Science and Technology - GM food

Science and Technology - GM food

1. Defnition

   • made by inserting genes of other species into their DNA
   • mostly used in plants, but also in animals
   • examples: potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, carrots

2. Advantages

   • help controlling the occurance of certain diseases
     • eliminate the properties of causing allergies
   • grow faster >> productivity increases
     • can provide people with more food
   • can be grown at places with unfavorable climatic conditions
   • less costs of production
   • don't need many pesticides / insecticides (because of their natural resistance)
     • free from chemicals and environmentally friendly
   • high in nutrients; contain more minerals / vitamins; better taste
   • increased shelf life >> don't get rotten as quickly as normal food

3. Disadvantages

   • Can have harmful effects on the human body
     • cause development of diseases
     • immune to antibiotics
   • manufacturers don't mention that their foods are genetically modified
     • think that this would affect their business
   • cross-pollination method = transferring animal genes into plants and vice versa
     • can cause damage to other organisms that thrive in the environment
   • developing countries would depend more on industrial countries