the vast benefits emerging from this technique. 

Both human therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning can produce many benefits. Therapeutic cloning involves creation of genetically identical cells. This can have an impact in the field of medicine by impacting transplantation and regenerative science. As the cells would be identical, immunosuppressants would not be required. For example healthy heart cells/tissue can be used to replace damaged areas of the heart. Organ transplants including kidneys, liver, and heart can be effectively carried out without the risk of rejection following therapeutic cloning. Even effects of disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can be reversed following cloning. In a way, all the problems associated with aging can somewhat be cured once human cloning potential is realized and we would be able to reverse the aging process. With knowledge obtained from human cloning, victims of terrible accidents that leave them disfigured for life can be provided with grafts that are genetically identical to their cells and safer reconstructive surgery can be performed. Even damaged nerve tissues following spinal injuries can be treated.

Infertility problems faced by so many couples are accompanied with a great deal of emotional pain. With human cloning the embryo can be cloned using DNA from the couple and then allowed to develop in vivo and this would allow many infertile couple to have children. Many babies are born with genetic defects that although can be detected during fetal development, they cannot be reversed or cured. The knowledge from cloning may be used to replace defective genes with normal genes or balancing the number of chromosomes in cases of anneuploidies. 

The knowledge from human cloning can provide us greater information about our genetics and provide some answers about how cells can differentiate into particular cell lines. If a child is critically ill and there is no donor match available, then a clone of the child (a younger twin in a way) can provide a source of stem cells that can possibly cure the child and the life of the child can be saved. Thus cloning may provide us with embryos from which cells can be used for regenerating various organs and tissues. Also, by regulating cell growth cancer can be cured easily, for example by cloning the bone marrow cells to cure leukemia. 

Ultimately if a situation is encountered by mankind where we face extinction, then just as cloning has been proposed to resurrect endangered species, human cloning can ensure continuation of human species. Scientists are now suggesting that successes in therapeutic cloning may eventually lead greater understanding of epigenetic effects and to reproductive cloning . Cloning for biomedical purposes can lead to significant advances in medicine, allowing novel therapies and treatments to be devised for genetic diseases to which many people succumb.

By, 

Chew Kim Kee

SMK Methodist

Are GMO helpful or harmful? well, i think is HARMFUL

Genetically modified (gm) foods are more available nowadays, as scientists are becoming more and more inventive creating things such as mixed fruits (e.g.  orangiwi [cross between an orange and a kiwifruit] and a bannarot [cross between a banana and a carrot]).

However, this is not the only type of genetically modified foods; scientists have created plants that are immune to pesticides and herbicides when sprayed with them.

Yet, there is also a downside to this situation as there have been many cases where people have become sick from eat gm food. People can also develop allergic reactions that they didn’t know that they even had in the first place, this can be a good thing if it is a small reaction, so that the person can deal with the issue. But if it is a large reaction (like an anaphylactic reaction), this can be a very bad thing, this sort of reaction can sometimes lead to death.

The question is, whether it is harmful or helpful.

Both The United States and Canada, and many other highly developed countries have introduced genetically modified foods. This is not necessary as these countries always have a variety of different fruits available.  However, third world countries do not have this luxury and need to eat the same vegetables everyday, regardless of the season as they do not have the water and other necessities to grow crops.

The main reason for genetically modified foods being introduced is that third world countries can’t eat properly without them. There is another reason for more developed countries introducing this technology, they found that people didn’t like to eat food that doesn’t look appetising and colourful, so they found a way to get around this problem by changing their genes so that their colour changes.

Another thing that scientists have found out how to do is change the genes in chickens and other animals that we eat, to make them fatter so that they have more meat on them, or so that they are immune to diseases.

Some people may ask the question ‘who is involved with genetically modified foods’, well the answer is everyone, it is a worldwide issue. This is because there are the farmers who produce the genetically modified crops, then there are the people who are against genetically modified produce, then there are the people who couldn’t care less where there food came from and just buy the cheapest produce which happens to be genetically modified food, then there are the people who try hard not to buy genetically modified foods but unfortunately there is no way of telling between organic and genetically modified food if it isn’t visually altered. So you see there are many, many people involved, many people who have many different opinions but the problem for everyone is that manufacturers usually don’t label it when they produce genetically modified foods. This brings me to my next topic, existing solutions and possibilities for the future.

There isn’t really a solution for genetically modified foods because there are two different arguments, we should keep gm foods and we shouldn’t keep gm foods’. The current community hasn’t thought of a solution yet, but I have thought of some things that might happen in the future, if we don’t find an answer to this problem.

One thing that can happen is that there will be no organic produce left and many people will become sick because they have allergies to the things that they have put into the food. Another thing that could happen is that fruit could become almost unrecognisable, as the texture, colour taste etc. might change.

I personally believe that genetically modified foods should be banned in developed countries as it isn’t necessary because have such a variety of foods throughout the seasons without having to add more.

The reason I believe that people who live in third world countries should still have genetically modified foods is because it will help them live a better life style, as it will allow them to have food all year round that they can rely on.

