Question

What is a GMO? What are the pros and cons? Do you think GMO's have a place in the foods we consume and can it affect our health?

Answer 1

GMO means genetically modified organism. It is an organism in which the DNA has been altered or modified using genetic engineering technology.

Pros: The GMOs are produced by the engineer to add more nutritious, or taste or make it better. Manufacturers use genetic modification to foods desirable traits as making crops more resistant to disease as they grow, to be more nutritious or tolerant of herbicides.

Cons: Genetic engineering foods are relatively new practice and hence there are no sufficient data to ensure the long term effects and safety of these foods. Some people believe that the food prepares using GMOs have more possibility to cause allergic reactions and they may contain genes from an allergens. It has been found that some foods with GMOs can contribute the development of cancer because introduction of new genes can cause mutation in DNA and may lead to cancer. It has been found that the GMO plant modified for the purpose of more resistant to disease to make it more tolerant to herbicides can affect the ability of people to defend against disease.