Some members of the public have expressed concern with the safety of genetically engineered food since its introduction to the market in the 1990s. Common sources of genetically modified food in the U.S. are corn, soybeans and canola. The World...
Industrial cattle and sheep production in the United States relies heavily on the use of synthetic growth hormones to accelerate weight gain and increase milk production. This trend in animal husbandry has generated fierce debate over potential...
Genetic engineering has been practiced in the form of selective breeding throughout the history of agriculture. However, the discovery in 1953 of the structure of DNA gave scientists the ability to insert genes from one life form into those of a...
Biotechnology involves engineering food for commercial interests by altering the genetics of organisms to provide economical and physiological advantages. Genetic engineering adds food value to biotech foods while lowering the price of your food...
Genetically altered foods are modified using genes from other organisms. A majority of genetically engineered foods are produced using plant substances. Foods are genetically altered to enhance their size, durability, nutrition, color or taste....
Genetically modified crops are grown from seed that was scientifically engineered to be more resistant to pests or weather damage, or to produce in greater quantities. Although the government says that genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are...
Genetic engineering of food has become commonplace. Up to 40 percent of corn and 80 percent of soybean crops undergo some type of genetic engineering, according to the Center for Food Safety. Current genetic modification research on dairy cows and...
Genetic modification refers to the technology of combining genes of different organisms to create a genetically engineered or "transgenic" product. This technology is used to create vaccines, feeds and fibers, in addition to food and food...
Mother nature provides all the components for living a healthy life with an ideal body weight by providing fresh, nutrient-rich foods and challenging landscapes that provide you with ample exercise opportunities. With the right healthy, natural...
Despite the fact that there are over 300 banana varieties, to Americans, Canadians and Europeans, there is only one type of banana, the Cavendish banana. According to Juan Fernando Aguilar, the chief banana breeder for the Honduran Foundation for...
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have been controversial since the practice of genetic engineering began in the 1980s. This process occurs by changing the genetic makeup of a plant by deleting or inserting from another organism genetic...
In this age of supersized portions and processed food, eating a healthy diet can be tricky. To make it even more difficult, many "health foods" that are generally assumed to be natural may contain genetically-modified genes. While there is no...
Huntington's is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 30,000 Americans. It causes problems with muscle coordination, mental decline and dementia, with onset of symptoms typically occurring between ages 35 and 44. This...
In agricultural circles genetic modification refers to the altering of the genetic material, or DNA, of crops or livestock. Genes from one organism are inserted into a different organism, producing a genetically modified plant or animal, termed...
Genetic engineering has raised moral and medical concerns as science and agriculture blur the line between processed foods and natural foods. Though it hasn't been scientifically proven, some fear that eating meat or drinking milk from genetically...
The use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, has sparked intense debate since the 1980s when scientists first began exploring the possibilities of selectively blending genes in the lab to produce a desired outcome. Opponents worry about the...
Cytokines are proteins that are produced by white blood cells in our bodies. There are more than 150 different cytokines, including lymphokines, interferons and interleukins. The body produces these proteins when a bacterial infection is present....
Consider vegetables with a built-in herbicide, or grains containing mega-vitamins, or maybe harvesting decaffeinated coffee directly from the tree. All of these biotechnologically enhanced plant foods have been created to improve, change or...
Evidence exists that cultivation of wheat may have begun over 9,000 years ago. Classification of wheat comes from a number of factors, such as texture and growing season. Two such classifications observed in the United States, hard white and hard...
Whether or not you are aware of it, many of the foods you eat are derived from bioengineered foods. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 94 percent of soybeans and 72 percent of corn in the United States are genetically altered...
Genetically modified, or GM foods, are derived from DNA modification, or genetic engineering. It is a technology that alters the makeup of organisms, which changes the characteristics. For instance, you can insert a foreign gene into a vegetable...
Watson and Crick's 1953 discovery of the DNA double helix undoubtedly opened a new world of possibilities for biological research. However, in order to better understand the hereditary molecule and tap into its potential, scientists needed to be...
Purification is part of a branch of science called biochemistry. Purdue University describes this branch as the study of life at its most basic level. Protein, present in almost every cell of your body, is anything but basic. Proteins can be big...
Synthetic proteins are man-made molecules that mimic the function and structure of true proteins. Proteins are central to life because they control almost all cellular processes, including initiating most of the reactions that occur in living...
The pros and cons for using genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are vast and varied, but there's little argument over the uncertain consequences of this relatively new science. The pace at which GMOs have found their way into the food supply...
During pregnancy, you generally need a little more than the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and nutrients to make sure your baby grows healthy and strong. This doesn't mean extra servings of junk food, however. While your child grows, you...
You already have eaten a genetically modified food. It is also quite likely that the chicken you ate last week ate genetically modified (GM) feed before he got to your dinner table. According to an article in Today's Dietitian, an estimated 60...
Canola oil is extracted from the seed of the brassica napus and brassica campestris plants, which contain about 40 percent oil. Canola oil is commonly used in American kitchens for high-temperature cooking methods including sautéing and...
Many people today look to a plant-based diet to help reduce disease risks and promote longevity. The evidence continues to mount, demonstrating the superiority of a meatless diet in the prevention of dozens of chronic diseases. The inevitable...
Learn how to use specialty natural feathers for fly tying and other fly fishing tips in this free instructional video.
