Genetically Modified Foods
Genetically modified foods have recently been in the new headlines for both their positive attributes and the negatives of genetic modification, this essay will look at the effects Genetically Modified foods have on the economy, environment and you.
Genetically modified (GM) foods refer to crop plants which have been created for human or animal consumption, these foods have had their genetic material modified in a way that would not occur naturally within the food. Desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content are some ways food can and have been genetically modified. Traditionally, modifying plant to have a desired trait has been undertaken through breeding, conventional plant breeding methods are time consuming and are often inaccurate. (Better Health Channel, 2013) Genetic modification can create crops with the specific traits rapidly and accuracy. For example, the gene responsible for drought tolerance can be inserted into a different plant species, the GM plant will become drought tolerance as well as the host plant previously was. Experts say 60% to 70% of processed foods on Australian shelves have genetically modified ingredients. The most common genetically modified foods are soybeans, maize, cotton, and rapeseed oil. That means many foods made in Australia containing corn or high-fructose corn syrup, such as breakfast cereals, and snack foods, these ingredients appear frequently in animal feed as well.
Today’s techniques of genetic modification provide innovative and infinite of improving specific traits in different crops. For example, physical means of removing weeds is time and cost consuming for farmers, they will often spray their crops with a variety of herbicides to destroy the weeds, this process takes great care to ensure the crop isn 't affected by the herbicide, GM plants modified to be resistant to a variety of herbicides could prevent damage to the environment by reducing the amount of
Genetically modified (GM) foods refer to crop plants which have been created for human or animal consumption, these foods have had their genetic material modified in a way that would not occur naturally within the food. Desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content are some ways food can and have been genetically modified. Traditionally, modifying plant to have a desired trait has been undertaken through breeding, conventional plant breeding methods are time consuming and are often inaccurate. (Better Health Channel, 2013) Genetic modification can create crops with the specific traits rapidly and accuracy. For example, the gene responsible for drought tolerance can be inserted into a different plant species, the GM plant will become drought tolerance as well as the host plant previously was. Experts say 60% to 70% of processed foods on Australian shelves have genetically modified ingredients. The most common genetically modified foods are soybeans, maize, cotton, and rapeseed oil. That means many foods made in Australia containing corn or high-fructose corn syrup, such as breakfast cereals, and snack foods, these ingredients appear frequently in animal feed as well.
Today’s techniques of genetic modification provide innovative and infinite of improving specific traits in different crops. For example, physical means of removing weeds is time and cost consuming for farmers, they will often spray their crops with a variety of herbicides to destroy the weeds, this process takes great care to ensure the crop isn 't affected by the herbicide, GM plants modified to be resistant to a variety of herbicides could prevent damage to the environment by reducing the amount of