It is possible to transform almost all the plants cultivated by man. Genetic modification can efficiently add or change a gene in a plant to give the plant a new or improved characteristic e.g. resistance to drought or enhanced nutritional properties. ... The results were compiled from various studies of growth, blood, tissue, and other characteristics in rats and mice. ... Corn borers damage the leaves and stalks of corn plants. ... In 1996, farmers planted 1.7 million hectares of the crops. ...

• Word Count: 1396
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography

Plants are huge contributing factors in the environment because they are a source of food to all species. ... GMO's are plants or animals that have been genetically altered with the DNA from bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other plants and animals. ... The ring spot virus was killing the plant and sickening those who ate the fruits. ... So while the DNA changes made to a plant may not always be effective, it is possible that the characteristics that make it toxic will remain. ... The reason for this is that the pollen from GMO plants fly over and ends up on non GMO plants, turning those...

• Word Count: 1362
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Genetic modification allows scientists to create characteristics and traits in organisms that could not naturally occur. All genetically engineered foods created so far are derived from genetically engineered plants. ... " Essentially, genetically modified food is the test tube baby of the plant world. Scientists are able to splice genes and manipulate DNA to create a plant with the desired attributes. ... Fortunately, the plant was not put into production (119). ...

• Word Count: 1697
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

These experimental combinations of genes from different species that cannot occur in nature are modified in the laboratory to enhance characteristics such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content which has been a hot topic ever since their introduction in 1980. ... Similarly, bacteria-resistant plants often lead to a bacterium that evolves and becomes more difficult to fight. The very toxins that GMO plants produce to fight insects and diseases also take a toll on some on the organisms that are not destroying plants such as butterflies, bees and caterpillars (Dill)...

• Word Count: 1303
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Virtually half soybeans in the United States are GM to produce a chemical that makes plants invulnerable to weeding-killing sprays. ... Due to the advancements in genetics scientists gained the ability to alter plants and animals by using recombinant DNA techniques, or by combining two different molecules of DNA. ... With rising technology GM animals and plants could be used to make vaccines, drugs, hormones, and other useful substances needed today to help the sick. ... Farmers have used selection and hybridization techniques to harvest plants and animals with preferred traits, but they ...

• Word Count: 1500
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate