What is a GMO? GMO's, Mutagenesis and Selective Breeding

Humans have been manipulating crops for thousands of years through selective breeding. It is only in recent history where debates have sprung up in how we develop our crops due to us being able to Genetically Modify Organisms in a laboratory setting. GMO's are a hot debate right now, and with tons of misinformation out there I try and clear up exactly what it means to be a Genetically Modified Organism, how safe they are, and explain different methods on how we actually make GMO's. I also go into detail about the different methods we make and breed our crops via selective breeding and mutagenesis. Enjoy.

Remember you can always re watch parts if it goes to fast and I also encourage you to do some research of your own. For a good starting point take a look at some of my sources!.. And form your own opinion! Don't jump on the GMO hate bandwagon just cause Stephanie told you they were bad or because you read a crappy article on facebook!

Sources:

Lectures and Talks:
Tedx: “Waiter, there is a gene in my soup!: Jimmy Botella at TEDxUQ”    • Waiter, there is a gene in my soup! | Jimm...  

Tedx: “GMO controversies - science vs. public fear: Borut Bohanec at TEDxLjubljana”    • GMO controversies - science vs. public fea...  


Harvard University: “Food for Thought: Genetically Modified Nourishment — Longwood Seminar”
   • Food for Thought: Genetically Modified Nou...  


Genes and Genetics references :

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibr...

Gene Therapy/Retrovirus Mediated Gene Transfer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_the...

Koo, et al. Molecular Reproduction and Development: Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer and expression of EGFP in chicken. Volume 68, Issue 4, pages 429–434, August 2004


BT Corn and Corn Boer:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/agricult...

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/ent...


Self Explanatory Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zea_(genus)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutation...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrovirus

http://www.transgenicanimals.info/


Other Helpful links Used:

http://genera.biofortified.org/viewal...

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2009/06/2...

http://www.ucbiotech.org/answer.php?q...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/us/...

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