2. By Brad Pringle

3.  GMO’s are organisms that have had their genetic code altered.  This is done to enhance a desired trait or remove an undesirable one.  It can be done in most organisms including bacteria, plants, and animals. http://www.polyp.org.uk/cartoons/environment/polyp_car toon_GMO_Pusher.jpg

4.  The desired gene is isolated and cut with a restriction enzyme.  If it is an undesirable gene it is removed. If it is a desirable gene it is replicated through bacterial plasmids or PCR.  There are 2 ways the gene can be inserted  A vector  Inserted into the embryo

5.  Humans have been naturally genetically modifying plants and animals since agriculture began with selective breeding to produce the best offspring.  First commercially available GM food was the FLAVR SAVR tomato in 1994.  In 2006, 252 million acres of GM food were planted in 22 countries.  Virtually everything we eat now has been genetically modified or has genetically modified ingredients in it. http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sec006group5/gm_food

6.  Plants have increased resistance against herbicide and pesticides.  Increased nutritional content.  Increased amounts of food.  GM foods have the ability to grow in unfertile areas.  Reduce the area needed to grow food.  Water conservation.  Create new vaccines.  Produce a new type of plastic that is more environmentally friendly.  Ripen faster and stay ripe longer.  Better taste. http://www.goldenrice.org/ http://calorielab.com/news/categories/weigh t-control-in-the-military/

7.  Increase yield.  Increased resistance to disease and better overall health.  Better feed efficiency.  Used to find treatments for diseases  Modify animals to produce substances needed for treatments.  Fish that mature quicker.  Cows that are immune to “Mad Cow” disease. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/sci_nat_ cloning_hall_of_fame/html/3.stm http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.ph p?story_id=14589

8.  GM foods will cause unknown allergies and cause antibiotic resistance.  Genes will be transferred from one GM species to another or to wild species causing undesired characteristics.  Ethical issues of tampering genes and determining the course of nature.  Labeling of GM products is not mandatory.  Advances made with genetic modification could only be directed towards developed countries.  Monopoly over the world’s food production by a few corporations. http://www.sweetwheat.com/showpage.php?cat=non-gmo

9.  Early testing methods included chemical analysis of micro and macro nutrients.  Evaluation on the FLAVR SAVR tomato concluded that there was no significant changes to the proteins vitamins or minerals so it was safe to sell.  Today all GM food products undergo thorough pre-market safety evaluation before it can be sold in Canada.  Manufacturer must submit a detailed report to Health Canada on how the food was developed.  Health Canada analyses:  How the food compares to a non-modified counterpart.  The potential for new toxins developing in the food.  The potential for allergic reactions.  The biological and chemical safety of the food.

10.  The popularity of GMOs will continue to rise as more people accept the technology; however, there will always be those that oppose the idea.  As safety regulations improve and the technology advances there will be fewer risks to GM foods.  GMOs could be the answer to the food shortages throughout the world.  Genetic modification to foods and animals could translate into further research into the modification of humans.  As long as there are no major set backs, GM food is the food of the future.

11. Adamchak, R. W., & Pronald, P. C. (2008). Tomorrow's Table. New York: Oxford University Press. Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms. (2008, November 5). Retrieved April 14, 2009, from http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml Pusztai, A. (2001, June). Genetically Modified Foods: Are They a Risk to Human/Animal Health? Retrieved May 4, 2009, from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pusztai.html The Safety of Genetically Modified Foods. (2009, January 6). Retrieved April 21, 2009, from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/gm-tg-eng.php Thomson, J. A. (2006). Seeds For The Future. New York: Cornell University Press.