The Science Behind Genetically Modified Food !!
“Good day everyone! I am excited to welcome you all to my blog post about genetically modified food. In this post, I will be discussing the pros and cons of genetically modified food, the science behind it, and what the future holds for this technology. I hope that this post will help you understand more about genetically modified food and its impact on our lives.
What Is Genetically Modified Food?
Genetically modified (GM) food is any plant or animal whose genetic makeup has been changed through the process of genetic engineering. This can be achieved by inserting genes from one species into another, or by using synthetic biology to create new combinations of genes that do not occur in nature.Genetic engineering was first developed in 1973 when researchers inserted DNA from a virus into bacteria to make them resistant to its effects.
The first genetically modified crop was produced in 1982 by scientists at Calgene. They added an insecticidal gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which naturally occurs in soil bacteria, into corn plants so that they would produce their own pesticide when eaten by insects like corn borer larvae.
A display showing different varieties of organic corn in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
The first genetically modified animal to be commercialised was the GloFish, a Zebra fish with a fluorescent gene added that allows it to glow in the dark under ultraviolet light. The first genetically modified animal to be approved for food use was AquAdvantage salmon in 2015.
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in planted aquarium
The salmon were transformed with a growth hormone-regulating gene from a Pacific Chinook salmon and a promoter from an ocean pout enabling it to grow year-round instead of only during spring and summer.
Today there are hundreds of different GM crops grown worldwide including soybeans, cottonseed oil and canola oil made using genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Benefits Of Genetically Modified Food.
Genetically modified food has a number of benefits, including:
□ Increased crop yields :- By inserting genes from other organisms into your crops, you can make them more resistant to pests and disease while also improving their nutritional value.
□ Pest resistance :- Genetically modified crops are often engineered with a gene that allows them to produce their own pesticides–which means farmers don’t have to spray as much harmful insecticide on their fields !
□ Drought tolerance :- Scientists have developed drought-tolerant corn by splicing in a gene from an aquatic microbe called cyanobacteria; this helps plants survive dry
conditions by allowing them access additional water stores deep within the soil where other plants cannot reach it.
Crop losses in the hot summer – Poor corn due to heat and low precipitation. Climate
change
Beautiful yellow ear of corn on a background foliage
Potential Risks of Genetically Modified Food.
Genetically modified food has the potential to be a significant risk to the environment and human health. The risks include:
□ Environmental risk :- Genetically modified food has been a topic of debate for many years now, with concerns about its impact on the environment being one of the biggest issues. Some of the environmental risks associated with genetically modified food include. The risk of outcrossing, where genes from GMO foods pass into wild plants and other crops. A negative impact on insects and other species. Reduction in other plant types, leading to a loss of biodiversity.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) before after
□ Health risks :- In addition to environmental concerns, many people worry about the potential health effects of eating genetically modified foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved all genetically modified foods currently available on grocery store shelves in the United States as safe for human consumption; however, many scientists believe this conclusion is premature because there hasn’t been enough research done on these products’ long-term effects on human health or animal studies showing whether they’re safe for pets too!
Woman buys potato chips in the store
□ Economic risks :- Some argue that GMOs will lead us down a path toward monoculture–the practice where farmers grow only one type of crop at any given time instead using diverse plantings which provide more nutrients for consumers while also helping prevent disease outbreaks like blight caused by fungi infecting potatoes at one point during history when farmers relied solely upon this particular vegetable as their
main source food source.
Money is born soil in the bottom of the plantations. Agribusiness profit land value and
agricultural startups.
Regulations For Genetically Modified Food.
There are several regulatory agencies that oversee the safety of genetically modified food. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the use of genetically modified crops in the United States, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees their use in human and animal food products.
Food genetic modification concept. Close up of sciencist injecting syringe into tomato
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticides used on GM crops, while the World Health Organization (WHO) has set guidelines for determining whether or not a particular GMO is safe for human consumption.
Codex Alimentarius Commission–an international body that sets standards for food safety–and FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives also provide guidance on what constitutes a safe level of exposure to GMOs.
Labeling Of Genetically Modified Food.
The FDA requires that all genetically modified foods be labeled. This is a good thing, as it allows consumers to make informed decisions about what they eat. However, there are some drawbacks to this policy as well.
Non GMO label set. GMO free icons. No GMO design elements for tags, product packag,
food symbol, emblems, stickers. Healthy food concept.
Labeling GM foods can be expensive for companies and may even drive up prices for consumers if the cost of labeling is passed on in full or in part. It’s also possible that some people will avoid buying products with labels simply because they don’t like seeing them–even though there is no scientific evidence showing any harm caused by eating GM foods !
San Francisco, USA – May 25, 2013: Crowd of protestors with posters against Monsanto and Genetically Modified Food walking on Market Street in San Francisco.
Consumer Attitudes Towards Genetically Modified Food.
□ Perceptions of safety :- Consumers are concerned about the potential health risks associated with GM foods, but there is no evidence that they are any less safe than non- GM foods. In fact, if you look at the scientific literature on this topic, it’s clear that there is no reason to believe that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) pose any more risk than conventional ones.
□ Perceptions of cost :- Consumers also worry about whether GMOs will increase food prices and make it harder for people to afford healthy options like fruits and vegetables–but studies have shown this concern isn’t warranted either: The price difference between conventional crops and those grown using GM technology has been negligible over time because farmers save money by using fewer pesticides when growing GM plants instead of traditional ones; moreover, consumers pay more at restaurants than they would if they cooked at home anyway !
Little girl with banner Stop GMO in corn field
“Thank you for reading! I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. And if you’d like to learn more about this topic, check out my other blog posts on the other subject.
I will look forward to hearing from you!”
New informative blog post on every day !!
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