Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Introduction
Pros
- Pro 1: GMO crops have been proven safe through testing and use and can even increase the safety of common foods.
- Pro 2: Genetic modification improves crop yields, lowers the price of food, and increases nutritional content, helping to alleviate world hunger.
- Pro 3: Growing GMO crops has environmental benefits, such as reduced pesticide use, less water waste, and lower carbon emissions.
Cons
- Con 1: GMO crops have not been proven safe for long-term consumption through human clinical trials.
- Con 2: Tinkering with the genetic makeup of plants can result in changes to the food supply that introduce toxins or trigger allergic reactions.
- Con 3: GMO crops can harm the environment through the increased use of toxic herbicides and pesticides.
Assessment quiz
1-minute survey
Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

A head of butter lettuce with a non GMO Project label.

Mendel's pea plant experiments

A halved pinkglow pineapple with light pink flesh and yellow-green rind sits on a wooden cutting board.

Rice plants with dry, light brown rice seeds coming from the top of each plant.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Media

Should GMOs be grown?

Images

A head of butter lettuce with a non GMO Project label.

GMO

Should GMOs be grown?

Norma Jean Gargasz/Alamy

Mendel's pea plant experiments

Mendel's pea plant experiments

Infographic of the pea plant's binary traits that were studied by Gregor Mendel;...

© udaix/stock.adobe.com

A halved pinkglow pineapple with light pink flesh and yellow-green rind sits on a wooden cutting board.

GMO “Pinkglow” pineapple

© Nancy Kennedy/Dreamstime.com

Rice plants with dry, light brown rice seeds coming from the top of each plant.

GMO crops: Golden rice is genetically modified to provide people with more vitamin A than other kinds of rice.

© Cardaf/stock.adobe.com

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