I need help with the beginning of my research paper; I have to make the beginning effectively hook the readers' attention but I'm not sure how to do that..please help.

Question

Genetic engineering is a technology in which the genome of a living cell is modified for medical or industrial use. It’s used in our everyday life in agriculture, medicine, and industry.

Today, genetic altering can prevent and treat diseases, and improve food. Perhaps in the future, genetic defects in female cells can be changed, such as the reinsertion of correct genes.

Genetic engineering techniques have been successful many times. For example, crop plants can be genetically engineered to have favorable characteristics, including improved yields and resistance to herbicides and destructive pests. Genetically engineered growth hormones increase milk production in dairy cows and weight gain in cattle and hogs. Cloning has also been effective. In 1997, a lamb named Dolly was successfully cloned. Transgenic animals can be cloned and used to make proteins that are useful in medicine.

Genetic engineering can improve life by giving us more nutritious crops and animals, with improved characteristics. It can be used to manufacture human proteins for use as drugs and to make safer and more effective vaccines. Some human genetic disorders are also being treated with gene therapy.

Even though genetic engineering can improve our life in many ways, it also has some risk factors. Many people, including scientists, have expressed concern that genetically modified crops might turn out to be dangerous. Some food crops such as corn and soybeans have been genetically rendered resistant to a weed killer named glyphosate that is harmless to humans. When used on a food crop, it will kill the weeds but not harm the crop, increasing food crop yields. Some scientists are concerned that the use of GM crops and the use of glyphosate will eventually lead to glyphosate-resistant weeds, which will leave farmers with few alternatives. Also, GM foods can increase the risk of allergic reactions by transferring allergens from one food to another -- and without labeling, the avoidance of potential allergens becomes a dangerous crop shoot. Lastly, Fresh-looking, brightly colored GE foods may actually be weeks old, with compromised nutritional value. Even FDA scientists warned the agency that genetic engineering could result in "undesirable alteration in the level of nutrients" of GE foods.

Thanks
-MC

Answer 1

You might start with this:

Is genetic engineering a threat or a blessing?

Then, take a stand in your thesis statement. Your thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph.

Answer 2

Is this alright as my 'hooking' beginning?

We find it mixed in our food on the shelves in the supermarket, we find it growing in a plot down the lane, test field release sites with genetically engineered seed, sugar beet, wheat, potato, strawberries and more. It is variously known as genetic engineering, which is a technology in which the genome of a living cell is modified for medical or industrial use. It’s used in our everyday life in agriculture, medicine, and industry.

-MC