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Disease Resistance Of Genetically Modified Organisms

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Disease Resistance of GMOs
Introduction
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are all over the world and are found in 80% of processed food in the United States. GMOs are animals and plants that have undergone DNA recombination; they are genetically engineered with DNA from other plants, animals and microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses. Such DNA recombination does not occur in nature and cannot be obtained from traditional crossbreeding (NON-GMO Project; Vigne, Komar & Fuchs). Since recombinant DNA technology involves transferring genetic material from one organism to another, GMOs are also known as transgenic organisms since there has been a transfer of genes (University of New Mexico). This procedure is different from cloning; cloning involves the replication of DNA sequences of the organism but without changing the genes in the DNA sequence. Thus, genetic modification involves actual modification of DNA sequence. However, the replication of genetically modified organisms is done through cloning in order to maintain the exact gene sequence that was created or desired (University of New Mexico). The production of GMOs is controversial and has strong proponents and opponents. Around 60 countries including Japan, Australia, and countries in the European Union have restrictions or bans on the production and sale of GMOs. Numerous reasons are proffered for this position such as health, safety and environmental concerns. At the same time, there are many proponents of GMO

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