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Some say they don't have any effect on humans that non-GMO foods have. Others will say we just don't know yet. Still others, including some scientists and doctors say they have possible harmful effects, including intestinal issues and infertility.
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∙ 9y ago
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What is the nickname for GM food?
Some refer to GMO foods as "frankenfoods."
Why do these people call these products Frankenfoods?
Because it made up of different parts of species like plants and stuff, and is therefore being compared to the famous Frankenstein monster.
Advantages of genetically modified food?
There are many advantages in using genetically modified foods. The need for insecticides and chemical fertilizers can be greatly reduced, protecting the enviroment. Crops can be grown in areas where they couldn't be grown in the past because of the climate. Food will last longer without spoiling. Fewer people will suffer from starvation, and diseases can be brought under control more easily. However, there are disadvantages as well. Many people are concerned about the long-term health effects of consuming genetically modified foods. Also the genes could move from crops into weeds and create resistant weeds. The plants that kill pests are also killing off useful insects. There are problems associated with monoculture, where all the plants and animals are genetically the same. The loss of variation may create problems if pests evolve that are not affected by the added genes. Opponents of genetically modified foods call such products "Frankenfoods", since they are reminded of the literary monster, Frankenstein.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of frankenfood?
Modifying food crops through genetic methods results in products with remarkable advantages like longer shelf life and resistance to pests when they are grown in the field. The primary motive for genetically engineering food crops is to increase yield. Since this process involves the insertion of foreign genes into wild type crop genomes, the uninformed people in the press have coined the term 'frankenfoods' to describe genetically modified crops. Here are some of the advantages of genetically modified foods: * Greater yield (wheat, rice, tobacco) * Pest resistance (corn) * Longer shelf life (vegetables) * slow ripening of fruits (apples, oranges) * Foods supplemented with essential dietary components - beta carotene rice (golden rice) * Better taste retention (flavr-saver tomatos) and some of the disadvantages: * public acceptance - people approach these genetically engineered foods with a lot of scepticism. Although the scientists who created them are confident about their safety.
