INTRODUCTION

Did you know the apple you just bit into is incapable of being bruised or turning brown? Or that the tomato you just bought has been in the produce section for over a month?
Most of you are incapable of knowing this because genetically modified organisms are not banned nor or they labeled here in the U.S.
Some of you may be wondering what exactly is a genetically modified organism.
I will spend this time today to explain to you what GMOs actually are, the history behind them, and the effects they have on us and on the world.

BODY

GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated by genetic engineering. This process is called “gene-splicing”, and it occurs when a certain strand of DNA is targeted, cut out, and removed. They then insert that particular piece of DNA into the gene sequence of another organism. Genetic engineering is capable of creating a combination of plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses that do not occur in nature or through traditional cross breeding methods.
Genetic engineering can manipulate these organisms in such a way that they may mature at a very fast rate, or at a very slow rate, depending on what their intended purposes may be. Some may be able to withstand conditions such as drought or freezing temperatures. Others can handle direct application of herbicides without dying or produce their own insecticide from within.

(TRANSITION: In hopes that you all understand what GMOs are and how they are created, I will run through a brief timeline explaining how they have come about in our world today.)
Genetic engineering came into play when the US issued the first patent in 1980. Shortly after, Humulin was introduced to the market as insulin, which was genetically engineered E. coli. In 1994, the FDA approved the first GM tomato to be marketed here in the US and sold overseas. The tomato was manufactured in order to have a drawn out ripening stage in order to have a longer shelf life. The tomato could last up to 45 days unlike the normal 1-2 weeks after picking. After the introduction, GM crops began to take off and the technology was growing at an alarming rate. There are currently 8 crops grown from GM seeds that are commercially available to us in the US: corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, papaya and squash. Steven Nottingham, an internationally respected molecular geneticist and food researcher, explains that over 70% of processed foods sold contain GM ingredients, which is unknown to the average consumer. (TRANSITION: GMOs are becoming more popular and advanced everyday because big corporations vote for as well as financially support them, but how do we know they have our best interest in mind?)
GMOs are said to have countless benefits and risks, depending on whom you are asking, but I will share with you what I’ve learned along the way. There are many arguments for the growth and cultivation of GMOs. Agricultural businesses, bioengineering specialists, and farmers who grow GM crops support them. They claim these products have better texture, flavor, and nutritional value. They can create bigger yields as well as grow crops in areas that are less than ideal. The US department of energy argues that these organisms benefit the environment and the economy. Weeds and pests are no longer an issue; therefore, farmers are able to save time and money by not using such large amounts of pesticides. GMOs can be mass-produced at an accelerated rate in order to feed underdeveloped countries that are in need; the genes can also be sliced in ways that include vaccines to provide immunization to these people.
While these benefits are compelling, we must also weigh the consequences. GMOs can be damaging to the food web by destroying beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Dr. Deborah Letourneau, a graduate of Berkley with a PhD in entomology, explains how GMOs have altered the DNA sequence of insects that have eaten from these plants and survived – which raises the question, what is it doing to us? When GMO seeds are planted they may spill or drift creating super weeds and hybrids whose outcomes are unknown. Ethics are a major concern in terms of genetically engineering animals. Scientists altered a pig embryo in order to decrease its phosphorous output making the pig more environmentally friendly. Genetically engineered salmon has an added growth hormone that forces it to mature twice as fast. Last but not least, terminator seeds. By definition, such seeds are genetically engineered to make them sterile and unusable for replanting, resulting in farmers having to buy new seeds from a central supplier each year, thus creating a monopoly.

CONCLUSION

Today I have explained to you what GMOs are, their history, and a few pros and cons I find to be interesting. I hope that this information better informs you on the topic and that you have a better understanding of what you are feeding your body.