Genetic Modification
Welcome to Genetic Modification - one of our "Food Issues" info pages (see menu to the right for other topics).These Food Issues pages are designed to give you a little food for thought about some of the issues involved with sustainable eating. Think of these pages as a taster for each issue: just some brief info to introduce the concept and whet your appetite.
After sampling each issue, you may like to move onto the next "taster" or sink your teeth into some more substantial fare by using the links on each page.
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Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM) is a new technology that allows scientists to move genes between different species. Using laboratory techniques scientists can create life-forms that could not occur in nature.
So what's wrong with that?
It's a very controversial area and in the long term it may turn out that GE is of great benefit to humans and our planet.
The concern for many people is that it is highly unpredictable. Because scientists still understand very little about how genes work, genetic engineers frequently find unexpected side effects when they move genes across species, or even within the same species - often with disastrous results.
The key issue is that GE organisms are alive.
That means that once they have been released into the environment and the food chain, they cannot be recalled. The living genetically engineered organism will replicate forever.
So what's wrong with that?
It's a very controversial area and in the long term it may turn out that GE is of great benefit to humans and our planet.
The concern for many people is that it is highly unpredictable. Because scientists still understand very little about how genes work, genetic engineers frequently find unexpected side effects when they move genes across species, or even within the same species - often with disastrous results.
The key issue is that GE organisms are alive.
That means that once they have been released into the environment and the food chain, they cannot be recalled. The living genetically engineered organism will replicate forever.
So if we discover later that a particular piece of genetic engineering released into the food chain was a mistake, it will be too late to do anything about it.
Even if the GE foods currently on the market turn out to be safe, deliberately selecting foods which are not genetically modified sends a message that we as consumers want more reseach before we are willing to purchase genetically modified foods.
To learn more check out Greenpeace's True Food site.
You will find excellent information, and a free shopping guide for buying GE free foods.
You will find excellent information, and a free shopping guide for buying GE free foods.
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