Genetic Engineering in GM crops

Genetic Engineering in foods could potentially help the whole world. If we could create crops that grow faster and have a greater yield. We could change the environment that crops grow best in. If we think about it, the people in Africa could be just as capable to grow corn and soybeans as we can here, in the United States. There would no longer be a food shortage. People wouldn't go to bed hungry.

Over the last 30 years scientists have been working to create crops that could grow better and faster. The usage of technology comes into place when the genes are actually inserted into the genes of the plants. Laboratory tools to insert, alter, or cut out pieces of DNA. 

The difference between conventional breeding and genetic engineering is: 

Figure 1: Comparing conventional breeding and genetic engineering (The dots represent genes, with white representing the gene of interest)

*these diagrams are all taken from http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/17/default.asp

Conventional Breeding	Genetic Engineering
Limited to exchanges between the same or very closely related species Little or no guarantee of any particular gene combination from the million of crosses generated Undesirable genes can be transferred along with desirable genes Takes a long time to achieve desired results	Allows the direct transfer of one or just a few genes, between either closely or distantly related organisms Crop improvement can be achieved in a shorter time compared to conventional breeding Allows plants to be modified by removing or switching off particular genes