Much of the food in modern day markets are genetically modified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material have been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. The process of creating GMOs is quite complex; combinations of plant, animal, bacterial, and viral genes are fused together to form new genes that would not have formed in nature. Crops that are genetically modified includes a variety of grains, fruits, and vegetables. There are many reasons as to why a crop may be genetically modified, such as enhancing a crop 's nutritional value and resistance to diseases and insects. An example of a crop that could be genetically …show more content…
Economics also plays a major role in whether or not a GMO should be approved. If the cost to produce the GMO is greater than the profit that would be made, then it would not be a wise decision to approve the production of it. However, if the GMO produces a greater yield, then it would benefit the economy. This would also have a positive social effect; since there would be more food, more mouths would be able to be fed. The prices of the crop would be lower as well since there would be a larger yield. An example of this is corn, a common GMO. The manipulation of genes that have formed genetically modified corn has allowed it to become widely available to consumers because of its increase in numbers and decrease in price. If the genetically modified strain of cabbage would be more expensive, the economy and social aspect would be affected in a negative way since people would be unable to afford it and would no longer be able to eat cabbage. The final factor that would need to be taken into consideration is the environmental impact of a GMO. The genetically modified strain of cabbage produces its own pesticide, which has the potential to kill insects. This could thus harm the food web, which negatively effects the environment. The pesticide could also infect the soil and degrade the state of the soil, making it less productive. Even though GMOs reduce draws on natural resources, if a crop has the potential to harm the environment, then it should not be