is there anyone who can explain to me what genetically modified food is?
94293
Scientists alter the genetic make-up of the plant.  It might be as simple as turning off a gene by mutating it, or by stimulating a gene the plant already has to become more active, or active at a different time than usual.  Some scientists go as far as inserting genes from totally different organisms, even kingdoms!  An example was the introduction of a gene that codes for an antifreezing protein.  Allows the fish to survive in extremely low temperatures.  Some scientists inserted this into fruits and vegetables to keep them from dying from frost.
420110
Milk cannot be genetically altered ; but the animal that gives the milk can be and is genetically altered. Read the following-:\n 1) In order to increase the milk yield there is cross fertilization between the cow and the bull of the best milk yielding type . And this is a genetic alteration.\n 2) Milch animals are given hormonal injection to increase the yield. This is not genetic alteration but the hormones enter the milk and may have undesirable effects on the people who drink that milk.
397545
The reason that genetically engineered food could be dangerous is because there has been no adequate testing to ensure that extracting genes that perform an apparently useful function as part of that plant or animal is going to have the same effects if inserted into a totally unrelated species. It may be that in the long term, genetically modified food could provide us with benefits and be a safe alternative, but we cannot know that at this time due to the lack of safety testing.\n\nThe testing that has been done is often to ensure the crop grows. There has been less emphasis on testing the effects or testing the wider ecology and the associated impacts.
407188
Transgenic plants are plants that have been genetically engineered,a breeding approach that uses recombinant DNA techniques to create plants with new characteristics.\n\nA transgenic animal is one that carries a foreign gene that has been deliberately inserted into its genome. The foreign gene is constructed using recombinant DNA methodology.
647713
moratorium on geEnvironmentalists and food security activists in India have renewed calls for a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) foods and crops after rats reportedly secretly tested with GM corn diets by the U.S. agribusiness and biotech giant Monsanto developed blood and organ abnormalities. its taotally banon GM  food
1043545
Hi, i've read of an article about microbiology and genetic engineering; to sum it up, here goes:\nIn recent years, bacteriology has been greatly expanded from its concentration on bacterial disease. The discovery that bacteria fix nitrogen in the root nodules of leguminous plants (see Nitrogen Fixation) has led to attempts to inoculate the roots of other plant strains and thereby increase soil fertility and the productivity of food crops. Some bacteria are able to digest petroleum and other hydrocarbons; others absorb phosphorus. These bacteria are being intensively investigated as possible aids in cleaning up oil spills and removing phosphorus from sewage sludge. Other bacteria may be more efficient than yeast at producing alcohol and are being explored in the search for new energy sources. Escherichia coli, a normal inhabitant of the human intestinal tract, is the most thoroughly studied of all organisms. Studies of the mechanisms of genetic exchange and the biology of plasmids and bacteriophages (see Bacteriophage) of E. coli have been crucial in understanding many aspects of DNA replication and the expression of genetic material. These studies have led to the ability to insert DNA from unrelated organisms into E. coli plasmids and bacteriophages and to have that DNA replicated by the bacteria, with the genetic information it contains expressed by the bacteria. It is thus possible for bacteria to become living factories for scarce biological products such as human insulin, interferon, and growth hormone.
1074868
GM crops have helped to stop famine in 3rd world countries. It has saved MILLIONS of men, women, and children. \n\nPatrick Moore, one of the founders of Greenpeace, says:\n\n"Activists persist in their zero-tolerance campaign against genetically enhanced varieties of food crops when there is zero evidence of harm to human health or the environment, and the benefits are measurable and significant. Genetically enhanced (GE) food crops result in reduced chemical pesticides, higher yield, and reduced soil erosion. Golden Rice, for example, could prevent blindness in 500,000 children per year in Asia and Africa if activists would stop blocking its introduction. Other varieties of food crops will contain iron, Vitamin E, enhanced protein and better oils. No other technology can match the potential of GE to address the nutritional deficiencies of billions of people. The anti-GE campaign seeks to deny these environmental and nutritional advances by using “Frankenfood” scare tactics and misinformation campaigns."
