Genes contain information that helps shape how each living thing works. Genetic Engineering is a technique of selecting and transferring genes from one organism to another. This is done by cutting the gene out of a chromosome of one organism and placing it in the chromosomes of another organism to give the desired effect to it. In genetic engineering, new genes are added that come from a different kind of living thing. These new genes confer certain desired characteristics, such as resistance to frost or to pesticides. The goal is to give these new characteristics to a living thing that couldn't do those things before. .
The techniques of modern genetics have made possible the direct manipulation of the genetic makeup of organisms. In agriculture, genetic engineering allows simple genetic traits to be transferred to crop plants from wild relatives, other distantly related plants, or virtually any other organism.
Genetically modified food is the name given to foods (mainly crops) that have been Genetically Engineered to have the exact trait or characteristic desired. For example plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant so that plant will then have a tolerance to drought. Genetically Modified Foods today is being more discussed as it could affect the future of the economical and nutritional world today by a wide range of ways politically, scientifically and personally for the consumers.
Advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Genetically Modified foods can include the improvement of the specific organism's characteristics. This will improve the quality of the foods today in a way so that it is more effective against pests, diseases and other issues that will affect the plant in a negative way. This will also increase the nutritional value of the foods so that it has better vitamins and minerals to help the body's defenses.