GMO’s or genetically modified organisms as they are most known by have been in the spotlight in recent years and are the source of a great debate that is happening all over the world. To get a better understanding we need to define what a GMO is and how it is used in our food supply. Genetically Modified Organisms are described as being an organism that has genetically been altered by changing the characteristics of the gene by inserting a gene from another organism. In general the idea is to introduce a new trait to the plant that doesn’t occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, or environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, or resistance to chemical treatments (Wiki.com).
History shows that modification of food itself due to humans has been around since 12,000 BC with the domestication of crops and artificial selection. Genetic engineering on the other hand was the result of direct transfer of DNA from one organism to another by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973. The first genetically altered plant was a tobacco plant in 1983 followed by various trials and in 1994 the first marketed food on grocery shelves was the …show more content…
One such proponent of using GMO’s is philanthropist Bill Gates in which he states that it is important for poor countries that have little access to food to have the opportunity to be able to feed their people. In regards to how the foods are created, Mr. Gates states that new food products should be tested and go through a regulatory approval process just like anything else and if they are proved to be safe then they should be used to benefit the people. While people such as Bill Gates are promoting GMO’s in places such as Brazil, Central America and Africa, it has been increasing in products in the United States as well
History shows that modification of food itself due to humans has been around since 12,000 BC with the domestication of crops and artificial selection. Genetic engineering on the other hand was the result of direct transfer of DNA from one organism to another by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973. The first genetically altered plant was a tobacco plant in 1983 followed by various trials and in 1994 the first marketed food on grocery shelves was the …show more content…
One such proponent of using GMO’s is philanthropist Bill Gates in which he states that it is important for poor countries that have little access to food to have the opportunity to be able to feed their people. In regards to how the foods are created, Mr. Gates states that new food products should be tested and go through a regulatory approval process just like anything else and if they are proved to be safe then they should be used to benefit the people. While people such as Bill Gates are promoting GMO’s in places such as Brazil, Central America and Africa, it has been increasing in products in the United States as well