A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques (i.e., a genetically engineered organism).
Molecular biology is used to produce GMOs. What are your views on GMOs?
You have to know that GMOs can be many things, not only foods. For example, there are 'transgenic model mice' and 'T-DNA insertion plant lines'. Those are produced for studies and are all GMOs. They are all very imporant and useful sources for scientists to study gene functions.
I just read a report recently (2018 Feb.) from Crop Biotech Update. It mentions a recent study on GM maize (corn) using meta-analysis on the peer-reviewed literature on yield from 1996 to 2016 (21 years) (see link below). Overall, the GM maize benifits human society in a whole.
These are some of the points mentioned in the report:
Among the 6,006 publications that were examined by the researchers, only 76 were eligible for the meta-analyses. Their meta-analysis of 21 years of field data on the agro-environmental impact of GE maize shows the benefits of GE maize in terms of increases in grain yield and quality, and in decreases of the target insect Diabrotica spp.
The analysis also shows that GM maize has less mycotoxins and did not affect many beneficial insects. There is modest or no effect on the abundance of non-target insects, suggesting no substantial effect on insect community diversity.
There is strong evidence that GM maize cultivation reduces mycotoxin content in maize grain, which leads to increases in income and quality of produce, and to reductions in human exposure to mycotoxins, thus reducing health risks.
See attached paper (Open Access): "Impact of genetically engineered maize on agronomic, environmental and toxicological traits: a meta-analysis of 21 years of field data" (Scientific Reports, 2018 Feb)
GMO subjects have been discussed at RG platform. However, most GMO findings are not posted at this platform.
Usually, most GMO findings are first revealed in the scientifi journals. Then, they are collected into some databases, such as USDA database or some organizations' database. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA; http://www.isaaa.org/ ) has a very good collection of these data (crops). Among them is 'GM Approval Database'. Recently, they published a free booklet: "Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016" (See attachment). These are good places to find GM infomation.
Molecular biology is used to produce GMOs. What are your views on GMOs?
You have to know that GMOs can be many things, not only foods. For example, there are 'transgenic model mice' and 'T-DNA insertion plant lines'. Those are produced for studies and are all GMOs. They are all very imporant and useful sources for scientists to study gene functions.
For GM products, in the US, no matter people like it or not, probably most people have already indigested some of them. Especially, the soybean products. Look at the attached figure (from USDA), nearly 100% soybean planted in the US are GM. So, 'labelling' on the products to show whether they contain GM ingredients are important to some people. One grocery chain called "Whole Foods Market®" (where sell most natural foods) starts to use labelling on their products from this year (2018).
I'm really thankful for all these details.. which are so valuable. In fact, its not about I'm with whom or against whom!! I'm really respect both opinions, because each of them has his own reasonable grounds. I may support the restricted GMO, and I think many peoples do! Its nice to see how the other peoples think about it, listen to their reasons.
Again, your explanations are reasonable as all ways!