GMOs: Helping Us Produce More With Less

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein has been used as a pest control agent in many organic farms for more than 50 years. Since Bt is a natural nonpathogenic bacterium naturally present in the soil, Bt protein is recognized as an insecticide in organic agriculture. Bt was also found to be safe for all higher animals examined (University of California, San Diego)

When a biological gene is intentionally moved in a laboratory to improve or alter another organism, the result is a genetically modified organism (GMO). It is sometimes called "transgenic" of gene transfer. There are various ways to move genes to produce desirable properties. One of the more traditional methods for animals and plants is by selective breeding. For example, plants with the desired trait are selected and bred to produce more plants with the desired trait. Recent advances in technology are different technologies. This technique is applied to laboratories where genes expressing the desired trait are physically transferred or added to new plants to enhance plant traits. Plants produced using this technology are genetically modified. Typically, this method is carried out on crops to produce insect-resistant or herbicide-tolerant plants (GM crops) called GM crops (University of California at San Diego).

Genetically modified products are not new. Insulin used in medicine is an example of genetic engineering, and the insulin gene from porcine intestine is inserted into bacteria. Bacteria grow and produce insulin, insulin is refined and used for medical purposes. Thyroid hormone has only recently been obtained from animals and now hormones can be cultured from bacteria. Other genetically modified products include chemical aspartame and drug Hepatitis B vaccine for sugar free food (University of California, San Diego)

However, not only plants are used by us. Genetically modified organisms are also used in the manufacture of many medicines and vaccines that are useful in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Before the GMO, many common medications must be extracted from blood donors, parts of animals, and even corpses. These drugs have many problems such as the risk of infectious diseases, instability of quality, poor supply reliability. GM medicines are more consistent and do not pose the same pollution risk

Genetically modified organisms are genetically modified organisms. The original purpose was to increase nutritional value, increase crop durability, and make it less susceptible to drought. GMO is controversial and related to health problems such as allergy and organ toxicity. In all EU countries, including 64 countries, manufacturers are obliged to display the use of GMOs in their products, but there is no regulation of the US Department of Agriculture. However, the non-GM project is a non-profit organization that educates consumers and confirms that the brand meets non-GMO certification criteria.

GMOs have been developed that change product quality by increasing nutritional value or by providing more industrially useful quality or quantity. Am flora potato produces a more industrially practical mixture of starch. Soy and canola are genetically engineered to produce healthier oils. The first commercially available GM food is a delayed ripening tomato that prolongs its shelf life. Plants and animals are designed to produce materials that normally can not be manufactured. This medicine uses crops and animals as a bioreactor for producing vaccines, pharmaceutical intermediates, medicines themselves, and useful products are used in standard pharmaceutical manufacturing process after being purified from harvest . Cattle and goats are designed to express drugs and other proteins with milk, and in 2009 FDA approved medicines made from goat 's milk.