Introduction And History Of Of Gmos

“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional food processed in the United States., and gGenetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesotan farm plants, such as, corn and soybeans. They can also be found in papaya and zucchini, even animals such as cows and pig. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,””, is, “food in which, at some point during the production process molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, and a longer shelf life.” As a matter of fact, a majority of all the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. However, many people do not know what a genetic modification really is, or that the idea has been around for many years. GMOs are used to control pests and weeds. As the opposite of Non-GMO farming, this is accomplished by changing the genetic makeup of the plant, by using new technologies and techniques that allow for the use of specific chemicals.

One of the greatest accomplishments since 1982 is the invention of GMOs. They were first approved by the FDA in 1982 for Humulin, insulin that has genetically engineered E. coli bacteria. The thinking behind GMOs was to develop crops that were resistant to pests and diseases in addition to improve nutritional content. GMOs have helped numerous people around the world. They have made farmer’s crops have better yields and a more successful growing season. GMOs are beneficial and should be promoted because they are more economical and they increase productivity in agriculture; however, the opposition believes GMOs potentially cause health issues.

This article supplies a general overview about genetically modified crops in the United States. I will use the information in my research essay to provide context about the science of GMOs. The source explains how “GM crops were introduced in the U.S. in the mid-1990s.” It details how “the term genetically modified… refers to the transfer of genes between organisms using a series of laboratory techniques for cloning genes, splicing DNA segments together, and inserting genes into cells.” The author comments that “genetically modified is an imprecise term and a potentially confusing one, in that virtually everything we eat has been modified genetically through domestication from wild species and many generations of selection by humans for desirable traits.” In the United States,

GMOs, or biotechnology, is not limited to plants; it can be applied to animals as well. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “Agricultural biotechnology is a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques, that alter living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products; improve plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses. Modern biotechnology today includes the tools of genetic engineering” (Biotechnology FAQs). GMOs can provide farmers with a cheaper and more practicable production. Some biotechnology crops are being engineered to tolerate specific herbicides, which makes weed control easier and more efficient for the producers (Biotechnology FAQ). GMOs can also provide producers with crops that are resistant to certain diseases as wells as insects and pests. “Genetically engineered insect-resistant cotton has allowed for a significant reduction in the use of persistent, synthetic pesticides that may contaminate groundwater and the environment” (Biotechnology FAQs). GMOs can help reduce production cost, making them a cheaper option for third world countries to support their large population. They also could one day completely eliminate the need for pesticides altogether. There are endless possibilities when it comes to GMOs. GMOs could one day “provide consumers with foods that are nutritionally-enriched or longer-lasting, or that contain

Genetically modified organisms also known as (GMOs) were introduced with good intentions, by Monsanto in the early 1990s. GMOs were created to help farmers increase crop productivity, by resisting pests and to reduce the weed in crops. Genetic modification alters the characteristics of the plant. This was done by extracting the DNA from the plant, then injecting new genes from other plants bacteria or animals. For example, when Monsanto genetically modifies strawberries so they stay can stay fresh for a longer period of time, and

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organism that have went through a process of having their genetic material modified by inserting a foreign gene into them (GMO Facts). The plant having the modifications done then absorbs the gene and it goes into immediate effect and begins to perform as expected. This process was done to benefit us humans greatly and resolve world issues, but it has been discovered to have negative effects on us humans and the environment. With much research done throughout many years it led to the first trans generic plant being developed in 1983 (qtd. In Kelminsky, Peeling, and Gani). This plant was a tobacco plant that was resistant to anti-biotic (qtd. In Kelminsky,

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. In 1980 the first GMO Patent was issued, a court case took place between a genetics engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Officer Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on living organism. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional cross breeding methods. GMOs are chemically manipulated in the lab to change the DNA of plants and animals for a desirable trait. For example, Engineers take the DNA of plant who can produce its own defenses against insects and inherit

Because there is such an abundance of food in this country (the USA), one can find GMOs almost everywhere, from a cob of corn in the produce aisle to a fast-food quarter pounder. Consequently, if a person is concerned about what food they are putting into their mouth, the topic is GMOs is likely to show up at some point. Growing crops that have been changed on a genetic level to achieve a specific characteristic is now a commonplace practice by many commercial and non-commercial farmers alike. These enhanced species of plants have a variety of advantages over unmodified species. Genetically modified organisms can benefit farmers and consumers because of their increased durability and

