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GMO
[ jee-em-oh ]
abbreviation for
- genetically modified organism: an organism or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering.
GMO
abbreviation for
- genetically modified organism
GMO
- Abbreviation of genetically modified organism
GMO
- The abbreviation for g enetically m odified o rganism. A GMO is an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there.
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Notes
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Word History and Origins
Origin of GMO1
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Example Sentences
That strategy has been used in some cases to help determine GMO policy.
Both Just Label It and the Non-GMO Project receive the bulk of their donations from natural foods companies.
The Non-GMO Project, on the other hand, provides a voluntary way for manufacturers to declare themselves GMO free.
And organic producers are sitting on some of the best GMO-free supply chains in the United States.
For one thing, the United States organic standards system already requires that foods be GMO-free.
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More About GMO
What is a GMO?
GMO is an abbreviation for genetically modified organism. A GMO is any living thing that has had its genetics altered through genetic engineering.
Typically, a GMO is created by first inserting a gene into the DNA of a single cell of an organism. Next, the scientist will stimulate the growth of this cell so that it quickly replicates. Eventually, the cell will replicate to such a point that all of the organism’s cells contain the modified gene that was originally inserted.
A GMO can be any living thing, from a bacteria to a cow. The GMOs that most people are familiar with are genetically modified crops. Farmers will grow corn or other crops that have been modified to be resistant to chemicals like herbicides or have been modified to repel insects. GMOs can be appealing to farmers because they are easier to grow and can lower farmers’ costs.
Besides plants, organisms such as bacteria and farm animals have been turned into GMOs. Bacteria have been modified to produce helpful chemicals such as insulin, and farm animals have had their genes modified to protect them from deadly diseases that would endanger large groups of animals.
Why is GMO important?
The first records of the abbreviation GMO come from around 1989. The actual science of genetically modifying living creatures goes back earlier than this. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the first GMO it approved was a bacteria that produced human insulin in 1982.
Since GMOs have been introduced, many people have been concerned that GMOs or foods made from them could be a risk to human health. Scientists have studied this question closely, and the World Health Organization has declared that GMOs pose no health risks when eaten by humans.
Regardless, countries have taken steps to regulate GMOs. In the United States, food, animals, and drugs that are or are made from GMOs are regulated by the FDA. GMOs not used in food, such as those used in pesticides, are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Public opinion on GMOs is mixed, as most Americans are unfamiliar with both the process behind GMOs and the scientific position on their health risks.
Performing genetic engineering on humans is a highly controversial topic and is outright illegal in over 40 countries, including Canada and the entirety of western Europe. While human GMOs are not acceptable right now, the possibility has often been explored in popular culture, as in the X-Men series of comic books.
Did you know … ?
The scientific community was shocked and outraged when Chinese researcher He Jiankui announced he had performed genetic engineering on a human embryo in 2018, effectively creating a human GMO. The Chinese government sentenced him to three years in prison after it had discovered that He had committed numerous ethical violations in order to perform his experiment.
What are real-life examples of GMO?
GMOs are still a divisive subject, especially because of a lot of misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding them.
GMO foods are as healthful and safe to eat as their non-GMO counterparts. That’s what the research says.https://t.co/Q0wl2AGYao#FeedYourMind
https://t.co/jf9Zik8iwE via @YouTube— FDA FOOD (Ctr for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition) (@FDAfood) October 8, 2020
I could force a joke about GMOs, but it wouldn't feel organic.
— Jake Mey, PhD, RD (@CakeNutrition) July 26, 2020
Some of the same people who say science is the only truth, want you to eat organic and avoid GMOs. 🤷🏼♀️
— Sarah Tuch (@Sarah_Tuch) September 22, 2020
What other words are related to GMO?
Quiz yourself!
Which of the following could be a GMO?
A. a plant
B. bacterium
C. an animal
D. all of the above
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