Category: Special Edition on GMOs

Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Same Science, Different Policies: Regulating Genetically Modified Foods in the U.S. and Europe

by Jessica Lau figures by Krissy Lyon Summary: Government regulations for genetically modified foods vary, from relatively relaxed policies in the U.S. that focus on the final food product to strict rules in the European Union that consider the genetic engineering process used to make the food. Despite these differences, the common goal of these regulations is to ensure the safety of the food supply. … Continue reading Same Science, Different Policies: Regulating Genetically Modified Foods in the U.S. and Europe

8 Comments
Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

Feeding the World One Genetically Modified Tomato at a Time: A Scientific Perspective

by Christopher Gerry figures by Kristen Seim Summary: The human population has grown at a breakneck pace and threatens to further exacerbate a problem that has worsened in recent years: chronic hunger. Genetically modified crops could help to relieve this problem by providing increased yields and being more resistant to environmental stressors. In particular, the increasing prevalence of drought has prompted the development of crops … Continue reading Feeding the World One Genetically Modified Tomato at a Time: A Scientific Perspective

22 Comments
Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

How to Make a GMO

by Chelsea Powell figures by Anna Maurer Summary: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been altered using genetic engineering methods. Although genetic engineering is a common and essential practice in biotechnology, its specific use in crops is controversial. The key steps involved in genetic engineering are identifying a trait of interest, isolating that trait, inserting that trait into a desired organism, and then … Continue reading How to Make a GMO

106 Comments
Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology

by Gabriel Rangel figures by Anna Maurer Summary: To date, scientists have engineered bacteria that produce medication-grade drugs, crops with built-in pesticides, and beagles that glow in the dark. While these are all relatively recent advances in scientific technology, humans have been altering the genetics of organisms for over 30,000 years. How did the original practice of selective breeding evolve into the concept of genetically … Continue reading From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology

112 Comments
Blog, Special Edition on GMOs

GMOs in My Lifetime: How Genetically Modified Crops Have Transformed Rural America

by Adam Riesselman Summary: The advent of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has rippled through the fields and homesteads of the United States, changing the way farmers conduct their operation. Fueling both the industrialization of agriculture as well as an organic food response, GMOs have pushed the culture of farming in new directions. — An Iowa sunset on the family farm. I’m one of the kids … Continue reading GMOs in My Lifetime: How Genetically Modified Crops Have Transformed Rural America

1 Comment