Since the beginning of agriculture, humans have exploited and altered the genetic information in plants and animals to create new biological variations through artificial selection and crossbreeding. The main difference between genetic engineering and traditional breeding methods is that genetic engineering allows for us to isolate, copy, turn on, and introduce genes into other organisms. (Jones) This is done by identifying the gene of interests, isolating that trait, inserting that trait into a desired organism, and then propagating that organism. (Powell)
There are three types of genetic modification: 1) Transgenic – plants that have genes from another species; 2) Cisgenic – plants that are made by using genes from the same species or a closely related specie; and 3) Subgenic – a crop whose entire genome has been edited. In recent years, several regulatory bodies and states have attempted to require labeling of foods containing ingredients that have been modified. However, the concept of a “genetically modified organism,” also known as a GMO, has been difficult to properly define by …show more content…
The first, and most basic definition is anything that does not or cannot occur in nature. The problem with this definition is that it would include things that we would not normally think of as a GMO such as grafting trees and sweet potatoes. The European Union expanded this definition and defines a GMO as “an organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally through fertilization and/or natural recombination.” (Genetically Modified Organisms) The problem with this extended definition is that it would include a lot of varieties such as Renan. Renan is a French variety of wheat that was made by coaxing the genetic material from wheat and two other distantly related species. The EU currently exempts this type of genetic modification from the same scrutiny and regulation as other
There are three types of genetic modification: 1) Transgenic – plants that have genes from another species; 2) Cisgenic – plants that are made by using genes from the same species or a closely related specie; and 3) Subgenic – a crop whose entire genome has been edited. In recent years, several regulatory bodies and states have attempted to require labeling of foods containing ingredients that have been modified. However, the concept of a “genetically modified organism,” also known as a GMO, has been difficult to properly define by …show more content…
The first, and most basic definition is anything that does not or cannot occur in nature. The problem with this definition is that it would include things that we would not normally think of as a GMO such as grafting trees and sweet potatoes. The European Union expanded this definition and defines a GMO as “an organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally through fertilization and/or natural recombination.” (Genetically Modified Organisms) The problem with this extended definition is that it would include a lot of varieties such as Renan. Renan is a French variety of wheat that was made by coaxing the genetic material from wheat and two other distantly related species. The EU currently exempts this type of genetic modification from the same scrutiny and regulation as other