GMO's and You!

By Ashton

Genetically Modified Foods are created by altering the genetic make up of living organisms, including animals, plants, and bacteria. The combining of genes from two or more different organisms to make medicines, vaccines, foods & food ingredients, and feeds & fibers is referred to as Recombinant DNA technology. The United States is the biggest practicer of GM crops. Some view GM crops as superior since they have been altered to become resistant to herbicides and insecticides. Weaker crops, like sweet potatoes for example, can be made resistant to viruses that could potentially wipe out the whole harvest. GM crops can also be altered to increase their vitamin content which proponents argue will help stop chronic malnutrition in third world countries. Supporters of the GMO movement also champion science’s ability to make fish mature faster, make fruit and nut trees that yield earlier, and find plants that produce new plastics. However, critics are quick to point out the downsides of GMO’s, chiefly that we don't know the long term side effects. It is quite possible for new allergies to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting populous or generate long term environmental side effects.