20 Examples of GMO Foods

The transgenic foods are those that have in their composition at least one ingredient that comes from an organism to which genetic modifications or techniques were applied, that is, it is not typical of the species original. For example: meats, wheat, potatoes, tomatoes.

Only from the optimization of the techniques from genetic manipulation of the food is that the use of transgenics can be generalized, and at present it is estimated that around the 70% of the foods that are consumed regularly contain at least one gene that is not intrinsic to its species.

Handling method

The way in which transgenics are developed is from the selection, among the millions of cells that has a living being, of those carriers of the desired chromosomes.

It is a experimental task for the cell is not a perfect or exact machine, and then the results can be varied.

The cells are then cultured in the genetically modified heritage, which can then lead to further transformation if the cells are bacteria produce hormones growing.

When did transgenic foods appear?

The first experiments with gene transfers were carried out in the decade of the '70s, and only in the later one it happened that a transgenic plant could be made that was a particularly resistant tobacco to the antibiotic kanamycin.

The first food that was commercialized with genes that were not characteristic of the species was a tomato, the Flav Flavor which had supposedly been altered for better taste and longer life. Progressively more agricultural products were incorporated, consequently with the sowing of adulterated seeds in response to the new times.

Present

The diffusion of the use of transgenics was reason for the increase of the requirements of the consumers and therefore of the producers, being at this point essential to enter the food market to be willing to use this kind of alterations.

GMOs make it possible to make food have a longer commercial life, resist aggressive environmental conditions (frosts, droughts and saline soils), resist pests of insects, herbicides and diseases, and at the same time have better nutritional qualities.

Controversies

At present, the level of controversies that exist regarding transgenic foods is very high, to the extent that many organizations warn about different risks in its use.

They not only carry risks to the extent that they endanger genetic varieties, but even to the extent that many consequences for people's health have yet to be investigated from the everything: there are countries that prohibit the use of certain transgenics, according to the possible danger they bring rigged.

Examples of transgenic foods

Here are some of the foods that use GMOs, and the reason why their genes are altered.

1. Soy. Modification in the seed, to be more resistant to herbicides.
2. Corn. Genes inserted into the genome of the plant, to make it more resistant to insects.
3. meats. Increase the size and weight of animals, and accelerate the speed of its growth.
4. Wheat. Make it more resistant before droughts.
5. Potato. The enzymes of starch.
6. Tomatoes. Enzymes are inhibited to slow down the decomposition time.
7. Rice. Introduction of three new genes, to obtain a rice with a higher content of vitamin A.
8. Pumpkin. It is modified to protect the plant against virus.
9. Sugar. To make it resistant to herbicides.
10. Banana. To make it more resistant, two species are crossed to make it.
11. Cotton. With serious risks in its consumption in the case of cottonseed oil.
12. Alfalfa. GMOs are added to make it resistant to the Roundup herbicide.
13. Milk. Cows are given a hormone special to increase its production, banned in many countries in Europe and Asia.
14. Oranges. Exposed to a substance (ethylene) that accelerates the degradation of chlorophyll.
15. Aspartame. It is a transgenic compound that is used as a replacement for sugar, and it is highly toxic.
16. Sunflower. Genes are altered to make it resistant to drought.
17. Plum. GMOs are added to increase their productivity.
18. Radicheta. GMOs are added to increase the sweetness in its flavor.
19. Coffee. Modified in order to increase production.
20. Grapes. Increase resistance and eliminate the seeds inside the fruit.