Genetically Modified Foods and Their Pros And Cons

Hey there viewers! Genetically Modified Food,  often classified as GMO’s are foods whose DNA has been modified. This is usually  done through genetic engineering where a new trait is embedded into the food which  does not occur naturally in their species.

Foods produced using GM organisms  are often referred to as GM foods. Although genetic modifications have occurred  throughout history with selective breeding and growing methods, scientific advances have  allowed this practice to advance further in today’s times. But Genetically modified crops  are usually regarded as double edged swords.

This is because they come with a  set of advantages and disadvantages. In today’s video, we will tell you what they  are. From advantages like strengthening crops, insect resistance and being good for the  environment to disadvantages like allergic reactions to outcrossing and more, watch  till the end to learn about all of them.

First, the advantages: They are more appealing to eat: Colors can be  changed or improved with genetically modified food so they become more pleasing to eat.  Deeper colors change how the brain perceives what is being eaten. Deeper red colors  make food seem sweeter, even if it is not.

Brighter foods are associated with  better nutrition and improved flavors. Does the color of food make it more  appealing to you or it doesn't really matter? Tell us quickly down  below in the comments section!

Stronger Crops: One of the main advantages of  GM technology is that crops can be engineered to withstand weather extremes. This means that  there will be good quality and sufficient yields even under poor or severe weather conditions. As  populations across the world grow and more land is being utilized, farmers are pushed to grow crops  in locations that are originally not suitable.

They also have to culture plants that can  withstand high salt content in soil and groundwater, not to mention long periods  of drought. GM helps them to grow healthy crops even in these conditions. Also, plants  that have been genetically modified can become more resistant to unexpected disease.

Just think  of the technology as a vaccine for the species, except that it is encoded into their genes,  rather than being shot into their immune system. Easier to transport: Because GMOs have a prolonged  shelf life, it is easier to transport them greater distances. This improvement makes it possible  to take excess food products from one community and deliver it to another that may  be experiencing a food shortage.

GMO food gives us the opportunity to limit  food waste, especially in the developing world, so that hunger can be reduced  and potentially eliminated. They are cheaper: GMO crops are  bred to grow efficiently. This means that farmers can produce the  same amount of food using less land, less water, and fewer pesticides  than conventional crops.

Because they can save on resources, food producers  can also charge lower prices for GMO foods. In some cases, the cost of food like corn,  beets, and soybeans may be cut by 15% to 30%. Insect Resistance: Some GMO foods have  been modified to make them more resistant to insects and other pests.

Toxic bacteria  which is safe for human use can be added to crops to make them repel insects. This means  the amount of pesticide chemicals used on the plants are reduced, so their exposure  to dangerous pesticides are also reduced. Improved Nutritional Content: Genetic  modifications do more than add pest resistance.

The nutritional content of the crops can be  altered as well, providing a denser nutritional profile than what previous generations were able  to enjoy. This means people in the future could gain the same nutrition from eating lesser amounts  of food. For example, rice can be genetically modified to produce high levels of Vitamin A. 

This can help reduce global vitamin deficiencies. New Products: New kinds of crops are being  developed to be grown at extreme climates, such as those present in dry or  freezing environments. As an example, scientists have developed a new type of tomato  that grows in salty soil.

Another good discovery in genetic engineering is the exclusion of the  gene responsible for caffeine in coffee beans, creating decaffeinated coffee beans. The best  part is that these can then be grown naturally. Decrease in Global Warming: Using GM, more  plants and crops can be grown and in more areas, including those that were  previously unsuitable for farming.

This has led to an increase in  oxygen levels in the environment, decreased the proportion of carbon dioxide  and, in turn, reduced global warming. In fact, a study found that genetically  modified crops have made a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse  gas emissions by over 10 million tons. This is equivalent to removing 5  million cars from the road each year.

