Gmo Food

Genetically Modified Food Genetically modified foods are food derived from ‘genetically modified organisms’(GMOs). Genetically modified organism had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non- specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organism include selective breeding: plant breeding and animal breeding and soma clonal variation (Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2012) On the other hand, genetically modified crops (often abbreviated as GMOs) are simply crops, whose genetically material has been modified. There are two ways to do this which are by traditional selection and breeding (much like animal breeding) and modern ,scientific modification of the crops (Csanad,2009) Genetically Modified foods (GM foods) were first put in the market in 1996. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: soybean, corn, canola, rice, and cotton seed oil. Animal products have also been developed , although as of July 2010 none are currently on the market. In 2006 a pig was engineered to produce omega- 3fatty acids through the expression of roundworm gene. Researchers have also developed a genetically – modified breed pigs that are able to absorb plant phosphorus more efficiently and as a consequence the phosphorus content their manure is reduced by as much as 60% (Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia,2012) Critics have objected to GM foods on several grounds including safety issues, ecological concerns and economic concerned raised by the fact these organisms are subject to intellectual property law (Wikipedia ,the Free Encyclopedia,2012) The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology