Lets Invent Nature!

We are always trying to find quick answers to big problems but the only thing we do is dig ourselves a bigger hole. Developing genetically engineered eucalyptus trees to withstand colder environments is not a good response. Creating such a Frankenstein- tree would mean disrupting our natural environment, placing a foreign object that does not belong there and taking over the homes of other organisms that do belong there.

Eucalyptus trees are not just any trees that you can place wherever you want. Introducing such a species poses various extrinsic and intrinsic concerns. The problem with this tree is that it is invasive, sucks up tons of water and dries the land, and ironically though it requires plenty of water it is a very dry tree and very vulnerable to catching fire. Besides the ecological concerns this tree poses, one has to think of the extent of the actual project and look at what in reality we would be doing with this tree. By genetically engineering an organism we are manipulating the circle of life. We would be attempting to play the role of God and breaking the rules of nature and this ladies and gentlemen is unethical. We are giving ourselves a power we do not have and creating things that do not happen in nature. Instead of genetically engineering more problems we need to further study the organisms already available.

Yes, creating such a tree would allow us to grow them in more environments and economically provide more opportunities wherever grown however the cons out weigh these two positives. Introducing this to FGCU land would make our land more prone to fires and in this South Florida heat fires are inevitable. Besides fire it would also dry out our land and Florida’s unique environment is built on wetlands.

Before taking such drastic steps to planting a forest of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees researchers could mitigate the risks by doing further extensive studies in a lab and if creating the trees needed to be

done then we should think of ones that do not require so much water and are not prone to fires. However, we do not need to create these we can just go look in nature.