GMOs are plants and animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, and other plants and animals in order to take on specific characteristics. This of course does not occur naturally within nature. They are engineered to withstand herbicide and produce insecticide (Lee). Although crops which are able to withstand herbicide worked very well in the first couple of years, over reliance caused the herbicide resistant crops to pass on their genes to the weeds, and as a result, emerged “super weeds” which forced farmers to increase spraying crops (Clark). Between 1996 and 2008 farmers sprayed an extra 386

GMO’s are designed to resist being damaged by exessive amounts of pesticides that allow farmers to kill weeds growing around the crops, but not the crops themselves. These foods have foreign genes (genes from other plants or animals) insterted into their genetic codes to modify their nutritional value, resistance and taste. GMO’s are susceptible to having pesticides encoded in their DNA, therefore meaning that the food they produce will also contain those chemicals which causes an ethical concern for human consumption of genetically modified organisms. The most substantial use of GMO technology has been on a large amount of agricultural crops. In the United States, at least 90% of soy, cotton, canola, corn and sugar beets sold were genetically modified which also caused a large ethical concern.Social factors Many social concerns surround the potential risks of Genetically modified organisms for human

GMO’s are becoming an increasingly large topic in many places including the US. But first we need to understand what a GMO is, they stand for genetically modified organism, it can be any kind of organism but in this instant we are talking about GMO’s in our food supply. They weren’t discovered all at once it was more of a chain of discoveries that lead them to say “hey let’s use this to enhance our food.” The way it started was Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky a russian scientist isolated DNA. Then in 1973 Professor Herbert Boyer had the thought about man-made DNA and then in 1980 the first GMO patent is issued. There are many different reasons GMO’s are used a big one is for fighting against pests that eat crops. Instead of spraying a pesticide

Genetically modified organisms, or GMO, have been around since the beginning of time and has been a source of efficiently surviving for the human race. From wheat to a house pet, organisms have been genetically modified to ease or appease human sensibility.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are modified in labs, inserting a foreign gene into the DNA of another organism. It could also be considered as when you annex genes customarily to defend the crops from insects and herbicides. Foods are genetically modified to regulate the spread of modified genes into organisms. Scientist are genetically modifying foods to keep pests away.(document a) People are getting concerned about genetically modifying foods because they are an unnatural threat to our health, Environment and it plays an ambitious role in our economic problems The company that provides most of our genetically engineered crops is Monsanto. Many companies such Frito lay, kool-aid and V8 are supporting monsanto ideas. Problems with these genetically modified organisms they should not replace organic foods.

With 92% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 94% of cotton being genetically modified and with upwards of 75% of processed foods containing GMOs according to the Center of Food Safety, GMOs are clearly a very important topic. According to Whole Foods, GMOs or genetically modified organisms are organisms whose DNA has been altered. The reason for the creation of GMOs was for the purpose of increasing plant productivity by engineering them to resist certain diseases, produce their own pesticides, etc. and is mostly prevalent in North America (“GMO”). According to the Genome News Network, in 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen were the first to accomplish the direct manipulation of genes using genetic modification (“Genetics”). Because of GMOs are such a new technology, there has been some debate over the safety of GMOs. Genetically Modified Organisms have been considered to be controversial; however, they have had an overall positive impact on the world.

The main concern in todays society is the malnutrition and decreasing supply of crops and livestock due to human consumptions and decreasing rate of farm land. An article published from the National Geographic states, “By the year 2050 the worlds population will reach over 9 billion and with the decreasing rate of land and livestock how can we keep up with the demand.” How will we as a society be able to assist in helping feed the over 9 billion that will populate the earth? This has become a challenge for scientist and agriculturalist to find a more effective way to grow and produce a variety of different types of crops and livestock. In the year 1980, the first GMO patent was issued changing society and the agricultural industry forever. Genetically enhanced organisms can withstand certain pests along with the changing climates that farmers endure. Now you can find genetically engineered crops and livestock product at your local supermarket. Soy, Corn, Canola Oil, and many other products are now labeled foR families to be aware exactly what they are consuming.