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| A '''genetically modified organism''' or GMO is any organism that has had its ] modified in a laboratory rather than through cross-pollination or other forms of ]. For instance, a bell pepper may have DNA from a fish added to it to make it more drought-tolerant, or a ] may have its DNA modified to allow it to metabolize petroleum, for instance to clean up an oil spill. | |||
| Genetic modification within ] is an issue of some contention in the ] and most other countries.<br> | |||
| Proponents of genetic modification argue that it allows great advances in agriculture (for instance in making plants more tolerant of certain diseases or of water shortages), as well as allowing other beneficial creations such as the petroleum-eating bacteria.<br> | |||
| People arguing against genetic modification generally say that the ultimate results of releasing genetically modified organisms are not predictable and may have unexpected and irreversible effects on the environment (see ]) and that, since genetically modified organisms are ]able under U.S. law, GMO crops can in fact harm agriculture instead, by leaving independent farmers unable to purchase seed each year. Some argue this patent issue is not necessary valid in developed nations as some hybrid crops seeds are likely to be purchased anyway (e.g. corn). | |||
| Genetic modification is allowed in the United States on the principle that it has not been proven dangerous; GMO foods are common in the United States and estimates of their market saturation vary widely. Many countries in ] have taken the opposite position: that genetic modification has not been proven safe, and therefore that they will not accept genetically modified food from the United States or any other country. This issue has already gone before the ], which determined that not allowing GMO food into the country created an unnecessary obstacle to international trade. | |||
| Many agree that it is probably true that not all genetic modifications have the same effects on health or on the environment; any policy that classifies all genetic modifications as good or bad would be thus not appropriate. | |||
| Recent evidence shows that genetically-modified plants may "escape" from fields in which they were planted and out-compete unmodified plants in surrounding fields. (References: '''BBC News''' article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/753586.stm by environment correspondent Alex Kirby. Includes links to other articles on the same topic. '''Current Science & Technology News''' article http://www.mos.org/cst/article/4823/1.html) | |||
| There is some question as to whether genetic modifications that confer pest resistance result in similar harmful systemic effects as topical application of pesticides to plants. ''(Has this area been studied yet?)'' | |||
| See also: ], ], ] | |||