Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially altered in a laboratory using genetic engineering techniques.
This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.
Most GMOs have been created to resist herbicides or pests. For example, farmers can spray an entire field with herbicide, killing the weeds but sparing the crop. Some GMO crops have been engineered to produce their own insecticide, Bt toxin, which kills certain pests but is harmless to people and animals.
The use of GMOs is controversial. Some people believe that GMOs are unsafe for human consumption and the environment, while others argue that GMOs can provide more food with fewer inputs of land, labor or pesticides.
There is currently no consensus on the safety of GM foods for human health. However, many countries have adopted strict regulations on the production and sale of GM foods. In the European Union, for example, all GM foods must be labeled as such.