Genetically Modified Foods
The term GM (genetically modified) food has gained controversy in the last few years, but in the first place we have to understand what GM food is and how it works, the term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is used when we refer to crop plants using different molecular biology techniques or methods to change their properties, such as to enhance their resistance to herbicides, improve nutritional content, and other properties. This seems great, but why there are people who disapprove the development and consumption of GM foods?
Modifying plant genetics can have many benefits, because of the use of precise and accurate molecular techniques, the main difference between traditional breeding techniques which are not so accurate and need more time to develop, are the molecular methods that are used to modify plants. Genetic engineering can change plants genes in a short time, for example taking out a plant gene that gives low temperature resistance to the plant and insert it into another plant. The uses and varieties we can achieve are immense and can end with great results.
“The world population has topped 7.5 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways” (B.Whitman, 2000). The most common uses of genetic engineering in plants are herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought & salinity resistance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, etc. It could help even to stop malnutrition and in some years to reduce world food shortage, because the possibilities are wide.
Why do people not approve of the use and consumption of these products? “Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for
Modifying plant genetics can have many benefits, because of the use of precise and accurate molecular techniques, the main difference between traditional breeding techniques which are not so accurate and need more time to develop, are the molecular methods that are used to modify plants. Genetic engineering can change plants genes in a short time, for example taking out a plant gene that gives low temperature resistance to the plant and insert it into another plant. The uses and varieties we can achieve are immense and can end with great results.
“The world population has topped 7.5 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways” (B.Whitman, 2000). The most common uses of genetic engineering in plants are herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought & salinity resistance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, etc. It could help even to stop malnutrition and in some years to reduce world food shortage, because the possibilities are wide.
Why do people not approve of the use and consumption of these products? “Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for