What is biotechnology?

Biotechnology is a branch of science that uses living organisms, cells, and biological systems to develop products and solve problems. Scientists use biotechnology to improve crops, create medicines, and address environmental challenges.

One of the most impactful developments to come from biotechnology is the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

While this may sound like a way for a mad scientist to make a 2-headed fish, GMOs may not be what you think they are.

GMOs are plants, animals, or other microorganisms that have had their DNA altered in order to improve their growth, resistance to disease, or nutritional content. Many GMOs are found in your every day life. It is estimated that up to 80% of the packaged food you eat come from GMOs. For example, over 92% of corn products in the US contain genetically modified corn.

Why are scientists genetically modifying corn to begin with?

Remember that the corn products we buy at the store (tortillas, corn starch, vegetable oil) all started out as a crop.

With the earth in a climate crisis, scientists saw a problem: crops were failing due to droughts, harsh temperatures, and pest outbreaks. Any crops that did grow were producing less corn with each harvest.

As a result, scientists found a way to genetically modify our crops: engineered to grow in areas prone to drought, to resist insects and bacteria without the need for chemical pesticides, and to grow larger and faster. Thus, biotechnology was used to bring about these genetically modified organisms.

Supporters of GMOs argue that they are essential for feeding a growing global population. They point to the increased crop yields, reduced need for chemical pesticides, and the ability to grow food in challenging environments as key benefits. GMOs have also been used to enhance the nutritional value of food, such as "golden rice" enhanced with vitamin A to prevent malnutrition in developing countries.

However, some people are skeptical of the use of GMOs and search for products that are USDA certified Non-GMO only. You may have seen this label on products at the grocery store:

One risk of GMOs is the potential for an allergic reaction in people who have allergies. GMOs may also increase the risk of cancer, cause immune problems, or lead to infertility. Another unexpected effect of genetic modification is that the altered genes may give the appearance of healthy products, while the disease is hidden by the modifications.

In genetically modified potatoes, they do not turn brown when damaged. This means that unhealthy potatoes are not removed before reaching stores. Non-browning potato bruises contain elevated levels of the amino acid tyramine, which can cause hypertension (high blood pressure), headaches and visual disturbances in people who cannot metabolize it (break it down).

Lastly, many look to the economic advantages and disadvantages of using GMOs in crops.

GMOs help farmers increase their crop yields by producing more food with fewer resources. GMO seeds grow with less water and are naturally resistant to pests, so production costs are lower for farmers and lead to cheaper food prices for consumers. Many GMOs also have longer shelf lives and look fresher for longer, reducing food waste.

However, many GMO seeds are owned by large corporations that patent their genetic modifications. This means they "own" that specific GMO's upgrades and enhancements. Farmers must purchase new seeds each season from those corporations and are not allowed to save or re-plant the new seeds from their crops. This is especially harder for small organic (non-GMO) farmers who must compete with large industrial farms that can afford expensive GMO technologies.