What is a possible advantage of genetically modified crops?

Answer 1

Increasing food production

Answer 2

Genetically Engineered CropsOne advantage is the ability to "grow" pest killers right in the crop ( ie...corn,beans and other grains)itself. Very cost effective and eliminates the need for many pesticides.

• As much as that is an advantage while they grow, it is a definite DISadvantage to those of us who are unknowingly eating those foods because the FDA will not require that GMO foods be labeled. For decades, we have been taught to thoroughly wash our fruits and vegetables to get all the pesticides off. Now, we are eating foods that are genetically designed to have their own pesticide built right in. Very interesting.

Did you learn that at your yoga class? The pesticide isn't built in to the plant. The plant is just less attractive to the certain pests. GECs are also bred to be less susceptible to diseases, such as rust. The main result of GECs are higher yields, and a more hearty plant. They are just as safe (actually safer, due to certain disease resitances) than 'organic' foods. It's selective breeding, but for plants.

More InformationPerhaps it might help to clarify this issue if I let everyone know that the most common pesticide which the crop "produces" is a simple protein which is completely harmless to mammalian life, yet is unable to be digested by certain members of the Lepidoptera insect family, thereby eliminating them. Scientists learned to mimic this from the common soil bacterium bacillus thuringiensis. Since a "pesticide" is defined as any substance which helps to kill, suppress, or otherwise control any form of life harmful to man or his food supply, this protein qualifies as a pesticide, even though it is vastly different from the chemical poison pesticides which we have always been instructed to wash from our food. I've always considered it best to "compare apples to apples", but this situation is clearly "apples to Oranges", or to be more precise, "apples to bassett hounds".

Other genetic traits sometimes built into the crop include the ability for the crop plant to resist the effects of certain herbicides such as glyphosate or glufosinate.

Answer 3

Genetically Modified Crops have numerous advantages over the traditional varieties. Some of the advantages are:

Genetically modified crops are disease resistant, insecticide resistant, pesticide resistant. They are better is taste and longevity. The fibres are adjusted to make eating smoother. They are modified to make them more nutritious.

Answer 4

They can be herbicide resistant have a longer shelf life but some ethical concerns are nobody really knows the long-term effects and is it right to interfere with nature in this way?

Sources: EDEXCEL GCSE Science - revision and classroom companion.

Answer 5

to make plants more better at not not preventing silly diseases against crops to save many dying people who will die.

Answer 6

An advantage is often higher crop yield. However they have also genetically modified plants to grow faster instead of more, or to produce better in a certain climate.