By,

Chew Kim Kee

SMK Methodist

Advantages and disadvantages of Genetically Modified (GM) Food

The number of countries growing GM crops has increased in recent years. The benefits and dangers of genetically engineered food are the subject of intense debate. Supporters claim it will feed the world and promote better health and ecological welfare. Detractors have their doubts. Genetically modified (GM) food includes crops, vegetables and fruit that have been created using genetic engineering methods. The principle aim with GM food is to combine desirable genes from various species to create new genetically-altered crosses with enhanced nutritional, productive and ecological value. This differs from traditional breeding in that genetic transference between unrelated species does not occur biologically in nature.

First and foremost, GM food is resistance to pests. Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. Growing GM foods can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market.

Besides, it could potentially solve hunger. Many people agree that there is not enough food in the world to feed everybody. As genetically modified foods increase the yields of crops, more food is produced by farmers. Of course, others argue that there is enough food to feed everyone, but it is unequally distributed. Others argue the GM crops do not produce higher yields.

Moreover, GM food provides more nutrition than non-GM food. Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. If rice could be genetically engineered to contain additional vitamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could be alleviated. For example, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in third world countries. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant Sciences have created a strain of "golden" rice containing an unusually high content of beta-carotene (vitamin A). Since this rice was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, a non-profit organization, the Institute hopes to offer the golden rice seed free to any third world country that requests it. Plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content. However, the grant that funded the creation of these two rice strains was not renewed, perhaps because of the vigorous anti-GM food protesting in Europe, and so this nutritionally-enhanced rice may not come to market at all.

However, GM food bring disadvantages to human. GM food. There is an unknown effects on human health. There is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health. A recent article published in Lancet examined the effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats.  This study claimed that there were appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes. Yet critics say that this paper, like the monarch butterfly data, is flawed and does not hold up to scientific scrutiny.  Moreover, the gene introduced into the potatoes was a snowdrop flower lectin, a substance known to be toxic to mammals. The scientists who created this variety of potato chose to use the lectin gene simply to test the methodology, and these potatoes were never intended for human or animal consumption.

       On top of that,bringing a GM food to market is a lengthy and costly process, and of course agri-biotech companies wish to ensure a profitable return on their investment. Many new plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented, and patent infringement is a big concern of agribusiness. Yet consumer advocates are worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small farmers and third world countries will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops, thus widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor. It is hoped that in a humanitarian gesture, more companies and non-profits will follow the lead of the Rockefeller Foundation and offer their products at reduced cost to impoverished nations.

            Another concern is that crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds will cross-breed, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the crops into the weeds. These "superweeds" would then be herbicide tolerant as well. Other introduced genes may cross over into non-modified crops planted next to GM crops. The possibility of interbreeding is shown by the defense of farmers against lawsuits filed by Monsanto. The company has filed patent infringement lawsuits against farmers who may have harvested GM crops. Monsanto claims that the farmers obtained Monsanto-licensed GM seeds from an unknown source and did not pay royalties to Monsanto. The farmers claim that their unmodified crops were cross-pollinated from someone else's GM crops planted a field or two away. More investigation is needed to resolve this issue.

       In a nutshell, Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.

written by 

ailing

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cons of cell phone

          Many school boards have tried setting limits on cell phone use without banning cell phones completely. Requiring that phones be turned off during school hours, confiscating phones from students caught using them in class, and requiring that phones be set to voice mail only have all had limited success. Some teachers are so frustrated with cell phone interruptions that they collect the phones at the beginning of class and return them as students leave. Using cell phone in school had bring many disadvantages for principal, teachers and parents.

          One of the disadvantages of using cell phone in school is distraction when teachers are teaching. Along with the many applications available on a cell phone, an important one is that of texting. There is no guarantee that a student will not text during class hours. Using cell phone in class also affects their concentration on studies and thereby the overall learning process. Not only does the factor of distraction come into the picture in relation to students, but also in relation to teachers and the classroom in general. For example, when the phone starts ringing in class or even if is on 'vibration mode', the teachers might lose their link of teaching and that will prove to be a major disadvantage for the entire class. Not to mention that it is extremely disrespectful for the teacher who is conducting the class.

          Some students had wrong usage the cell phone to draw out illegal matter. The cell phone could turn into a potent device for some students. Instead of using it for academics and emergencies, some students might make unlawful use of its features. For examples, camera, it bring the issue of school safety into the picture. They might click snaps that are not right, or record videos that are questionable in nature or call the school and report a bomb threat as a prank or to cancel classes. They may also use the phone to draw out other illegal activities like drug deals, thefts and the like. So also, if the phone is used extensively, it could lead to an extravagant bill.

          Having the Internet on the phone provides for an opportunity to cheat. Students can refer to the Internet for answers on a test, or they could text an accomplice for the answers. They could also photograph information from a textbook and use that to cheat in the test. Neither of these acts leads to any sort of education for the students, but on the other hand, discourages them from working hard.

          Undeniably, mobile telephone is a symbol of technological break through. It represents the most overwhelming fad nowadays. But when we use it, are we also making it the most annoying, unnecessary and time-wasting device? As a matter of fact, mobile telephone provides much more problems to the society than contributions. Therefore, please be aware of its impact all the time. If you still keep on using it without any limitations, you will at last suffer most severely by your own hands.

written by 

ai ling