Genetically Modified Foods Student Created

What are Genetically Modified Foods? Genetically modified foods are plants that have been modified in a laboratory to enhance desired traits. Genetically modified foods are plants that have been modified in a laboratory to enhance desired traits. Examples of desired traits are increased resistance to herbicides and improved nutritional content. Examples of desired traits are increased resistance to herbicides and improved nutritional content.

How do They do it? Biologists are able to Biologists are able to isolate certain genes and insert them into organisms. This allows an organism to possess the gene and pass it down to its offspring.

Advantages to Genetically Modified Foods Resistance to pests will help farmers keep their crops healthy and edible. Also eliminates need for pesticides, which may taint the crops and scare away customers. Resistance to pests will help farmers keep their crops healthy and edible. Also eliminates need for pesticides, which may taint the crops and scare away customers. Being able to add nutrients to crops will decrease malnutrition and can help lead to ending world hunger. Being able to add nutrients to crops will decrease malnutrition and can help lead to ending world hunger. Disease resistant plants will reduce the risk of obtaining e-coli or salmonella from crops. Disease resistant plants will reduce the risk of obtaining e-coli or salmonella from crops.

First Genetically Modified Crop The first ever crop to be The first ever crop to be modified was the tomato, which was modified to ripen without softening. Consumers accepted this Consumers accepted this and even paid more to purchase these tomatoes.

Harmful or Helpful? There has been much debate as to whether genetically modified foods are good or bad. There has been much debate as to whether genetically modified foods are good or bad.

Criticism Some studies show that genetically modified foods can have a harmful effect on other organisms. For example, the mortality rate of monarch caterpillars has increased due to pollen from B.t. corn, a genetically modified plant. Some studies show that genetically modified foods can have a harmful effect on other organisms. For example, the mortality rate of monarch caterpillars has increased due to pollen from B.t. corn, a genetically modified plant. Critics are also afraid insects will become resistant to genetically modified foods, just like they can become resistant to pesticides. Critics are also afraid insects will become resistant to genetically modified foods, just like they can become resistant to pesticides. Lastly, critics are afraid of allergies affecting consumers, and other unknown diseases. Lastly, critics are afraid of allergies affecting consumers, and other unknown diseases.

Other concerns Scientists also claim that there is plenty of food on the earth, it is just not evenly distributed. Therefore, production has nothing to do with world hunger, and we should not be putting people’s health at risk for nothing. Scientists also claim that there is plenty of food on the earth, it is just not evenly distributed. Therefore, production has nothing to do with world hunger, and we should not be putting people’s health at risk for nothing.

Two Types There are two main types of GM foods There are two main types of GM foods –Ones that tolerate herbicides  These crops will not die off from herbicides and will have less competition over nutrients and sunlight. –Ones that are toxic to certain pests.  Pests will not bother the plant and allow it to grow freely.

Common GM foods Corn Corn Tomatoes Tomatoes Potatoes Potatoes Sugar cane Sugar cane

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