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Trans genes-Genes that have been transferred from one to another
Marker genes-Genes that mark a plant or animal that has been modified
GMOs-Genetically Modified Objects
Vector-A bacteriophage of plasmid that transfers information from one organism to another
Ethanol-A drinking alcohol that can be used as fuel

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Genetically modified crops have been a controversial topic since its creation. The concept of GMOs was first started as a whole different concept, selective breeding. Farmer breed crops together to get desirable traits. This takes  long time and is dependent mostly on luck and other factors that are extremely slim in order to get a "lucky hit" on the right combination of genes that makes up a productive and strong plant. This process is done through inbreeding when two parents are specifically chosen with certain traits, and are bred together in hopes of getting a stronger or improve their most dominant and desirable gene.
Picture source- https://insteading.com/blog/5-things-you-want-to-know-about-gmos/

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GMs, or genetically modified, describes objects or items that have specifically been tampered/altered in order to produce a longer shelf time, more nutritional value, bigger harvest yields, and resistance to pests, parasites, bad weather, or diseases. Crops are one example that has been genetically modified. Corn, a common staple in today's society, has been modified for mass production by big companies. These corn varieties can include a gene that produces a natural pesticide that kills of insects. Soybeans have also been modified to be resistant to weed killers. More and more crops have been modified to be more vitamin rich and healthy. According to fas.org, "more than 80% of U.S. corn, soybeans, cotton, and sugar beets were GM varieties." GMOs are promoted through mono culture. Due to most of the world's food supply being produced by large individual companies, they need a way for more efficient and effective crop production. Many varieties of apples have been produced through genetic modification such as non browning apples.
source pic- http://trendsupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/genetically-modified-crops.jpg

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https://image.slidesharecdn.com/gmcrops-100123151614-phpapp01/95/major-genetically-modified-crops-7-728.jpg?cb=1264259819

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You can think of gene editing as a sort of cut and paste technology that edits genes instead of text on a document. First, a gene is found/identified in its genome that specifically has a special property like bacteria resistance or larger growth. Then, this gene is cut out with a special tool that transfers that gene into another plant's genome and paste it in. The next slide is an example of a gene gun modifying a tomato plant. Gene modifying is so much more precise than any other type of modified crops because it directly transfers a specific DNA fragment. This fragment contains a marker gene that allows people to see which plants have the transgenes, or the transferred genes that have passed into a new plant.
source- https://gmo.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/breeding-technology.jpg

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This method uses a biological vector, or a tool, in order to modify a plant. This is different than gene gun which is primarily technology developed by scientists. This bacteria is commonly found in the soil and transfers part of its own DNA into other plants and causing disease. However, scientists have disabled this disease causing property and changed it to only transfer its gene. Plants are cultivated in a bacterial dish.
source - https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-60732e35a3d9eaa8ce0309e114f4e798

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Microscopic pellets are coasted in gold or tungsten and contain the trasngene, or the gene that is going to be transferred. It is then shot into the new plant cells.
Source - http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods/images/gmtomato.png

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GM crops are currently regulated by several government organizations. 3 of them are as follows
1. USDA, or the United States Department of Agriculture
2. EPA, or the Environmental Protection Agency
3. FDA, or Food and Drugs Administration
These organizations all provide a part in the tedious process of regulating GMOs. The USDA approves the official release of the GMO, the EPA provides insight on pest and insecticide properties, and the FDA only watches the GMOS for pharmaceuticals, or medicine related, food for consumption, or animal feed. All agencies review different aspects of GMOs which provides for a safer and more protected usage of genetically modified objects. They look mainly at the gene stability, the amount of vitamins/protein produced, any allergic reactions that can occur. If any of these requirements are not followed, then the GMO is rejected. This process can take many years before it is approved.

Statistics:
According to PLoS One, “GM technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmer profits by 68%. Yield gains and pesticide reductions are larger for insect-resistant crops than for herbicide-tolerant crops. Yield and profit gains are higher in developing countries than in developed countries.”
source pic https://www.sott.net/image/s16/333390/full/3054815_f520.jpg

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https://assets.change.org/photos/3/bj/rm/QRBJrmGnGDJlZez-800x450-noPad.jpg?1516146777

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GMOs have revolutionized the world as we now it. Crops are more nutritionally enhanced, more tolerant to stress, resistant to disease, and can even serve as bio fuels. The impacts of GM crops completely change the face of how we think of agriculture. We can eat foods with more vitamins and even have a reliable source of fuel in the future when the worlds fossil fuel supply runs low. As a clean, reliable source of ethanol, we can cleanly convert a GM plants into fuel we can use to power the future.
Some Important Impacts
-Significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions with reduced tillage of GM crops
-Pesticide cost has significantly decreased because of GM crops with biological pesticides
-Cotton and corn has yield gains from reduced pests
-A lot more cotton and corn produced
-Conserve land by being more efficient
-Good investment from farmers all over the world
source pic - https://sustainablepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/pesticides.jpg

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1) Decrease Dangerous Pesticide Usage
GM crops produce their own pesticide. This entails a decrease in harmful pesticides that farmers use to get ride of pests. They won't use a lot of dangerous pesticides. Farmers use the much safer natural pesticide GM crops produce. They have decreased pesticide use by 37% and dangerous pesticide and herbicides usage has decreased. Harmful pesticide run off into rivers, groundwater, aquifer, etc is no longer used. We should use less pesticides and focus on using more GM crops.
2) GMOs reduce carbon dioxide emmissions
Farmers use less farm machines like tractors. These new GM farms have a small carbon foot print or smaller carbon dioxide production value and are more economically friendly. Less diesel is used and as a result the environment is actually protected. We shouldn't use as many tractors or other machinery and focus on a more natural solution through gene modification.
pic source - https://www.pbscopy.com/reduce-environmental-impact

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Concentration of GM corn around the world.

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I wrote a letter to our district's Congresswoman, Mimi Walters on the issue of GM crops and how they can improve the environment significantly.

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1) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9780470015902.a0003255.pub2https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9780470015902.a0003255.pub2

2) http://ehsc.oregonstate.edu/SciComm_GMO

3) https://www.nap.edu/read/9889/chapter/11

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https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-selective-breeding

https://fas.org/biosecurity/education/dualuse-agriculture/2.-agricultural-biotechnology/genetically-engineered-crops.html

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods/

http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/genetically-modified-gm-crops-techniques-and-applications-0-710/

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111629

https://gmoanswers.com/what-are-real-economic-and-environmental-impacts-gm-crop-use

https://medium.com/@debunkingdenialism/five-ways-gmos-benefit-the-environment-c48eee7e2765