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testing on animals shows no difference between those who ate GMO diets and those who did not

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testing on animals shows no difference between those who ate GMO diets and those who did not

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crops are built to help prevent loss of crops 

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crops are built to help prevent loss of crops 

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certain GMO plants are banned in other countries outside of the states

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certain GMO plants are banned in other countries outside of the states

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continuing on crops that benefit consumers 

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continuing on crops that benefit consumers 

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Knott, R (2017, September) Life before cell phones; Groovy history 

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Knott, R (2017, September) Life before cell phones; Groovy history 

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If you remember life before cell phones and electronics, you probably possess the ability to entertain yourself (if necessary) and relate to what you are about to read. Prior to society being electronically enlightened, people relied on their own abilities to remain mentally active and socially engaged. There was no texting so having a conversation actually required the spoken word. Somewhere along the line, society decided that it was necessary for constant and instant gratification,

Ideally, the world would revolve around you and meet your every need, including 24/7 entertainment. Sadly, that is not, and was never the case! If you wanted to talk to a neighbor, you walked to their house and knocked on the door. If you wanted to communicate with someone that was not a neighbor, you called them on the family's ONLY rotary dial, landline telephone, which usually had a cord that could stretch around the block, or sent them a handwritten letter; affixed a $.05 postage stamp and deposited it into a U.S. Mailbox, which could be found on any corner. There was no immediate gratification and we eagerly awaited a response. There were no cell phones so if you wanted to call someone, they had to be home to answer the phone; unless of course, they were already talking to someone else in which case you got a busy signal. Party lines were not uncommon but it was a pleasure to have your own line.

Years later, call-waiting was invented allowing you to take a call when you were already on the phone. Even more mind-blowing than that, answering machines and caller ID came along and then you knew who was calling you; giving you the ability to decide if you wanted to answer or return a call you may have missed!

If you were a kid, you looked forward to the weekend to forget about school/homework and just wanted to have fun with your friends. There was no internet so there was no competition with Minecraft, Tetris, Candy Crush or Call 4 Duty! Football/baseball, birthday parties and sleepovers were of utmost importance! When the weekend and/or free time presented itself, the standard for people you thought you were compatible with was overlooked if no one else was available. Making it work was sometimes the beginning of new friendships.

Years ago, when kids were not in school or doing mandatory household chores, they were outside playing from sunup to sundown. Parents sent their kids out into the neighborhood to play (with no way of contacting them) and trusted that they would come home either when it was dark or when they got hungry. Kids ran around the neighborhood with bare feet all day and left a ring around the tub after a bath time.

If you were lucky enough to have a friend or two close by, you probably played games outside like "Mother May I?", Jump Rope, Hopscotch, Hide & Seek, Kick the Can and Flashlight Tag. When Dad hooked up the sprinkler to water the lawn or garden, it doubled as a fun way to cool off on a hot day. If you were lucky enough to have access to a pool, you were required to wait a minimum of 30 minutes to go swimming; never mind that we never wore sunscreen! There were many times the only drink you had all day while playing outside was a sip of hose water; no juice boxes. Homemade Popsicles made in Mom's Tupperware Popsicle molds was also a special treat on a hot day.

In the evenings, Saturday mornings and on rainy days, gathering around the ONLY television, black and white mind you, was another option for entertainment. There may have been 3 or 4 channels that came in clear enough to watch but adjusting the rabbit ears, and sometimes wrapping aluminum foil around them was usually necessary. The biggest issue was deciding what to watch. If Dad was home, you most likely watched what he wanted to watch. If you missed a holiday special, you had to wait until the following year to see it. GEESH!

When it rained, you could still play outside as long as there was no lightening. Often, a puddle brought more joy than something you may have found under the Christmas tree (like socks). If you were forced to play inside, all you needed was a little imagination, some cardboard boxes and blankets to make a fort in the basement on bad weather days. Forts made for hours of fun on a rainy day and sometimes required a secret password to gain entry.

Other countless indoor activities are too numerous to list. Games included Jacks, Paper Dolls, Light Bright, Shrinky Dinks, Super Elastic Bubble Plastic, Old Maid, Go Fish, Sorry!, Cootie, Operation, Don't Break the Ice, Uncle Wigley, Trouble, Dominoes and Twister. Luckily, the Hula Hoop could be used inside or outside!

Many evenings were spent around the dining room table playing board games rather than watching television after dinner. Dinner time was family time. There were no distractions like phones and/or other electronics. Prior to sitting down to the table, kids took turns setting the table and then clearing the table as well as hand washing and drying the dishes afterwards. Dinner was scheduled for the same time each day and you were required to clean your plate whether you liked the offering or not. If you missed dinner, your next meal was breakfast. Much like the deal with the television, the dinner menu usually consisted of whatever Dad liked.

