Genetically Modified Organisms Pros And Cons Essay

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Physical Science Honors Research Paper
The Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Organisms
Katherine McFerrin
Mrs. Yuhase 8th Period

Abstract
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose DNA has been changed through the alteration of their genetic make-up. Since about 10,000 BCE organisms have been genetically modified through the processes of natural selection and selective breeding. In 1937, bioengineering was developed, which allowed for the direct transfer of genes from one organisms to another through the methods of using E. coli bacteria, electricity, or a gene gun. GMOs have multiple food production and medicinal benefits, such as increasing food production, adding extra nutrients to foods, and the creations …show more content…

GMO is an abbreviation for a genetically modified organism. A genetically modified organism is an organism whose DNA has been altered by the removal, mutation, or insertion of another organism’s genes through biotechnology or genetic engineering (Food and Drug Administration [FDA] 2013). Since their domestication around 10,000 BCE for plants and 12,000 BCE for animals, plants and animals have been genetically modified through natural selection or selective breeding (Niedringhaus and Davis 2011). In natural selection organisms with a certain characteristic survive, while organisms without the characteristic die off naturally as a result of lacking that characteristic. This results in more organisms with the certain characteristic. In selective breeding organisms with favored characteristics are allowed to breed while organisms without the characteristics are not allowed to breed. This results in an increase in organisms with the potential to have the favored characteristic rather than without (Goldbas 2014). Today there is controversy over the effects of GMOs on the environment, other organisms, medicines, and especially the effects regarding the safety of our

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