1.What makes it different from traditional food?
The science behind GM food is called food biotechnology—the use of modern genetics to improve plants,animals,and microorganisms for food production.Modern biotechnology likewise employs living organisms to make or modify products.But unlike traditional methods,modern biotechnology allows for modifying the genetic material of organisms directly and precisely.It enables the transfer of genes between completely unrelated organisms,allowing for combinations unlikely to occur by conventional means.
2.What are the advantages of GM food?
One major advantage of GM food is that crops genetically engineered to resist weeds and bugs enable farmers to decrease pesticide and herbicide use.Of course,superweeds and bugs could also be inadvertently created.Planetary management is very complex and serious business.
3.What are some possible dangers of eating GM food?
Researchers warn that there are no long-term,large-scale tests to prove the safety of GM food.They point to a number of potential dangers:allergic reaction,increased toxicity,resistance to antibiotics,spread of "superweeds",harm to other organisms and demise of safe pesticides.
4.Are the advantages greater than the dangers?
We support prudent use of genetically modified foods.We believe that labels should be placed on all GM products.We also understand the risks involved,but believe the benefits far outweigh the costs.