1071292
biotechnology, the use of biological processes, as through the exploitation and manipulation of living organisms or biological systems, in the development or manufacture of a product or in the technological solution to a problem. As such, biotechnology is a general category that has applications in pharmacology, medicine, agriculture, and many other fields.\nThe techniques of genetic engineering have been used to manipulate the DNA (genetic material; see nucleic acid) of bacteria and other organisms to manufacture biological products such as drugs (insulin, interferon, and growth hormones). A common technique involved in this process in gene splicing, in which a gene that produces a desired product can be inserted into bacterial DNA. Bacteria can then be grown in large quantities and processed to extract the desired substance; specially cultured plant and animal cells can be similarly grown and processed. Hybrids of cancer and antibody-producing cells (hybridomas) have been cloned in the laboratory to mass produce experimental monoclonal antibodies, which are being studied for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Bacteria have also been altered to break down oil slicks and industrial waste products.\n\nPlants and foods with such desired qualities as prolonged shelf life or increased resistance to diseases and pests have been created through genetic engineering; that is, by inserting DNA from other organisms. Much of the corn and soybeans grown in the United States, for example, are now genetically modified in some way, Livestock have also been genetically altered to produce medically useful substances (see pharming). The field of biotechnology also includes gene therapy, in which attempts are made to insert normal or genetically altered genes into cells to treat genetic disorders and chronic diseases.\n\nGreen biotechnology is biotechnology applied to agricultural processes. An example is the designing of an organism to grow under specific environmental conditions or in the presence (or absence) of certain agricultural chemicals. One hope is that green biotechnology might produce more environmentally friendly solutions than traditional industrial agriculture. An example of this is the engineering of a plant to express a pesticide, thereby eliminating the need for external application of pesticides. An example of this would be Bt corn. Whether or not green biotechnology products such as this are ultimately more environmentally friendly is a topic of considerable debate.
1170152
there is none! A torn meniscus is an injury to the cartilidge in the knee. I had the same injury about a year ago. I was told to take huge doses of glucosamine and chondroitin to rebuild it, but not a word about GM foods. I would agree that it is bad to eat genetically modified foods, but it has nothing to do with a knee injury. \n\nhmmmm maybe there is something in GM foods that effects the regrowth of the cartilidge. I would love to know if there is!
534029
I was not aware that farmers were killing themselves over GM food.\nI shall have one of my angels look into that
924971
go the government food puyramid website\nvery informational and useful
475300
You cant really guarantee it, but I am sure it can be argued that it could be a solution. This example that I am gonna give is gonna be really vague, but there could be a way to speed up the growth rate of gen modified food and therefore creating more food to eliminate hunger and starvation. It could also be made to resist certain unfavourable conditions that could make plants resist extreme temperatures. I heard of [i think] strawberry being grown in warmer climates becuase they are gen. modified (Their preffered climate is in colder areas). I cant remember much about it tho.. I got this from my bio teacher.... it could be a possibility.
754635
i think people don't like GM food because it FEELS not safe. scientifically speaking, it's a wonderful technology that solves lots of problems in farming and in giving better quality. GM food has been tested for years and till now there isn't any scientific evidence saying there's sth wrong with it. i guess it's just that people hate it because it involves "playing" with genes.\n\nactually i live in iraq and GM food is not an issue here but i got interested and read about the subject.
417562
Biotechnology is a technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. Biotechnology can also be defined as the manipulation of organisms to do practical things and to provide useful products.One section of biotechnology is the directed use of organisms for the manufacture of products. There are also applications of biotechnology that do not use living organisms. Modern biotechnology is often associated with the use of genetically altered microorganisms such as E. coli or yeast for the production of substances like insulin or antibiotics. It can also refer to transgenic animals or transgenic plants, such as Bt corn. Genetically altered mammalian cells, such as Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO) cells, are also widely used to manufacture pharmaceuticals. Another promising new biotechnology application is the development of plant-made pharmaceuticals. Biotechnology is also commonly associated with breakthroughs in new medical therapies and diagnostic devices.
301333
it`s new........like any other new THING these foods may be better than normal ones.......may be worse..it needs time to be proven.\ni my self wouldn`t try them coz i can have any thing i want in normal and organic food market.
124478
Well, let's define biotechnology: The use of microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeasts, or biological substances, such as enzymes, to perform specific industrial or manufacturing processes.\n\nSo, the microorganisms used in the fermentation of beer is biotechnology.  Insulin used in diabetes treatment is the product of genetically-enhanced organisms = biotechnology.  Genetically modified food to make it more nutritious, drought-resistant, or to irradicate food allergies is another example of biotechnology.  Also, biotechnology helps produce better medicine, even helping to fight cancer.\n\nSo, how does this affect entertainment...or the entertainment industry?  Well, the next time you see an insulin-dependent actor drinking beer, eating peanuts...who is a cancer-survivor...on the big screen, thank biotechnology.\n\n:o)
188523
gmo's are plants (or animals none of those yet) that have had genetic material added to them. so what we have now is BT corn, BT soybeans, and the roundup ready series of crops.\nBT is named from bacillus family of bacteria which produce a natural insecticide so you dont have to spray for insects cutting down the need for poisons in the ground and air. and the roundup ready series is round up resistant so it is resistant to herbicides. so you can plant it and spray once for weeds and then you dont have to worry about it as round up is persistant in the soil. so there is less herbicide in the air and ground.\ncurrently the FDA has not released them into the human food supply however they are being used to feed animals. so technically you are eating them but it is technically biologically filter and i am not sure how wide spread the use is.\nthere is also a rice variety called golden rice. if your diet consists mainly of rice as in most asian countries you do not get enough vitamin E which can lead to blidness. so they added a gene to produce vitamin E it is not widely adopted. and zaire turned away a ship full of corn from the US because it contained GMO corn. so its still a vary hot issue and deserves some attention still.