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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Nutrition > G > Genetically engineered foods

Genetically engineered foods   

Overview | Recommendations | Side Effects | Food Sources

Definition:

Scientifically changing foods by altering the food's genetic code.

Genetic engineering can be done with plants, animals or micro-organisms. Historically, farmers bred plants and animals for desired traits for thousands of years (think of hybrid roses or tomatoes). Modern methods allow scientists to speed up and control what has traditionally been a haphazard process.

Functions

Potential benefits of genetically engineered food include:

  • More nutritious food
  • Tastier food
  • Disease and drought resistant plants that require fewer environmental resources (water, fertilizer, etc.)
  • Increased supply of food with reduced cost andlonger shelf life
  • Faster growing plants and animals
  • Food with more desirable traits such as potatoes that absorb less fat when fried.

Ency. home > Nutrition > G > Genetically engineered foods

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