Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically modified organisms have been altered through genetic engineering in a laboratory. Modifications are made by taking parts of the DNA from different organisms and attempting to add them together to make a new, better, or more desired product. Adding a gene, known as cloning, or subtracting a gene, is the method that is used to change the organism’s material. The purpose of genetically altering different plants and animals is to make the plant or organism have traits or characteristics that may be more attractive to the consumers. For plants it is common to alter them in such a way that they become resistant to insects, funguses, diseases, and herbicides. Other possibilities are to make them contain more nutrients, need less water, improve storage, and increase the yield of certain foods and plants. Injecting certain DNA into an embryo, then implanting the embryo into a female animal, often modifies animals. Animals are often altered to create a more productive farm animal, one that can be resistant to diseases. Genetically modified organisms are developed under the premise of creating a stronger food system and can be found in nearly every aisle of the supermarket, however there are still concerns regarding how safe these products are for people and the environment.

Today, there are many foods found in grocery stores that contain genetically modified organisms. Products such as oil, soy, corn, cotton, canola, papaya, alfalfa, sugar beets, zucchini, tomatoes, and squash are created from genetically modified organisms or crops (New Health Guide, 2015). Even certain meats from different animals are considered to contain genetically modified organisms because of what they are fed or from their food supply being contaminated from traveling GMO seeds. It’s common for small farms to have their crops test positive for GMO ingredients because of scenarios such as seeds or pollen being carried from one field to another, or birds and animals carrying seeds...