GMO corn, GMO apples, GMO flowers...what exactly is GMO? This abbreviation refers to Genetically Modified Organisms whose DNA has been twig by genetic engineering.
Like all inventions, they have pros and cons.
As Singaporeans, we like to have the best, eat the best, dress the best, score the best etc. Everything we do, we want the BEST! This technology might actually be the solution to that, especially in food =)
Modifying food is not new as we thought it is. Actually, it has occurred several hundred years ago. A fine example is the root vegetable - carrots
A long long time ago, carrots used to be white, purple, yellow...but NEVER orange. Also, carrots back then were not as sweet as they were now.
It was during the 15th century, the Dutch in attempt to nationalise the vegetable in the colour of the House of Orange (the king at that time was William of Orange or also known as William the Silent)
Dutch farmers cross breed the carrots into a carrot that was orange which later dominated the world as the main species of carrots.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41pj2e7CQJL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50347228/Red_Carrots.jpg
http://www.global-b2b-network.com/direct/dbimage/50347228/Red_Carrots.jpgSo you see, this technology has caused foods to 'naturally' be modified but most of the time, they are man-made. Even what we thought was 'natural' like the orange carrot turns out to be 'unnatural'.
But is this story strong enough to give the thumbs up for GMO food to be accepted internationally or at least locally first?
Reference:
http://environmentalcommons.org/gmo.html
http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/history.html
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