What are GMO foods?
GMO foods are made from genetically modified organisms, usually plants. The plants have altered genes and thus attributes that make them easier to farm. Some can resist pests better than natural varieties. Others don’t mind chemical insecticides and most can out-grow and out-produce their natural cousins. The first GMO was a tomato plant, grown by the California company Calgene in 1994. It produced rot-resistant tomatoes dubbed Flavr Savrs. These mutated tomatoes were much more expensive than regular tomatoes and were usurped by conventional varieties. Today, many crops have been genetically modified, including soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Most GMO crops are grown in North America, specifically the U.S. Keep in mind, however, that humans have been genetically modifying their crops for a millennium through selective breeding. The main difference is technique. GM crops are modified by direct manipulation of the plants DNA. Old-fashioned crops are modified the old-fashioned way, by
GMO foods are made from genetically modified organisms, usually plants. The plants have altered genes and thus attributes that make them easier to farm. Some can resist pests better than natural varieties. Others don’t mind chemical insecticides and most can out-grow and out-produce their natural cousins. The first GMO was a tomato plant, grown by the California company Calgene in 1994. It produced rot-resistant tomatoes dubbed Flavr Savrs. These mutated tomatoes were much more expensive than regular tomatoes and were usurped by conventional varieties. Today, many crops have been genetically modified, including soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Most GMO crops are grown in North America, specifically the U.S. Keep in mind, however, that humans have been genetically modifying their crops for a millennium through selective breeding. The main difference is technique. GM crops are modified by direct manipulation of the plants DNA. Old-fashioned crops are modified the old-fashioned way, by
