GMOs

1. Definition
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has
been altered using genetic engineering techniques.







Cultivations of genetically engineered crops like soy, maize, cotton and canola have far
reaching consequences.
90% of genetically engineer crops belong to the corporate Monsanto.
The Monsanto Company is a multinational industry of agriculture and biotechnology.
Based on the United States, it's the leader producer of genetically modified seeds.
According to the company, its main goals are:
Fill the growing necessity of food.
Preserve the natural resources
Improve the environment
Nevertheless, many specialists say that Monsanto activities increase the hunger and poverty
on the world. Another serious problem is the fact that the transgenic products from Monsanto
can destroy ecosystems and cause diseases, even cancer.
Genetically modifications on crops can have uncontrollable consequences.
The function of genomes is only partially understood. But foreign genes are still introduced
into crops. These crops are wildly cultivated outdoors where they cant be controlled. 90% of
GE crops are in America.

But theyre already being created all over the world.
GMOs
Plants Animals

Modified crops once outside cant be controlled as on the lab.
GE crops can self replicate and pass on their characteristics to neighboring crops, penetrating
the fields of farmers who want to cultivate their crops without genetic engineering.
Eventually, genetically modified products find their way into the livestock chain, so they end
up as meat or dairy products at the supermarkets.


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Pros
Better Pest and Disease Resistance
Genetic modification of crops can produce varieties that are more resistant to pests and
diseases, reducing losses and lessening the dependence on pesticides. For example, a
gene that gives resistance to a fungal infection in a wild plant can be inserted into a food
plant that lacks this protection. The crop is then less susceptible to this disease.
Faster Growth
Crops can be altered to make them grow faster, so that they can be cultivated and
harvested in areas with shorter growing seasons. This again can extend the range of a food
crop into new areas or perhaps allow two harvests in areas where only one is currently
practical.
More Nutritious Crops
Plants and animals can be engineered to produce larger amounts of essential vitamins and
minerals, such as iron, helping to solve nutrition problems in some parts of the world. They
can also be altered to change the amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and saturated and
unsaturated fats that they contain. This could lead to the production of foods designed
specifically for a healthy diet for all consumers.

Production of Medicines and Vaccines by Crops
It may be possible to have plants and animals produce useful medicines and even
vaccines, so that prevention and treatment of human diseases in some places can be
achieved cheaply and efficiently through the diet.
Resistance to Herbicides
Several crops have been genetically modified to be resistant to non-selective herbicides.
These transgenic crops contain genes that enable them to degrade the active ingredient in
an herbicide, rendering it harmless. Farmers can thereby easily control weeds during the
entire growing season and have more flexibility in choosing times for spraying.

Cons
Unexpected Side-Effects
Some of the effects of genetically engineered food on human health may be unpredictable.
The many chemical compounds present in foods behave in extremely complex ways in the
human body. If the food contains something not normally present in the human diet, it is
hard to tell what its effects may be over time. Although GM foods are rigorously tested,
there may be some subtle, long-term effects that cannot be detected yet.

Problems with Labeling of GM Food
It may not be clear to customers exactly what they are eating when they purchase GM
foods. Not all countries have a requirement to label food, or ingredients, as genetically
modified, and even where such foods are clearly labeled, people may not take the time to
read the information. People with an allergy to a specific ingredient may be unexpectedly
affected by a GM food that contains that substance.


Reduced Species Diversity
Genes introduced to make crops toxic to specific insect pests may kill other, beneficial
insects, with effects on animals further up the food chain. This could lead to a reduction in
the diversity of wildlife in affected areas and possibly even to the extinction of vulnerable
species.

Over-Use of Herbicides
The planting of herbicide-resistant crops might encourage farmers to use weed killers more
freely, since they could then be applied indiscriminately to crop fields. As a result, the
excess could be carried away by rainfall to pollute rivers and other waterways. The
chemicals may poison fish and other wild animals and plants, and could get into human
drinking water as well.

The Benefits May Not Be Available to Everyone
The potential to end poverty and malnutrition may not be realized if patent laws and
intellectual property rights lead to genetically engineered food production being
monopolized by a small number of private companies. The owners of the rights to produce
GM foods may be reluctant to allow access to technology or genetic material, making
countries in the developing world even more dependent on industrialized nations.
Commercial interests may override worthy and potentially achievable goals, limiting the
benefits to the world as a whole.