Irradiation and Genetically Modified Plants.
What are genetically modified plants?.
_________ ___________ plants are plants that contain the genes of other plants or organisms. They are created by the process of genetic engineering, that allows scientists to move ______ ________ between organisms with the goal of changing their characteristics. All organisms are composed of cells that contain DNA molecules. Molecules of DNA form units of genetic information known as _______. Each organism has a genetic blueprint that is made up of DNA, which helps to determine the cells characteristics. .
What is food irradiation? .
Food ___________ is a new food- safety technology that can __________disease-causing germs from foods. Quick shots of low-level radiation (similar to medical ______) are beamed through food in order to kill the bacteria. Like pasteurization of milk, treating food with ionizing radiation can kill bacteria and parasites that would in most cases cause _________ disease. The food that _____ __________ eat has been sterilized by irradiation to avoid getting food borne illness in space. The effects of ___________ on the food, on animals, and people eating irradiated food have been studied closely. Studies show when irradiation is used as approved, "disease-causing germs are reduced or eliminated." The food does not become __________ as one may think, and treating raw meat and poultry with irradiation at the slaughter plant could eliminate bacteria commonly found on these, such as _________, ___________, and Campylobacter. These diseases currently cause millions of infections and thousands of hospitalizations. The foods are not changed in nutritional value and they are not dangerous as a result of the irradiation. The high _____ _____ is absorbed as it passes through the food, and gives up its energy. The food is slightly warmed, and some of the treated foods may taste slightly different, just like pasteurized milk tastes slightly different from unpasteurized milk.