Recently, the term “bioengineered” food has come into popularity, under the argument that almost all food has been “genetically modified” via selective breeding or other basic growing methods. The tomato was genetically modified to increase its firmness and extend its shelf life. In 1994, the “FLAVR SAVR” tomato became the first genetically modified food to be approved for public consumption by the FDA. 2013, the USDA approved over 17,000 different GM crops for field trials, including varieties of corn, soybean, potato, tomato, wheat, canola, and rice, with various genetic modifications such as herbicide tolerance insect, fungal, and drought resistance and flavor or nutrition enhancement. In the United States, the health and environmental safety standards for GM crops are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Europe, for example, imports 30 million tons of corn and soy animal feeds every year, much of which is GMO. However, most countries that ban the growth of GMO crops, allow their import. Īccording to the Genetic Literacy Project, “The most recent data from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) shows that more than 18 million farmers in 29 countries, including 19 developing nations, planted over 190 million hectares (469.5 million acres) of GMO crops in 2019.” The organization stated that a “majority” of European countries and Russia, among other countries, ban the crops. Grow the new plant and perform tests for safety and the desired trait.In the above example, the insecticide gene from Bacillus thuringiensis was inserted into corn. Insert the specific gene into the DNA of the plant scientists want to change.Copy the specific gene for the desired trait.They identified a gene in a soil bacterium ( Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt), that naturally produces an insecticide commonly used in organic agriculture. For example, scientists were looking to make corn more insect-resistant. Identify the desired trait and find an animal or plant with that trait.To create a GMO plant, scientists follow these basic steps over several years: More recently, genetic engineering has allowed DNA from one species to be inserted into a different species to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In 1866, Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, discovered and developed the basics of DNA by crossbreeding peas. The earliest form of selective breeding were simple and have persisted: farmers save and plant only the seeds of plants that produced the most tasty or largest (or otherwise preferable) results. Selective breeding techniques have been used to alter the genetic makeup of plants for thousands of years.
Source: Lindsay Eyink, “Hybrid Corn Yellow Springs, Ohio,”, Aug.
0 kommentar(er)
