2. What are GM Foods?
Genetically modified foods, or GM foods: Foods that have been
modified by scientist and its genes have been changed or a new gene
was injected into it.
Example: A banana would not be the way it is today without genetic
modification. They would have seeds and oddly shaped.
Not Modified Genetically Modified
3. Why GM Foods?
We genetically modify food to:
Protect against pests or pesticide
Add nutrients that it may lack
Help it thrive in different or harsher environments
Protect it from disease
The banana is genetically modified to resist a bacterium called Xanthomonasmusacearum(
BXW) and given extra nutrients to help as a food source in places such as Uganda and East
Africa.
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2544893.htm Video about GM bananas
4. Types of GM Foods
Besides the Banana, other foods such as:
Tomatoes
Corn
Soy beans
And others
Are also genetically modified. Most of the foods we consume are
genetically modified. About 60% of processed foods contain
genetically modified ingredients. How do they come to be modified?
5. GM Process
The Process for GM has 8 steps and begins with:
1. Isolation of the gene(s) of interest- A chromosome is used to identify
the gene(s) responsible for the desired trait in the organism. Example:
the Xanthomonasmusacearum
2. Insertion of the gene(s) into a transfer vector- The desired trait is put
into the plasmid.
3. Plant transformation-The plasmid contained inside A. tumefaciens
cells transfers the plasmids and new gene into the plants chromosomes.
9. Cons of GM Food
Although GM foods may seem like a great idea to some people, to
others they feel its wrong.
Might cause other species to have unknown diseases
Insects could become nonresistant to the natural pesticides
Fear that the transfer of genes between two unrelated species can transfer
allergens making people sick
Some people believe GM is messing with nature and its wrong to mess with it
