Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified organism (GMO) is any living organism that contains a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology or gene technology. Thus genetically modified organisms (GMOS) are those organisms whose genetic material has been modified by methods that transcend modification effected by traditional selection and breeding, e.g., organisms that are modified by recombinant DNA methods. Tmailhe term GMO applies to all organisms, including microorganisms. Such methods are used to create GM plants – which are then used to grow GM food crops.
The term GM foods or GMOs are most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. With genetic modification it is possible to transfer genes from one species to another. This is because all genes, be they human, plant, animal or bacterial are created from the same material. Genetic scientists therefore have a huge amount of genetic characteristics to choose from.
The initial objective for developing plants based on GMOs was to improve crop protection. The genetically modified crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.

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