GMOs have been around for decades, and they are a common part of today’s food supply.
But what exactly are GMOs? And why do we have them in the first place? Test your GMO knowledge below, then Feed Your Mind and learn more about GMO crops!
Avocados, figs, pears, and walnuts
Alfalfa, apples, canola, corn, cotton,
papaya, pink pineapple, potatoes, soybeans, summer squash, and sugar beets
None
GMO versions of alfalfa, apples, canola, corn, cotton, papaya, pink pineapple, potatoes, soybeans, summer squash, and sugar beets are all GMOs available in the U.S.
Genetically Modified Organism
Genetically Mended Organism
Grown Mainly Outside
GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. Certain types of GMOs require a disclosure that lets you know if the food you are eating (or ingredients in the food you are eating) is a bioengineered food.
Scientists blend seeds from two crops and plant the combination
Farmers only plant seeds from crops that are a certain shape
Scientists copy a gene from an organism that contains a desired trait and insert it into the DNA of another plant they want to improve
GMOs are made by identifying
a beneficial trait (like one for drought tolerance), copying the gene that contains the trait, and inserting it into the DNA of another plant. Then, the scientists grow the plant to see if it adopts the desired trait.
Indoor gardening and light therapy
Seed mixing and repotting
Cross-breeding, genetic
engineering, and genome editing
Scientists modify crops in several ways, including cross-breeding, genetic engineering, and genome editing. Humans have been cross-breeding their crops since they first began farming thousands of years ago. Genetic engineering allows scientists to copy desired genes from one organism and put them into another. Genome editing is one of the most recently developed methods, and it offers even greater targeting to create new crop varieties.
No
Yes
Research shows that GMO foods are as safe to eat as non-GMO foods. Some GMO plants are even created to improve nutritional value!
To invent brand-new fruits
and vegetables
Higher crop yields, less crop loss, longer storage life, better appearance, better nutrition, or a combination
of these traits
To make food look better in photographs
The reasons for genetic modification today are similar to what they were when early farmers began cross-breeding their crops thousands of years ago: higher crop yields, less crop loss, longer storage life, better appearance, better nutrition, or a combination
of these traits.
Whether you’re a GMO pro or you need to brush up on your knowledge, there’s always more you can learn about your food and how it’s made.
Visit Feed Your Mind for everything you need to know about GMO crops!
Editor: Katy Gioeli, Madeleine Bokan • Designer: Neula Ha
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