Q. Explain Genetically Modified Organisms?
Techniques that use gene modification through (a) recombinant DNA technology and (b) cellular techniques of introducing DNA into an organism has opened up new vistas to the agriculture sector, food processing industry and human health care. These modern techniques now enable the transferring of genes between species that is now possible through normal processes such as sexual reproduction. Such techniques used in biotechnology give rise to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). For example a crop species such as tomato can have genes of an animal species introduced into its genetic makeup to increase its size or crop yields, or to provide it with resistance to disease causing organisms or pests. Even so, there is increasing concern about the risks of biotechnology that produces GMOs and LMOs as they can have severe adverse effects on the natural environment and on human health, especially as some of the genes introduced are from viruses and bacteria.