What Are GMOs and GM Foods?

Pedro_P

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By far, the biggest use of GMO technology is in large-scale agricultural crops.
Credit: Shutterstock
▼ A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic  engineering.
In most cases, GMOs have been altered with DNA from another organism, be it a bacterium, plant, virus or animal; these organisms are sometimes referred to as "transgenic" organisms. Genetics from a spider that helps the arachnid produce silk, for example, could be inserted into the DNA of an ordinary goat.
It sounds far-fetched, but that is the exact process used to breed goats that produce silk proteins in their goat milk, Science Nation  reported. Their milk is then harvested, and the silk protein is then isolated to make a lightweight, ultrastrong silk material with a wide range of industrial and medical uses.
The dizzying range of GMO categories is enough to boggle the mind. CRISPR, a novel genome editing tool, has allowed geneticists to breed GMO pigs that glow in the darkby inserting jellyfish bioluminescence genetic code into pig DNA. CRISPR is opening doors to genetic modifications the likes of which were unimaginable just a decade ago.
These are more comparatively wild examples, but GMOs are already very common in the farming industry. The most common genetic modifications are designed to create higher yield crops, more consistent products, and resist pests, pesticides and fertilizer.
Genetically modified food
According to the National Library of Medicine(part of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, or NCBI), genetically engineered, or GM, foods are those that have had foreign genes from other plants or animals inserted into their genetic codes. This has resulted in foods that are consistently flavored, as well as resistant to disease and drought.
However, the NCBI also maintains a list of potential risks associated with GM foods, including genetic alterations that can cause environmental harm. Specifically, it's possible that modified organisms could be inbred with natural organisms, leading to the possible extinction of the original organism. For instance, the banana tree is propagated entirely through cloning methods. The bananas themselves are sterile.
By far, the biggest use of GMO technology is in large-scale agricultural crops. At least 90% of the soy, cotton, canola, corn and sugar beets sold in the United States have been genetically engineered. The adoption of herbicide-resistant corn, which had been slower in previous years, has accelerated, reaching 89% of U.S. corn acreagein 2014 and 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
One of the biggest draws for widespread adoption of GMO crops is pest resistance. According to the World Health Organization, one of the most widely used methods for incorporating pest resistance into plants is throughBacillusthuringiensis(Bt) genetics, a bacterium that produces proteins that repel insects. GMO crops that are modified with the Bt gene have a proven resistance to insect pests, thus reducing the need for wide-scale spraying of synthetic pesticides.
Are GMOs safe? (▪ ▪ ▪)

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asr335704

GMO seeds are certainly very helpful for farmers however only fully certified/approved GMO seeds should be used. Thorough research should be done before certifying any GMO seed or crop. At the end of the day, it should not cause any harm or side effects.

ssangra

asr335704 9-7-2019 04:58 PM
GMO seeds are certainly very helpful for farmers however only fully certified/approved GMO seeds sho ...

Sorry I disagree with u totally because humans do not have any knowledge of how proteins work when DNA is modified. DNA mechanisms are not yet mastered enough. When DNA gets modified the resulting substance or food material may cause toxic buildup of protiens when used long term. This is noted to cause serious diseases like gluten intolerance and terminal ones called cancer. What is worse is that when introduced into nature there is no control on the proliferation of these cancer causing foods. Nature has perfected DNA over billions of years and achieved a very delicate balance and nourished life thereby. We do not have enough knowledge to upset this balance. If u want pls eat and feed DNA modified food to your own family but pls stop supporting the junk publicly and stupidly without understanding the ill effects which will decimate people in your home country. For Gods sake and urs understand that u are only a dot in the evolution cycle and u r morally supposed to leave the world a better place for the next generation than a cancerous hell for them so pls shut up on GMO support or u and ur future generations are destined for painful deaths due to effects of ingesting such dangerous food. Let Bill Gates and Trump feed it to their families.

Requesting Mr. Pedro not to support GMO foodstuffs either whatever any other person says. Dont even feed it to ur dear mother in law.

raviedu

Using, (in fact I say dumping) pesticides in the fields is more harmful and proven ill effects than GMO esp in vegetables.

asr335704

ssangra 9-7-2019 07:52 PM
Sorry I disagree with u totally because humans do not have any knowledge of how proteins work when  ...

That's why I said thorough reseach should be done and only certified GMO seeds should be used.
Definitely there are serious diseases and side effects associated with GMO foods/seeds and such GMOs must not be allowed.
My view is - as long as these GMO seeds/foods are totally safe as per highest food safety and quality standards set, it should be ok.

soothsayer

This debate shall continue to rage and There is still no clarity on GMO. With so much Haze must we venture to support this

ssangra

And who verifies safe when effects are seen over years in some cases; Supporting GMO will decimate the population and no one other than mother earth has a right to do this. We have been growing crops since eons in the old way to sustain long life of all that lives...so why are the mass murderers now advocating GMO?  Why are they creating artificial stress in people and lying abt resource crunch for growing population when the earth has a population pyramid control and there is enough for all except for greed