What is a GMO?
What is a GMO? GMO stands for genetically modified organism. Breeders of plants and animals have long attempted to modify the genes of living things by selectively breeding the most successful organisms. This is a form of genetic modification. In most cases, however, GMO refers to changing the genes of an organism in a laboratory setting. For thousands of years, humans have used breeding methods to modify organisms . Corn, cattle, and even dogs have been selectively bred over generations to have certain desired traits . Within the last few decades, however, modern advances in biotechnology have allowed scientists to directly modify the DNA of microorganisms, crops, and animals. Conventional methods of modifying plants and animals— selective breeding and crossbreeding —can take a long time. Moreover, selective breeding and crossbreeding often produce mixed results, with unwanted traits appearing along...