Genetic Engeneering of Food Essays - 1479 Words

Genetic Engeneering of Food Throughout the United States and the rest of the globe, genetically engineered food products are becoming increasingly used in agricultural and manufactured food goods. Because of the increase of genetically altered foods, an increasing population has become hesitant to accept the products and agriculture derived from genetic engineering. The large increase in genetically engineered foods has proved to have adverse health effects on humans. These health risks are becoming increasingly common as we continue to genetically alter foods. The main health concerns of genetic modification include virus spread, antibiotic resistance, and allergen effects. Genetic modification should stop and organic farming†¦show more content†¦(p.96). Virus spread is a substantial issue of genetic engineering. Viruses are introduced into modified plants in order to designate specific wants from the geneticist. Spread through the infected genetically engineered species. Geneticists implant genes into the modified plant and sometimes it involves a strand of virus. The virus has the potential risk of introducing an epidemic, so far not many cases of viral spread have arisen, but these plants have the potential to reintroduce controlled viruses. The Cauliflower Mosaic virus is placed in most current genetically engineered agriculture (www.twnside.org). Experimentation has found that the virus has the ability to cross species and infect neighboring crops. The Cauliflower mosaic virus also has the potential to create new strands of virus. Viruses are commonly used for tasks unrelated to the quality of the food and don?t need to be in vegetables. Genetic engineering has recently been blamed for new emergence of viruses respons ible for reemerging cases of tuberculosis, cholera and malaria and emergence of the Aids, Ebola and

A Memo to the President of the Big Private University Free Essays

Madam, the recent events that have brought our university within the media’s limelight may possibly give problems to the University, if no immediate action is taken. Allow me to outline the events and the possible NCAA infractions that our university may incur. The University is in the middle of an NCAA-imposed probation. We will write a custom essay sample on A Memo to the President of the Big Private University or any similar topic only for you Order Now As such, any additional infraction may seriously compromise the university’s status in the NCAA. The following incidents involving our male football team may lead to unwanted additional infractions: a total of 12 student-athletes had grade point averages ranging from 1.60 to 1.75; and Billy Joel, the team’s current quarterback, made an oral agreement on future possible plans with Whitney Houston, a sports agent. Allow me to expound on my point. The fact that five juniors, two sophomores, and five starters on defense have averages from 1.60 to 1.75 goes against the academic standards set my NCAA. The five starters, all of whom were freshmen last year, had averages lower than the NCAA set average of 1.8. The NCAA Backgrounder on Academic Reform clearly states the following: â€Å"Freshmen in college are required to complete 24 hours of course work and have at least a 1.8 grade-point average.† The low GPAs of the other student-athletes may also compromise another rule of the NCAA. The fact that these students have averages ranging from 1.60 to 1.75 may mean that they have failing marks which may greatly affect the completion of their degree requirements. Again, the said backgrounder is univocal: â€Å"Student-athletes entering college are required to complete 40 percent of their degree requirements by the end of their second year, 60 percent by the end of year three, and 80 percent by the end of year four.† I will personally look into this matter and investigate on the completion rates of the degree requirements of these concerned students. Nevertheless I think it is important for your good office to be aware of this potential problem. All in all, this lower than required grade point average of some of our student athletes undermines the NCAA’s set Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 925. Not complying with the APR will mean a contemporaneous penalty for the football team which, in plain language, refers to cuts in financial aids and scholarships granted to individuals in the team. Madam, it is also bothersome that the coaching staff hid these from the school administration. I cannot pinpoint who exactly in the coaching staff is culpable, but once NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions holds its own investigation, the university as an entity might not the only one to be given a sanction; individuals from the coaching staff (and other individuals from related departments) may also be held individually liable and as such, individual sanctions may be imposed against them. The last concern that I think should be brought up to your office is the fact that Billy Joel made an oral agreement with Whitney Houston, a sports agent, as he was threatened by the possibility that Marshall Mathers might take his place as quarterback. Again, NCAA is clear in its memo to directors of athletics dated October 6, 2006, that student athletes are not allowed to have a written or oral agreement with an agent who represents a sports agency. We must bear in mind that even if Joel’s agreement rests on the future possibility of Mathers replacing him, such an oral agreement on future plans is also not allowed: student athletes may not â€Å"agree to be represented by an agent in the future† (NCAA, â€Å"A Career in Professional Athletics: A Guide for Making the Transition,† 2004, p. 26). This also highlights the fact that Mr. Joel did not inform either his coach or his compliance coordinator regarding these matters. These are the NCAA-related concerns that I thought would be best to be brought up to your office. Thank you. References (2006-07). NCAA waiver of initial academic eligibility requirements pursuant to NCAA bylaw 14.3, application instructions. (2006-07). NCAA waiver of initial academic eligibility requirements pursuant to NCAA bylaw 14.3, waiver application. NCAA (2004). A Career in professional athletics: A guide for making the transition. NCAA (2005). NCAA backgrounder on athletic reform. In The online resource for the national collegiate athletic association. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.ncaa.org/. NCAA (2005).APR questions and answers. In The online resource for the national collegiate athletic association. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.ncaa.org/. NCAA (2005).Infractions case: Lincoln University. In The online resource for the national collegiate athletic association. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.ncaa.org/. How to cite A Memo to the President of the Big Private University, Essay examples

