Genetically Modifying Our Generation GMOs have become a popular in both the general public and the science community, and yet the debate continues. Are GMOs bad for people? The views are split by some who say “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” and others who say that GMOs aren’t natural and are slowly killing us (Spock 1982) .To accurately give information, the history, benefits, adverse effects, and GMO research are needed.
What Is a GMO and How Does It Work
What is a GMO and where did it come from? According to nongmoproject.org, a GMO is “a living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering.” The most common genetic modifications are when scientists insert a single gene into a plant that changed the coding of it’s RNA; this is the key for the plant to start forming enzymes involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis making the plant immune to glyphosate, or active ingredient in most Monsanto pesticides (Chassy 170). In laymans terms, scientists have added a gene to an organism to produce a desired trait. Humanity has been modifying their food for centuries “using a method of plant domestication” (Chassy 169). Basically, plant domestication is where humans have been gene selecting, or choosing the trait they want from the plant, for …show more content…
GMOs are quickly making smaller farms obsolete due to air pollination from the GMO plants. “Several scientists have reported yield reductions of 33-50% when plants are grown in places with still air, like glass houses or greenhouses… lead to the fact that wind play an important role in pollination”; so imagine if the GMO crop pollen drifted over to a non-GMO farm. The farm would then be contaminated and become a GMO farm (Timmons 418). Monsanto owns patent to their genetic codes, and if they find anyone using them, they will file a large lawsuit against the
What Is a GMO and How Does It Work
What is a GMO and where did it come from? According to nongmoproject.org, a GMO is “a living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering.” The most common genetic modifications are when scientists insert a single gene into a plant that changed the coding of it’s RNA; this is the key for the plant to start forming enzymes involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis making the plant immune to glyphosate, or active ingredient in most Monsanto pesticides (Chassy 170). In laymans terms, scientists have added a gene to an organism to produce a desired trait. Humanity has been modifying their food for centuries “using a method of plant domestication” (Chassy 169). Basically, plant domestication is where humans have been gene selecting, or choosing the trait they want from the plant, for …show more content…
GMOs are quickly making smaller farms obsolete due to air pollination from the GMO plants. “Several scientists have reported yield reductions of 33-50% when plants are grown in places with still air, like glass houses or greenhouses… lead to the fact that wind play an important role in pollination”; so imagine if the GMO crop pollen drifted over to a non-GMO farm. The farm would then be contaminated and become a GMO farm (Timmons 418). Monsanto owns patent to their genetic codes, and if they find anyone using them, they will file a large lawsuit against the