Genetically Modified/ Engineered Food.

What are GM crops?

• Plants which have been genetically altered to express a desirable trait (Perry 2003)

• Herbicide resistance• Virus resistance• Insecticides• Environmental Tolerance • Increased nutritional value

Natural genetic evolution of the maize crop took 10,000 years.

From Teosinte (top) to corn or maize (bottom)

Genetic modification can shorten this process to a few years.

Plant Breeding and Crop Yield

Wheat in Mexico1950 1960 1970 1980

0

4

3

2

1

Tons per hectare

Peas (on the left) that make a genetically engineered bean protein are insect-resistant and do not need to be sprayed with pesticides.

What are people’s concerns• Is this food safe? • Should food be

labeled?• Are there adverse

environmental effects?

What about their nutritional value and safety?

References

• http://tiki.oneworld.net/food• http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/

articles/23358.aspx