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Expert response from Community Manager
Moderator for GMOAnswers.com
Monday, 05/07/2018 18:40
When people refer to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), they are referring to precision plant breeding using genetic engineering. It allows plant breeders to take a desirable trait (like resistance to drought, insects, weeds, and disease) from one plant or organism and transfer it to the plant they want to improve, as well as make a change to an existing trait in a plant they are developing. You may have also heard of agricultural biotechnology or biotech seeds. These are terms that may be used to refer to the same thing – a genetically modified organism (GMO).
GMOs are created to achieve a desired trait, such as resistance to an insect or improvement to the ripening process, in order to better meet a customer’s needs.
Posted below is a five minute video that offers a great visual illustration on how GMOs are made:
Nearly all foods today have been genetically modified or altered in some way over thousands of years through selective breeding. There are only 10 commercially available GMO crops in the U.S: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets, summer squash, papaya, potatoes and apples.
We hope this answers your question, if you have any other questions about GMOs or biotechnology, please ask!
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