What is Genetic Engineering and GMO's?
You've probably heard the term Genetic Engineering before, but do you really know what it is? Genetic Engineering is the scientific transfer of genes from one organism to another. That basically means that you're taking the traits from one organism and inserting it into another. For example, if you take the trait of elephant that makes it grow big and put it into a tomato, then that tomato will then grow bigger than normal tomatoes. Now that tomato is a Genetically Modified Organism, or GMO for short. Another example is giving papayas a gene to make it resistant to a virus. This helps the papayas because then they will be unable to contract the virus that ruins it. You can make a GMO for just about anything. Here at GMO Peaches, we're working toward saving more peaches with a certain trait. For more about that, click here. This doesn't have to be just about foods, though. You can also make GMO's with plants, seeds, animals, and even humans! GMO's make the old organism into a new, better version.
How to Make a GMO 101
Now that we've talked a little bit about what GMO's are and what Genetic Engineering is, it's time to explain how to actually make a genetically modified organism. To create a GMO, you literally take a gene (segment of DNA) from one organism, and insert it into another. If we go back to that elephant example, we take a sample of DNA from it, then locate the desired gene. In this case, it's the gene that makes it grow big and fast. Once you locate that gene, you can take it out. After you take it out, you can then take some of the DNA from the tomato. You take out the tomato's old genes by cutting the DNA and replace it with the new elephant genes. Once you put the DNA back into the tomato, it should grow bigger and faster, and all future tomatoes grown from its seeds will also grow bigger and faster. The entire point of GMO's is to make an organism that has some flaws, and give it the traits of an organism that doesn't have those flaws. GMO's are good because they make the organism better. Genetic Engineers look for foods, plants, animals, etc. that need improvement. Then they go and find an organism that has what they're looking for. They're job is to take those genes and insert them into the organism that needs them. Some people are against GMO's because they say it isn't natural, but GMO's benefit us all in a big way.
Top 10 Most Common Genetically Modified Organisms
1. Soy
2. Corn
3. Canola Oil
4. Cotton
5. Milk
6. Sugar
7. Aspartame
8. Zucchini
9. Yellow Squash
10. Papaya
2. Corn
3. Canola Oil
4. Cotton
5. Milk
6. Sugar
7. Aspartame
8. Zucchini
9. Yellow Squash
10. Papaya