Some current examples include:
• Crops are genetically engineered to be resistant to particular insect pests. For example, toxin genes (Bt toxin) from a bacterium found in soil (Bacillus thuringiensis) are inserted into the crop DNA so that the plants produce toxins specifically deadly to the larvae of their pest insects.
• Soybeans have been genetically modified to resist herbicides that would normally kill them.
• Plants are genetically modified to ensure longer shelf life or greater resistance to frost.
• Farm animals (such as pigs, cows and chickens) are genetically modified for faster growth rates, leaner muscle-to-fat ratios or superior resistance to disease.
• Plants are modified to yield higher protein or nutrient levels, or produce healthier oils containing ‘functional food’ components such as omega 3 fatty acids.
• Genetically modified cows can produce milk that contains higher levels of bioactive milk proteins or human blood clotting components or a human breast milk component.
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