While electronics have certainly made our lives simpler and more convenient, there is something to be said for what seems like a simpler way of life prior to their invention. Having enjoyed the benefits of these conveniences, it is difficult to imagine how we lived without them; however, it was also equally difficult to imagine all the possibilities prior to their arrival.

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If you remember life before cell phones and electronics, you probably possess the ability to entertain yourself (if necessary) and relate to what you are about to read. Prior to society being electronically enlightened, people relied on their own abilities to remain mentally active and socially engaged.

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Diner was spent together with no distractions

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Diner was spent together with no distractions

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One TV and had to watch what dad wanted; Saturday morning cartoon

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One TV and had to watch what dad wanted; Saturday morning cartoon

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Kids play from sun up to sundown and it was safe to assume they would come back with no way of contacting them

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Kids play from sun up to sundown and it was safe to assume they would come back with no way of contacting them

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To talk to neighbor go down the street and knock on their door

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To talk to neighbor go down the street and knock on their door

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Norris, m (2015, August) Will GMOs Hurt My Body? The Public’s Concerns and How Scientists Have Addressed Them; Harvard university  

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Norris, m (2015, August) Will GMOs Hurt My Body? The Public’s Concerns and How Scientists Have Addressed Them; Harvard university  

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Will GMOs Hurt My Body? The Public's Concerns and How Scientists Have Addressed Them - Science in the News

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by Megan L. Norris Summary: As the prevalence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) continues to rise, there has been an increasing public interest for information concerning the safety of these products. Concerns generally focus on how the GMO may affect the environment or how it may affect the consumer.

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FDA (2022, February) Science and History of GMOs and Other Food Modification Processes; FDA U.S food and drug 

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FDA (2022, February) Science and History of GMOs and Other Food Modification Processes; FDA U.S food and drug 

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Feed Your Mind Main Page en Español (Spanish)
How has genetic engineering changed plant and animal breeding?

For thousands of years, humans have been using traditional modification methods like selective breeding and cross-breeding to breed plants and animals with more desirable traits. For example, early farmers developed cross-breeding methods to grow corn with a range of colors, sizes, and uses. Today's strawberries are a cross between a strawberry species native to North America and a strawberry species native to South America.

Most of the foods we eat today were created through traditional breeding methods. But changing plants and animals through traditional breeding can take a long time, and it is difficult to make very specific changes. After scientists developed genetic engineering in the 1970s, they were able to make similar changes in a more specific way and in a shorter amount of time.

A Timeline of Genetic Modification in Agriculture
A Timeline of Genetic Modification in Modern Agriculture
Circa 8000 BCE: Humans use traditional modification methods like selective breeding and cross-breeding to breed plants and animals with more desirable traits.

1866: Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, breeds two different types of peas and identifies the basic process of genetics.

1922: The first hybrid corn is produced and sold commercially.

1940: Plant breeders learn to use radiation or chemicals to randomly change an organism's DNA.

1953: Building on the discoveries of chemist Rosalind Franklin, scientists James Watson and Francis Crick identify the structure of DNA.

1973: Biochemists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen develop genetic engineering by inserting DNA from one bacteria into another.

1982: FDA approves the first consumer GMO product developed through genetic engineering: human insulin to treat diabetes.

1986: The federal government establishes the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. This policy describes how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) work together to regulate the safety of GMOs.

1992: FDA policy states that foods from GMO plants must meet the same requirements, including the same safety standards, as foods derived from traditionally bred plants.

1994: The first GMO produce created through genetic engineering-a GMO tomato-becomes available for sale after studies evaluated by federal agencies proved it to be as safe as traditionally bred tomatoes.

1990s: The first wave of GMO produce created through genetic engineering becomes available to consumers: summer squash, soybeans, cotton, corn, papayas, tomatoes, potatoes, and canola. Not all are still available for sale.

2003: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations develop international guidelines and standards to determine the safety of GMO foods.

2005: GMO alfalfa and sugar beets are available for sale in the United States.

2015: FDA approves an application for the first genetic modification in an animal for use as food, a genetically engineered salmon.

2016: Congress passes a law requiring labeling for some foods produced through genetic engineering and uses the term "bioengineered," which will start to appear on some foods.

2017: GMO apples are available for sale in the U.S.

2019: FDA completes consultation on first food from a genome edited plant.

2020: GMO pink pineapple is available to U.S. consumers.

2020: Application for GalSafe pig was approved.

How are GMOs made?

"GMO" (genetically modified organism) has become the common term consumers and popular media use to describe foods that have been created through genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a process that involves:

Identifying the genetic information-or "gene"-that gives an organism (plant, animal, or microorganism) a desired trait

Copying that information from the organism that has the trait

Inserting that information into the DNA of another organism

Then growing the new organism

How Are GMOs Made? Fact Sheet
Making a GMO Plant, Step by Step

The following example gives a general idea of the steps it takes to create a GMO plant. This example uses a type of insect-resistant corn called "Bt corn." Keep in mind that the processes for creating a GMO plant, animal, or microorganism may be different.

