In: Biology
The food derived from genetically modified organisms is called genetically modified food. The techniques used for genetic modification of food include somaclonal variation, plant breeding and animal breeding. Genetically engineered or genetically modified crops include tomato, soyabean, corn. Since, there's an increase in the global demand of food with growing population, in order to feed them scientists have discovered environment friendly methods of food production by manipulating DNA and producing crops which are drought and disease resistant.
Genetically modified crops could produce higher yields, grow in salt and dry land, withstand high and low temperatures and tolerate insects, diseases and herbicides. Selective breeding involves selecting plants or animals with desired traits and breeding them. This reults in, overtime, offspring with those desired traits, but it can result in traits that are not desired. Genetic engineering allows the scientists to select one specific gene to implant avoiding other genes with undesirable traits. Genetic engineering also helps to speed up the process of creating new foods with desirable traits
The benefits of genetically modified foodsinclude:
93% of the corn and soyabeans are genetically modified in U.S. 60-70% of the processed foods contain genetically modified ingredients. Genetic engineering is used to create certain enzymes and hormones for cheese and milk production.
Despite the advantages mentioned, genetically modified crops face a lot of criticism. There's a arguement that changing plants may have long-term effects on the ecosystem.The alteration of a genetic component of a plant may make it toxic to an insect That uses that plant as the food source. Prolonged use of insect resistant genes in crops may make the insects to get adapted and making them resistant to these genetic modifications. Another criticism is they cause unintended harm to other living organisms and genetically modified ingredients are potent to cause cancers.
The safety assessment of genetically modified foods include:
Golden rice is an example of GM food