Overview
GMOs, genetically modified organisms, are any kind of organisms that has had their DNA directly changed. This can involve modifying a certain gene in an organism, adding a gene from a different organism, or silencing a gene so that the trait doesn't show in the organism. Genetic modification can be used in agriculture, medicine, research, and in many other areas. This website is to inform people about GMOs and the use of GMOs in agriculture. GMOs tend to be feared by many people ,due to the overwhelming amounts of misinformation surrounding the topic. Hopefully this website will clear up those misconceptions, and give facts.
How Genetic Modification Works
Firstly, DNA containing the gene is extracted. The gene is then isolated, copied, and then modified. This modified gene now has to be inserted into the DNA. There are a few different methods that can be used, but agrobacterium and biolistics are some of the most common. Agrobacterium are a type of bacteria that create tumors in plants by changing their DNA. The bacterial plasmid is modified not to infect the plant, and the modified gene is added. The plasmid is then put back into the bacteria, which transfer the gene into the organism. Biolistics, or particle bombardment, is another common method. Tiny particles of metal are covered with the modified gene and shot into cells by a biolistic device or gene gun. The gene is then incorporated into the DNA.
GMOs in Agriculture
Genetic modification in agriculture is often used to keep insects and weeds away from crops so that more can be harvested. In the United States, most cotton and corn crops have been modified with HT or Bt. HT, herbicide tolerance, allows makes crops immune to specific herbicides so farmers can easily kill weeds. Bt crops contain a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that lets them create a protein toxic to certain insects, making them insect resistant without the use of additional pesticides.