Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Gene splicing or hybrid species are both genetically modified. *That is true, but there are two distinct kinds of genetic modification. Hybrids are modified by crossing one variety with another within the same species. For example, a Rutgers tomato is crossed with a Big Boy tomato to make a better variety of tomato. Another form of genetic modification is called bioengineering. Unlike hybrids, this type of genetic modification is done by splicing genes from one species into those of an entirely different species. This type of gene splicing has been done to certain vegetables since, I believe, the 1970s. An example is bacteria or virus genes that have been spliced into corn. This type of modification has been done with tomatoes, soybeans, potatoes, and other vegetables, as well as some varieties of trees. From what I have read, the goal is not to make a better variety, but to make the variety more tolerant of chemicals or, in the case of trees, to make their structure weaker to make them more suitable for paper-making. An organic grower most often uses heirloom varieties that have not been genetically modified, either by hybridization or bioengineering. In fact, most of the organic growers I know are vehemently opposed to any kind of bioengineered organisms and have organized to oppose such practices.
When something is modified by genetics, it means that it has been altered on a genetic level. Everything is made up of genes, including us. Some foods are altered genetically to help it be resistant to diseases.

I was told on the Sam Adams Face Book page that they do not use any GMO's in their beer.

Organic crops are non GMO, but GMO crops of the same kind can cross pollinate with them, resulting in contamination of the organic crops.

It is known that weeds have become resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-up. It is also possible that insects are becoming resistant to the Bt varieties of GMO crops, and that non-targeted insects may also be affected. It is also known that GMO crops have cross pollinated with non-GMO and organic crops. There are other questions that simply have not yet been answered and may not be known yet.

There is nothing inherently bad about GMO but there are many people who have serious questions about them.

The main issue is that they are so new that if there are long-term problems from them we would not know about them yet. Since they are regulated as foods, they typically are not tested like drugs for safety.

An ancillary problem is that nearly all GMO are produced under patent so poor farmers cannot afford to buy them. Also, unlike non-GMO, farmers are not allowed to set aside seed from their harvest to use in future plantings. They are required to buy completely new seed from the patent holder for each planting.

This could reduce the effects herbicides have on plants because different insects, diseases and weeds could become resistant to these herbicides. People also fear that these modified genes would spread to other plants and/or animals accidentally, and possibly make people ill in some form or other when they are eaten in their different states. These plants could also spread to areas where wildlife habitat is protected, and spread so fast that it would choke and push out other native plant species, and subsequently wildlife species, endangering the wild habitat.

These are usually called GMOs. An organism that is produced through genetic engineering is considered to be a genetically modified organism (GMO).
Insulin-producing bacteria were commercialized in 1982 and genetically modified food has been sold since 1994. Genetic engineering is also called genetic modification.
While there is a worry among the public that eating genetically modified food may be harmful but scientific agreement is that these crops are no greater risk to human health than conventional food.

The primary genetically modified crops grown in the US are soybean and maize. Rapeseed (used in canola oil) and cotton are also genetically modified.

This question asked in 2012 prelims(upsc) exam... well promotion of vegetarianism is threat to Bio-diversity because Bio-diversity means all living organisms include plants ,animals(carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous animals )

if we promote only veg then what would tigers, lions n leopards eat .. this makes population of herbivorous animals in large and they eat all plants , grass land ect this inturn effects other small organisms.

It is opposed by some organizations and individuals because they are not convinced that the safety of the crops to the environment or human health has been proven, the regulatory process in the U.S. appears to have been influenced by those who develop and profit from the technology, etc.

GMOs (genetically modified food) may create allergies.

there are none that are scientifically proven to harm humans . However it may harm, kill, disable or impair the organism that is modified.

Nearly every company uses "genetically modified organisms" in their products, because nearly everything we raise for food today has been bred so that it's quite different from its wild ancestors ... its genetics have been modified.

enetically modified foods or biotech foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise[1] than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding; plant breeding, and animal breeding, and somaclonal variation. Since genetically modified food has been introduced into supermarkets, there has been much controversy as to whether it is actually safe.

It is not conclusively known if GMOs do or do not cause cancer.
To this date, February 8, 2014, there is no known evidence that GMOs cause cancer. There is some anecdotal evidence that eating GMOs may cause other health issues, such as allergies and problems to the digestive tract.

GMOs are not caused, but produced. GMO is the abbreviation for Genetically Modified Organism. Basically, the process of genetic engineering removes a section of DNA from one organism, often a bacteria or virus, and inserts it into another organism, often a crop like corn or soybeans. The majority of genetically modified crops have been modified to withstand direct spraying of synthetic weed killers, or to produce a substance within the plant itself that kills insects when insects feed on the plant.

The use of this technology is controversial, but to answer your question directly, many would say the "cause" is economical for the producers of the GMOs, since when they modify a crop genetically, the modified plants are considered unique organisms that can be (and are) patentable.

These are just some of the benefits of GMO's

· Crops

· Enhanced taste and quality

· Reduced maturation time

· Increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance

· Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides

· New products and growing techniques

· Animals

· Increased resistance, productivity, hardiness, and feed efficiency

· Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk

· Improved animal health and diagnostic methods

· Environment

· "Friendly" bioherbicides and bioinsecticides

· Conservation of soil, water, and energy

· Bioprocessing for forestry products

· Better natural waste management

· More efficient processing

· Society

· Increased food security for growing populations

The insects could grow resistant to the pesticide in the genetically-modified corn and become immune to regular pesticides.

some people believe that the way God created them is the way things should be and that we shouldn't play about Gods creation.

Hope I've helped :)

GMO stands for a Genetically Modified Organism.

This is a somewhat complicated topic so I cannot give a compete answer, but in general, people do not agree about whether it is really possible to improve on nature. Genetic engineering allows us to give plants and animals specific traits that we want them to have, such as giving a plant resistance to a particular kind of herbicide, but what are the side effects? Is this plant still safe for humans to eat? What happens if the plant accidentally cross breeds with other plants in the wild? (And should we even be using herbicides?) So there are a lot of issues.

GMOs are transgenic organisms. A gene is taken from one species and forced into another, which is what creates a transgenic organism.

because of the way the foods are produced it allows them to buy more of it in bulk

Conventional breeding is vertical breeding within the same species. Genetic modification is horizontal breeding, which removes a gene from one organism and inserts it into an unrelated organism. The transgenic individual carries the gene from the unrelated species, while the individual from conventional breeding does not.