What Are GMOs? Why Use GMOs?: The Positive Benefits What Are GMOs? GMO stands for “genetically modified organism.” A GMO is any living thing whose DNA has been altered in a laboratory. GMOs are often created by adding genes from one species into the DNA of another species. For example, scientists might add the gene for herbicide resistance into the DNA of a crop plant. The resulting plant would then withstand herbicides that would kill other plants. GMOs can also be created through “gene editing,” which involves making precise changes to an organism’s DNA.
While GMOs have been used in agriculture for decades, they have only recently become commercially available. Today, many crops sold in supermarkets, including corn, soybeans, and cotton, are GMOs. Some people believe that GMOs are unsafe and should be banned. Others argue that GMOs can help to improve crop yields and reduce the use of pesticides. The debate over GMOs is likely to continue for many years to come.
The History Of GMOs The history of GMOs is a long and complicated one. The term “GMO” itself is relatively new, only coming into common usage in the 1990s. But the science behind GMOs dates back much further. In the early days of genetics, scientists began experimenting with ways to transfer genes from one organism to another. This process, known as genetic engineering, was first used on plants in the 1970s.
Since then, GMOs have been created for a variety of purposes, from increasing crop yields to creating new medicines. Today, GMOs are present in many common foods, including soybeans, corn, and canola oil. They are also used in livestock feed and some vaccines. While the use of GMOs is controversial, there is no doubt that they have revolutionized agriculture and medicine.
Why Use GMOs?: The Positive Benefits
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While there are many people who oppose the use of GMOs, there are also many who support it. Before looking at some of the negatives around GMOs, it is first important to understand why they are used. Here are a few of the benefits:
Create A Longer Shelf Life One of the most common arguments in favor of genetically modified foods is that they can help to reduce food waste. By engineering crops to be more resistant to disease and pests, farmers can reduce losses due to crop damage. In addition, by increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, GMOs can help to keep food fresh for longer. As a result, less food is thrown away due to spoilage.
While some consumers are wary of the health risks associated with GMOs, the potential benefits of reducing food waste are hard to ignore. Given the enormous amount of food wasted each year, anything that can help reduce losses is worth considering.
Ability To Grow In More Climates Another huge benefit to GMOs is they can give foods the ability to grow in more climates and resist pests and diseases. For example, a GMO tomato could be created by adding the genes from a cold-tolerant fish to the tomato plant. As a result, the tomato plant could withstand colder temperatures. This would be a huge benefit to farmers in colder climates who are struggling to grow crops.
In addition, by engineering crops to be resistant to pests and diseases, GMOs can help to reduce the need for pesticides. This is good for the environment and the health of farm workers who are often exposed to harmful chemicals.
