Genetically modified organisms
GMOs in agriculture
- Genetic engineering can help feed a growing world.
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are crops and animals with added genes.
- But they raise their own ethical questions.
Examples
- GM salmon that grow to size faster.
- soybean made resistant to a herbicide, so weeds can be sprayed without harming the crop.
- cotton made resistant to insect pests — it makes a protein that kills the insects.
Practice
Insect-resistant GM cotton works because it:
The engineered cotton produces a protein toxic to insect pests, protecting the crop.
Practice
Herbicide-resistant GM soybean is useful because:
The soybean survives the herbicide, so farmers can spray weeds without damaging the crop.
Ethical and social questions
- Are GMOs safe to eat?
- What is their effect on the environment and wild species?
- Might the engineered genes spread?
- Should a few large companies control the food supply?
Practice
Which is an ethical or social concern about GMOs?
Concerns include food safety, environmental effects, gene spread, and corporate control of the food supply.
Practice
Using GMOs in farming raises ethical and social questions as well as offering benefits.
GMOs can boost food production but raise questions about safety, the environment, gene spread and control.
You've got it
Key idea
- GMOs = organisms with engineered genes, to improve crops and animals
- examples: faster-growing GM salmon, herbicide-resistant soybean, insect-resistant cotton
- ethical questions: food safety, environment, gene spread, and company control of the food supply