Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Mini-Project # 4


After a visit to the grocery store, I made a list of genetically altered foods that are on sale for public consumption. First off, genetically altered foods are foods that are produced from genetically modified organisms that have had their own DNA altered through genetic engineering. These items are modified to increase resistance to pests and disease, improve flavor of the item, and delays the ripening or increase the items shelf life. Corn and potatoes are modified with a gene to produce an endotoxin that protects them against the corn-borer pest and the potato beetle. Soybeans can be genetically modified with a gene from a particular bacterium to make the soybeans herbicide resistant. Squash and tomatoes are also genetically altered.

(picture taken from http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pictures/soybean%20varieties.jpg)

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