A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an organism that has had its DNA altered

or modified in some way through genetic engineering.

In most cases, GMOs have been altered with DNA from another organism, be it a
bacterium, plant, virus or animal; these organisms are sometimes referred to as
"transgenic" organisms. Genetics from a spider that helps the arachnid produce silk, for
example, could be inserted into the DNA of an ordinary goat.

It sounds far-fetched, but that is the exact process used to breed goats that produce silk
proteins in their goat milk, Science Nation reported. Their milk is then harvested, and the
silk protein is then isolated to make a lightweight, ultrastrong silk material with a wide
range of industrial and medical uses.
The dizzying range of GMO categories is enough to boggle the mind. CRISPR, a novel
genome editing tool, has allowed geneticists to breed GMO pigs that glow in the dark by
inserting jellyfish bioluminescence genetic code into pig DNA. CRISPR is opening doors
to genetic modifications the likes of which were unimaginable just a decade ago.
These are more comparatively wild examples, but GMOs are already very common in
the farming industry. The most common genetic modifications are designed to create
higher yield crops, more consistent products, and resist pests, pesticides and fertilizer.

Genetically modified food

According to the National Library of Medicine (part of the National Center for
Biotechnology Information, or NCBI), genetically engineered, or GM, foods are those
that have had foreign genes from other plants or animals inserted into their genetic
codes. This has resulted in foods that are consistently flavored, as well as resistant to
disease and drought.
However, the NCBI also maintains a list of potential risks associated with GM foods,
including genetic alterations that can cause environmental harm. Specifically, it's
possible that modified organisms could be inbred with natural organisms, leading to the
possible extinction of the original organism. For instance, the banana tree is propagated
entirely through cloning methods. The bananas themselves are sterile.
By far, the biggest use of GMO technology is in large-scale agricultural crops. At least
90% of the soy, cotton, canola, corn and sugar beets sold in the United States have
been genetically engineered. The adoption of herbicide-resistant corn, which had been
slower in previous years, has accelerated, reaching 89% of U.S. corn acreage in 2014 and
2015, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
One of the biggest draws for widespread adoption of GMO crops is pest resistance.
According to the World Health Organization, one of the most widely used methods for
incorporating pest resistance into plants is through Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genetics, a
bacterium that produces proteins that repel insects. GMO crops that are modified with
the Bt gene have a proven resistance to insect pests, thus reducing the need for wide-
scale spraying of synthetic pesticides.
Are GMOs safe?
Anti-GMO activists argue that GMOs can cause environmental damage and health
problems for consumers.
One such anti-GMO organization is the Center for Food Safety, which calls the genetic
engineering of plants and animals potentially "one of the greatest and most intractable
environmental challenges of the 21st century."
"Genetically modified foods have been linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sickness,
sterile and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals,"
according to the Institute for Responsible Technology, a group of anti-GMO activists.
"Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe," according to the Non-GMO
Project. "In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all
of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans
on the production and sale of GMOs."
As You Sow is a nonprofit environmental watchdog focusing its research on how
corporate actions affect our environment, including food production. According to
Christy Spees, a program manager with As You Sow, GMO foods are dangerous
"because the modifications are centered around resistance to toxic substances, such as
pesticides and certain fertilizers. When dangerous chemicals are applied, plants use
them to grow, and the food itself can be detrimental to our health."