"any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques"
Plants, animals, or microorganisms that have had their genetic material altered in a way that does not occur naturally through mating or natural recombination.
Genetics: Understanding the basics of genetics, including DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, is essential to understanding GMOs.
Genetic engineering: The process of manipulating an organism’s genetic material to produce a desired trait or characteristic.
Biotechnology: The application of genetic engineering to enable the production of GMOs.
Transgenic organisms: Organisms that have had foreign genetic material inserted into their DNA.
Gene editing: A newer form of genetic engineering that focuses on changing existing genes rather than adding new ones.
Agricultural science: The science of farming and growing crops.
Pesticides: Chemicals used to control pests on crops.
Herbicides: Chemicals used to kill weeds on crops.
Fertilizers: Chemicals used to enhance the growth of crops.
Sustainability: The ability to maintain the economic, social, and ecological balance of resources for future generations.
Environmental impact: The impact of GMOs on the environment.
Health concerns: The impact of GMOs on human health.
Genetically engineered foods: Foods that have been genetically modified.
Food labeling: Labeling laws with regard to genetically modified foods.
Ethical concerns: The moral and ethical considerations of altering the genetic makeup of organisms.
Global food security: The ability of a country or region to sustainably produce enough food to meet the needs of its population.
Intellectual property rights: The legal protection of the rights to the intellectual property of GMOs, including patents and trade secrets.
Corporate control: The concentration of GMO production in the hands of a few large corporations.
Consumer awareness: The awareness of consumers about the use of GMOs in the food system.
International policies: The international policies regarding the production and distribution of GMOs.
GM Crops: Crops that have had their DNA altered to introduce new genetic traits, such as resistance to pests or herbicides.
GM Livestock: Animals that have undergone genetic modifications to improve their traits, such as milk production, resistance to diseases, and growth rates.
GM Fish: Fish that have undergone genetic modifications to improve their growth rates, disease resistance, and other traits.
GM Microorganisms: Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that have been genetically modified to perform certain functions, such as producing insulin or breaking down environmental pollutants.
GM Insects: Insects that have been genetically modified to control their population and reduce the spread of diseases, such as genetically modified mosquitoes.
GM Trees: Trees that are genetically modified to grow faster, be more resistant to pests and diseases, and produce more biomass for bioenergy.
GM Yeast: Yeast that has been genetically modified to improve the production of wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages.
GM Algae: Algae that have been genetically modified to produce biofuels, vitamins, and other useful products.
"A wide variety of organisms have been genetically modified (GM), from animals to plants and microorganisms."
"Genetic engineers must isolate the gene they wish to insert into the host organism and combine it with other genetic elements."
"Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen made the first genetically modified organism in 1973, a bacterium resistant to the antibiotic kanamycin."
"The first plant was produced in 1983."
"The first commercialized genetically modified food was the Flavr Savr tomato, released in 1994."
"Bacteria are the easiest organisms to engineer and have been used for research, food production, industrial protein purification, agriculture, and art."
"Viruses play an important role as vectors for inserting genetic information into other organisms."
"Genetically modified crops are publicly the most controversial GMOs, in spite of having the most human health and environmental benefits."
"The majority are engineered for herbicide tolerance or insect resistance. Golden rice has been engineered with three genes that increase its nutritional value."
"Other prospects for GM crops are as bioreactors for the production of biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, or medicines."
"Mammals are the best model organisms for humans, making ones genetically engineered to resemble serious human diseases important to the discovery and development of treatments."
"Livestock is modified with the intention of improving economically important traits such as growth rate, quality of meat, milk composition, disease resistance, and survival."
"Genetically modified fish are used for scientific research, as pets, and as a food source."
"Genetic engineering has been proposed as a way to control mosquitos, a vector for many deadly diseases."
"Many objections have been raised over the development of GMOs, particularly their commercialization."
"There is a scientific consensus that currently available food derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food."
"Gene flow, impact on non-target organisms, and escape are the major environmental concerns."
"There are differences in regulation for the release of GMOs between countries, with some of the most marked differences occurring between the US and Europe."
"Key issues concerning regulators include whether GM food should be labeled and the status of gene-edited organisms."