Genetically Modified Organisms: Why All The Controversy?

"'\VJhy have genetically modified organW isms (GMOs) suddenly become a lighming rod for public debate? Proponents of GMOs say that genetic modification of plants and animals is nothing more than the latest in a long series of productivityenhancing technologies that have helped increase the world's food supply. Opponents counter that GMOs are fundamentally different from naturally occurring organisms so different that they pose a threat to the character and quali ty of the food supply. Who is right? We attempt to shed light on the controversy by addressing 10 basic questions about GMOs. 1. What is a GMO? GMOs are living organisms (plants, animals, bacteria) into which foreign genes have been inserted. The foreign genes come from various sources and change the cha~­ acteristics of the recipient organism. Genetically modified crops, the focus of this article, are designed to do one of two things: (1) lower farm-level production costs, or (2) enhance product quality.