Truth and flaws of GMO's
GMO's the future today
How it works
Here's how it works: "Scientists extract a bit of DNA from an organism, modify or make copies of it, and incorporate it into the genome of the same species or a second one. They do this by either using bacteria to deliver the new genetic material, or by shooting tiny DNA-coated metal pellets into plant cells with a gene gun. While scientists can't control exactly where the foreign DNA will land, they can repeat the experiment until they get a genome with the right information in the right place."
Why GMO's are safe
Many people worry that genetic engineering introduces hazardous proteins, particularly allergens and toxins, into the food chain. That's why biotech companies consult with the Food and Drug Administration about potential GMO foods and perform extensive allergy and toxicity testing. Those tests are voluntary but commonplace; if they're not done, the FDA can block the products. “The potential to cause allergies can, in fact be tested, and it can be limited,” Cimperman said. “That maybe calms fears a little bit.”. Also the U.S department of AGR, the environmental protection agency , and the FDA regulate gmo's.
What humans have been doing
Humans have been manipulating the genes of crops for millennia by selectively breeding plants with desirable traits. (example: the thousands of apple varieties.) Virtually all of our food crops have been genetically modified in some way. Your definition of new will give you your definition of GMO's. Genetically engineered plants first appeared in the lab about 30 years ago and became a commercial product in 1994. Since then, more than 1,700 peer-reviewed safety studies have been published, including five lengthy reports from the National Research Council, that focus on human health and the environment.
How humans will save the worled
The way to feed the world is to close the “yield gap” between farms in the rich and poor worlds. Farmers in the U.S. grow twice as much food per acre as the world overall, largely because they can afford farm equipment, fuel, fertilizer, and pesticides that many farmers in the developing world can’t. Some of this gap, undoubtedly, will be closed as poverty drops around the world. But it’s unrealistic to assume that all of it will. What are we to do? On the horizon are some GMOs in development that could provide a dramatic boost here.
1.Better photosynthesis. Corn and sugarcane grow nearly twice as much food per acre as the crops humans eat most: rice and wheat.
2.Self-fertilizing crops. Fertilizer boosts plant growth by adding nitrogen, and access to fertilizer is one reason rich nation farms grow so much more food per acre than their developing world counterparts.
Yield inprovement
• Lowering volumes of agricultural chemicals required by crops-limiting the run-off of these products into the environment
• Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of pesticides and that allow farmers to reduce tilling farmland
• Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that solve vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
• Producing foods free of allergens and toxins such as mycotoxin; and
• Improving food and crop oil content to help improve cardiovascular health
Mexico - yield increases with herbicide tolerant soybean of 9 percent.
Romania – yield increases with herbicide tolerant soybeans have averaged 31 percent.
Philippines – average yield increase of 15 percent with herbicide tolerant corn.
Philippines – average yield increase of 24 percent with insect resistant corn.
Hawaii – virus resistant papaya has increased yields by an average of 40 percent.
India – insect resistant cotton has led to yield increases on average more than 50 percent.
Countries that embrace GMO's
- China is one of the largest producers of GM crops
- The Zambian government has launched a campaign to get the public to support GM technology
- the Philippines grow gm crops
- South Africa is growing an increasing number of GM crops
- south America has widespread planting of gm crops
- India has widespread gm cotton use
GMO's
Email: GMOs@yahoo.com
Website: GMO's.com
Phone: 1-800-436-3456