FIN 512 WEEK 2 answer key free essay sample

FI 512 Week 2 Answer Key Chapter 3 1. [Business Organization and Intellectual Property] Phil Young, founder of the Pedal Pushers Company, has developed several prototypes of a pedal replacement for children’s bicycles. The Pedal Pusher will replace existing bicycle pedals with an easy release stirrup to help smaller children hold their feet on the pedals. The Pedal Pusher will glow in the dark and will provide a musical sound as the bicycle is pedaled. Phil plans to purchase materials for making the product from others, assemble the products at the venture’s facilities, and hire product sales representatives to sell the Pedal Pushers through local retail and discount stores that sell children bicycles. Phil will need to purchase plastic pedals and extensions, bolts, washers and nuts, reflective material, and a â€Å"micro-chip† to provide the â€Å"music† when the bicycle is pedaled. A. How should Phil organize his new venture? In developing your answer consider such factors as amount of equity capital needed, business liability, and taxation of the venture. We will write a custom essay sample on FIN 512 WEEK 2 answer key or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Phil’s proposed business is not likely to be very capital intensive. That is, little investment will be required for equipment and a production facility. The investment in inventories can probably be kept relatively low. Thus, organizing as a proprietorship will probably work due to a need for relatively low amounts of equity capital. Being taxed as a proprietorship also may be advantageous. Of course, the major advantage to Phil by choosing to organize as a corporation is to limit his liability to his business investment. If Phil has substantial personal assets, organizing as a corporation would help protect these assets in the event the business fails. B. Phil is concerned about trying to protect the intellectual property embedded in his Pedal Pusher product idea and prototype. How might Phil consider protecting his intellectual property? Possible ways to protect his intellectual property might include: applying for a utility patent to protect his product; a utility patent to protect his design; and a trademark to protect his company name. Chapter 5 8. [Cash Conversion Cycle] Castillo Products Company, described in Problem 7, improved its operations from a net loss in 2009 to a net profit in 2010. While the founders, Cindy and Rob Castillo, are happy about these developments, they are concerned with trying to understand how long the firm takes to complete its cash conversion cycle in 2010. Use the financial statements from Problem 7 to make your calculations. Balance sheet items should reflect the averages of the 2009 and 2010 accounts. A. Calculate the inventory-to-sale conversion period for 2010. Inventory-to-Sale Conversion Period = Avg. Inventory/Avg. Daily COGS = (($400,000 + $500,000)/2)/($900,000/365) = 182.50 days B. Calculate the sale-to-cash conversion period for 2010. Sale-to-Cash Conversion Period = Avg. Receivables/Avg. Daily Sales = (($200,000 + $280,000)/2)/($1,500,000/365) = 58.40 days A. Calculate the purchase-to-payment conversion period for 2010. Purchase-to-Payment Conversion Period = (Avg. Payables + Avg. Accruals)/Avg. Daily CGS = (($130,000 + $160,000)/2 + ($50,000 + $70,000)/2)/($900,000/365) = 83.14 days B. Determine the length of the Castillo Product’s cash conversion cycle for 2010. Length of the Cash Conversion Cycle = (Inventory-to-Sale Conversion Period) + (Sales-to-cash Conversion Period) – (Purchase-to-Payment Conversion Period) = 182.50 days + 58.40 days – 83.14 days = 157.76 days 9. [ROA Model and Expenses Related to Sales] Use the financial statements data for the Castillo Products presented in Problem 7. A. Calculate the net profit margin in 2009 and 2010 and the sales-to-total-assets ratio using yearend data for each of the two years. Net profit margin 2009: -$65,000/$900,000 = -7.22% Net profit margin 2010: $75,000/$1,500,000 = 5.00% Sales-to-total-assets 2009: $900,000/$1,000,000 = .900 Sales-to-total-assets 2010: $1,500,000/$1,200,000 = 1.250 B. Use your calculations from Part A to determine the rate of return on assets in each of the two years for the Castillo Products. Rate of return on assets 2009: -7.22% x .900 = -6.50% Rate of return on assets 2010: 5.00% x 1.250 = 6.25% C. Calculate the percentage growth in net sales from 2009 to 2010. Compare this with the percentage change in total assets for the same period. Percentage growth in net sales: ($1,500,000 $900,000)/$900,000 = 66.67% Percentage change in total assets: ($1,200,000 $1,000,000)/$1,000,000 = 20.00% D. Express each expense item as a percentage of net sales for both 2009 and 2010. Describe what happened that allowed Castillo Products to move from a loss to a profit between the two years.