The entire process of bringing a GMO plant to the marketplace takes several years.

Learn more about the process for creating genetically engineered microbes and genetically engineered animals.

What are the latest scientific advances in plant and animal breeding?

Scientists are developing new ways to create new varieties of crops and animals using a process called genome editing. These techniques can make changes more quickly and precisely than traditional breeding methods.

There are several genome editing tools, such as CRISPR. Scientists can use these newer genome editing tools to make crops more nutritious, drought tolerant, and resistant to insect pests and diseases.

Learn more about Genome Editing in Agricultural Biotechnology.
How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States GMO Crops, Animal Food, and Beyond How GMO Crops Impact Our World

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Science and History of GMOs and Other Food Modification Processes

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Most of the foods we eat today were created through traditional breeding methods. But changing plants and animals through traditional breeding can take a long time, and it is difficult to make very specific changes.

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FDA (2022, February) How GMO Crops Impact Our World; FDA U.S. food and drug 

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FDA (2022, February) How GMO Crops Impact Our World; FDA U.S. food and drug 

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Feed Your Mind Main Page en Español (Spanish)
Many people wonder what impacts GMO crops have on our world. "GMO" (genetically modified organism) is the common term consumers and popular media use to describe a plant, animal, or microorganism that has had its genetic material (DNA) changed using technology that generally involves the specific modification of DNA, including the transfer of specific DNA from one organism to another. Scientists often refer to this process as genetic engineering. Since the first genetically engineered crops, or GMOs, for sale to consumers were planted in the 1990s, researchers have tracked their impacts on and off the farm.

Why do farmers use GMO crops?

Most of the GMO crops grown today were developed to help farmers prevent crop loss. The three most common traits found in GMO crops are:

Resistance to insect damage

Tolerance to herbicides

Resistance to plant viruses

For GMO crops that are resistant to insect damage, farmers can apply fewer spray pesticides to protect the crops. GMO crops that are tolerant to herbicides help farmers control weeds without damaging the crops. When farmers use these herbicide-tolerant crops they do not need to till the soil, which they normally do to get rid of weeds. This no-till planting helps to maintain soil health and lower fuel and labor use. Taken together, studies have shown positive economic and environmental impacts.

The GMO papaya, called the Rainbow papaya, is an example of a GMO crop developed to be resistant to a virus. When the ringspot virus threatened the Hawaii papaya industry and the livelihoods of Hawaiian papaya farmers, plant scientists developed the ringspot virus-resistant Rainbow papaya. The Rainbow papaya was commercially planted in 1998, and today it is grown all over Hawaii and exported to Japan.

Learn more on Why Do Farmers in the U.S. Grow GMO Crops?

Do GMOs have impacts beyond the farm?

The most common GMO crops were developed to address the needs of farmers, but in turn they can help foods become more accessible and affordable for consumers. Some GMO crops were developed specifically to benefit consumers. For example, a GMO soybean that is used to create a healthier oil is commercially grown and available. GMO apples that do not brown when cut are now available for sale and may help reduce food waste. Plant scientists continue to develop GMO crops that they hope will benefit consumers.

Learn more about GMOs and the Environment.

Do GMOs have impacts outside the United States?

GMOs also impact the lives of farmers in other parts of the world. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with partner countries to use genetic engineering to improve staple crops, the basic foods that make up a large portion of people's diets. For example, a GMO eggplant developed to be insect resistant has been slowly released to farmers in Bangladesh since 2014. Farmers who grow GMO eggplants are earning more and have less exposure to pesticides. USAID is also working with partner countries in Africa and elsewhere on several staple crops, such as virus-resistant cassava, insect-resistant cowpea, and blight-resistant potato.

Learn more about GMO Crops and Humanitarian Reasons for Development and GMOs Outside the U.S.
How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States Science and History of GMOs and Other Food Modification Processes GMO Crops, Animal Food, and Beyond

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Many people wonder what impacts GMO crops have on our world.

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GMO things are healthier than non GMO food ie. soybean oil

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GMO things are healthier than non GMO food ie. soybean oil

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How to make a GMO plant steps in article 

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How to make a GMO plant steps in article 

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not enough biodiversity

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no evidence GMO carries organ toxicity or other health affects

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no evidence GMO carries organ toxicity or other health affects

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1982 was when the first GMO became consumer available 

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1982 was when the first GMO became consumer available 

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2019: FDA allows first food from a genome edited plant

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2019: FDA allows first food from a genome edited plant

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1866 was the birth of genetic modification 

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1866 was the birth of genetic modification 

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no change in fertility either (multiple generations) 

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no change in fertility either (multiple generations) 

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20 years of monitoring shows that GMO is safe for human consumption 

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20 years of monitoring shows that GMO is safe for human consumption 