4 Things to Know About GMOs
Lately, more and more people have been making a conscious effort to eat healthier. One way in which people have been able to achieve that, is via the consumption of organic produce as opposed to GMO produce. GMOs, or ‘Genetically Modified Organisms’ are basically food stuffs which have had their genes manipulated. Pretty much all of our foods have been genetically altered at some point in history. The process requires scientists to extract the DNA from an organism and to then either make copies of it, or alter it before incorporating into the genome of another species, or even the same one. This is done either with the help of bacteria to provide the new genetic material, or with the use of microscopic pellets, coated with DNA, being shot directly into the cells of plants via what are known as gene guns. Here are some things to know about GMOs.
GMOs allow you to create new healthy species
Whereas many GMOs are indeed considered to be unhealthy, there are certain ones which aren’t and are actually very good for us. Broccoli for example, is considered a superfood as it is loaded full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Broccoli did not originate in the wild, though. It was actually man-made. It was created as a hybrid of a cabbage plant and was produced to provide an alternative flavour that was intended to appeal to more people.
GMOs help with mass-production
As you know, the food industry is worth billions. When it comes to farming and agriculture, GMOs are commonplace. One of the most common reasons why farmers use GMOs is to assist with mass-production. Seeds for grains, fruits, and vegetables for example, can be genetically altered to be resistant to extreme weather conditions, as well as insects and weeds. This means that growing these crops is much easier and will yield more impressive crops.
GMOs are considered to be largely unhealthy
In many parts of the world now, GMOs have actually been banned because of the reported health risks that they present. GMOs have been linked with chronic illnesses, including cancer, as well as food allergies and intolerances. Celiac disease for example, is believed to be the result of GMOs, due to the fact that the gluten found in GMO crops nowadays can vary so much because the crops themselves have been altered so much.
GMOs can harm helpful insects
It is widely believed that GMO crops can be detrimental to helpful insect species. Bees, which are essential for all life on earth, are now endangered and GMOs have certainly played their part in this. One example of how GMOs can harmful native insect species is that certain crops can be genetically modified to be “resistant” to pests and insects. What this largely means is that they can be altered to be toxic to bugs. Once a big or insect takes a bite out of the leaf or plant, it will die shortly afterwards. You don’t need to be an expert to figure out why this is so damaging for wildlife and eco-systems in general.
