The Pros And Cons Of GMO - amazonia.fiocruz.br

The Pros And Cons Of GMO Video

Genetically modified organisms GMOs are living organisms that have had their genes altered in some way.

Evidence-based pros and cons of GMO foods

GMOs can be animals or bacteria, but most often they are crops like corn or potatoes that have been tweaked in a lab to increase the amount or quality of food they produce. There are many advantages of GMO crops, but some groups have link concerns that GMOs may have negative health effects. Humans have been altering the genetics of plants for thousands of years through the slow process of cross-breeding between crops. Today, scientists can take a shortcut to modify plants by editing their DNA in a lab setting. The process of creating a GMO plant is complex, but it follows these basic steps :.

Because scientists can select the most ideal traits to include in GMO crops, there are many advantages of modified foods, including:. GMOs may have fewer pesticides. Many GMO crops have been altered to be less vulnerable to insects and other pests. For example, Bt-corn is a GMO crop that has a gene added from Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacteria.

What are GMOs?

This gene causes the corn to produce a protein that kills many pests and insects, helping to protect the corn from damage. The use of fewer pesticides in crops may lead to fewer health risks for people eating them and less damage to the environment.

GMOs are usually cheaper. GMO crops are bred to grow efficiently — this means that farmers can produce the same amount of food using less land, less water, and fewer pesticides than conventional crops. Because they can save on resources, food producers can also charge lower prices for GMO foods. GMOs may have more nutrients. Certain GMO crops are designed to provide more nutrients like vitamins or minerals.

For example, researchers have been able to create a modified form of African corn that contains:. GMO crops can offer many advantages in costs and nutrition, but some experts worry that they carry health risks, as well.

GMOs may cause allergic Cona. GMOs may increase antibiotic resistance. When GMO scientists insert new DNA into plant cells, they will often add in an additional gene that makes the modified cells resistant to antibiotics. Some experts worry that these genes may be absorbed into harmful bacteria found in sewers or your gut that can cause serious illnesses like staph infections. This means that the usual antibiotic treatments would be powerless against these new super-bacteria.

Pros of GMOs

Not all experts agree on this concern, however — some scientists argue that this type of gene transfer is very unlikely and there is little risk to humans. GMO crops have many advantages The Pros And Cons Of GMO your health, such as greater nutritional value and fewer pesticides. They may also be cheaper for farmers to grow, allowing for lower food prices.

Though there are possible risks, major agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency tightly regulate GMO foods and ensure that they are safe for people to eat. What to eat when intermittent fasting for health and hunger pains.

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