Medical Benefits: Through a process called  “pharming,” it is possible to produce certain proteins and vaccines, along with other  pharmaceutical goods, thanks to the use of genetic modifications. This practice offers  cheaper methods of improving personal health and could change how certain medications  are provided to patients in the future. Imagine being able to eat your  tetanus booster with dinner instead of receiving a shot in the arm  – that’s the future of this technology.

Lesser use of pesticides and herbicides: Herbicides and pesticides create certain hazards  on croplands that can eventually make the soil unusable. Farmers growing genetically modified  foods do not need to use these products as often. This allows the soil to recover  its nutrient base over time.

Because of the genetic resistance  being in the plant itself, the farmer still achieves a  predictable yield at the same time. It also leads to less crops being destroyed,  which allows a better yield for the farmers. Good for the environment: GM  crops often require less time, tools and chemicals, and may help with  reducing greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion and environmental pollution.

This  means that the general health and beauty of the environment that surrounds farms is improved.  This contributes to the preservation of better water and air quality, which can also  indirectly benefit everyone’s well-being. Now let’s move on to the disadvantages  of Genetically Modified Foods: Allergic Reactions: In humans, the number one  most common side effect of eating GM food is allergic reaction.

This happens when a  certain allergen present in the GM crop enters the body and stimulates an immune response. Genetically modified foods are created by  inserting foreign genes into an organism. This process is considered to have adverse  effects on humans because these inserted genes may carry along with them specific  allergens that trigger such an immune response.

In addition, there is also the fear that  new allergies could happen because of the mixing of genes from two organisms. And  because some inserted genes come from bacteria and viruses, the possibility  for transfer of disease is there, too. May produce superbugs: When pesticides are  applied, a small number of pests usually tend to survive.

So, the following generation  becomes resilient to the chemical, meaning either more pesticides are required or a stronger one.  With this stronger chemical, the insects become even more resilient; this eventually leads to the  growth of superbugs that decrease food provisions. Bugs can be very pesky not just on crops, but  inside your house and garden as well.

You can learn how to get rid of them by watching “8  Sure Ways To Permanently Get Rid Of Fruit Flies” Now, back to the pros and cons  of Genetically Modified Food Antibiotic resistance: There is  concern that genetic modification, which can boost a crop’s resistance to disease  or make it more tolerant to herbicides, could affect people’s ability  to defend against illness. There is a small chance that the genes in food  can transfer to the body or bacteria in the gut. Some GMO plants contain genes that make  them resistant to certain antibiotics.

This resistance could pass on to humans.  People around the world are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and GMO  foods could be contributing to this crisis. Outcrossing: Outcrossing refers to the risk of  GMO genes mixing with those of conventional crops.

It can happen over large distances, where new  genes can be included in the offspring of organic, traditional plants or crops that are miles away. This means difficulty distinguishing which  crop fields are organic and which are not, posing a problem of not being able  to properly label non-GMO food. Lower Level of Biodiversity: One potential  drawback of this technology is that some organisms in the ecosystem could be harmed, which in turn  could lead to a lower level of biodiversity.

When we remove a certain pest that is harmful  to crops, we could also be removing a food source for a certain species. In addition,  genetically modified crops could prove toxic to some organisms, which can reduce  their numbers or have them go extinct. May affect animal protein:  A huge majority of plants in the United States are genetically modified.

Such crops are subsequently given to livestock  as food, which affects animal-based groceries. GMO components can be traced in eggs, milk,  seafood and animal muscle tissues. In addition, honey can also contain components of GMO because  of bees pollinating genetically modified plants.

It’s pretty clear that the pros outweigh  the cons of genetically modified food. But there is food that you should eat regularly  for good health. Learn more about this by: Watching: Delicious Foods That  Contain Almost Zero Calories Or Find out what Nutritious Food  You Should Be Eating Every Day These 2 videos will definitely help  you pick good food for better health.

So go ahead and pick a video, or  watch them both for maximum benefits. Do you prefer GMO or non GMO food and why?  Let us know in the comments section below!