 Genetically-modified
(GM) food is produced from plants or animals which have had their genes changed in the
laboratory by scientists. All living organisms have genes written in their
DNA. They are the chemical instructions for building and maintaining life. By modifying
the genes, scientists can alter the characteristics of an organism.
We might, for example, want to boost yields, increase muscle bulk and make our
crops and farm animals resistant to disease. Genetic engineering holds out these
possibilities.
However, the technology is in its infancy. Very few food crops have been
gene-altered using the new techniques, and there are no foodstuffs on sale in the UK made
from GM animals.
 And none of the GM
crops currently being commercially grown around the world contain genes transferred from
animals or humans. Some will argue that this new technology is "unnatural".
Others will point to the commonality that exists between species - from bugs and worms to
monkeys and humans, we already share many of the same genes.
Source: China Daily |
