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A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are generally known as recombinant DNA technology. With recombinant DNA technology, DNA molecules from different sources are combined in vitro into one molecule to create a new gene. This DNA is then transferred into an organism and causes the expression of modified or novel traits.

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods produced from GMO that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. The most common modified foods are derived from plants: soybean, corn, canola cotton seed oil and wheat.


2008-07-06

Nutrition And Your Baby - Getting It Right From The Beginning  

Every parent company wants to nutritious foods for their growing baby. This is simply without saying. A baby is smaller and more fragile than those of adults. And the development of their central nervous system, bones, immune and endocrine system systems require an optimal nutrients.

Babies are also vulnerable to toxic substances into the environment and poorly processed baby food. If you're not a parent with a lot of free time to make your own baby food from scratch (most of us are forced to multi-task throughout the day), there are many excellent opportunities. Many baby food companies now produce baby food with quality and even organic ingredients. Organic means that the food is grown without the use of pesticides and in a certain way to insure that these were no chemicals or preservatives are used in the processing of foodstuff. Some also avoid foods containing genetically modified. Many adults prefer to eat this way - I know that I do.

Why not instill good nutrition habits in your baby and children? Especially when too many children were acclimated to eat fast food, there is such a need to steer away from this style of food. Look at the statistics of overweight children in the country in recent years. There is a huge health benefits to avoid fast food and let us not forget the packaged foods loaded with chemicals, saturated fatty acids, and sodium levels through the roof. Read the ingredient labels and you will see what I mean.

Most supermarkets across the country are jumping on the organic train as healthy food is not only available but also with competitive price specialty chemicals and health food stores. You can find them alongside the other typical baby food brands on the shelves or in the health food or island section of the supermarket. Read the ingredient label, You `ll find that there is no added sugar, salt, additives or preservatives. Because you want the best and most nutritious food at all - so why not the best baby food companies, the concern about the quality of the products they make?

 

http://www.everything4babies.info

Louise Green is a freelance writer and researcher. She has designed a site that provides constantly updated information and extensive sources on baby and child care.

At the site there are links for discount and giveaway items needed for every new and veteran parent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Green

2008-07-05

Identifying GMOs at the Grocery Store  

Just say NO to GMOs!

We love food, in packages, which state what they are not in these days. No preservatives, non-GMO, with no added sugar, MSG-free, no artificial flavors or colors, etc. It is the ind sad that we live in a world where what is not in it is often as important as what is. Unfortunately, when we visit the Gang produce fancy packaging with clear identification missing. Most organic products are either in a section on its own or with signs as "organic". But, if you want to avoid genetically modified produce the best of luck. Neither signs or labelling is to encourage these suspicions, fruits and veggies.

The with GM's problem is that we have no idea what this potential nightmare Frankenstein-like plants pose and we will probably not know for a really long time. Messing around with Mother Nature can be a recipe for disaster. For example, tobacco plants were genetically produce gamma-linoleic acid. However, the plants produce above all the toxic product actadecatetraenic acid. Unmodifizierte tobacco plants do not produce this toxic substance. Yeast has been genetically modified to receive increased fermentation. An unexpected side effect was an accumulation of metabolites methyl-glyoxal in toxic and mutagenic concentrations.Not only do we not know the health risks in consumption of genetically modified foods, but the impact they could have on the environment is another concern. But how can we know what produce is genetically modified? It's all in the Numbers!

We hate 8, 9, but is OK!

That is the catch-phrase I consider when shopping for produce. The tiny stickers on produce, that the banks know what rings up at the registers have a story to tell. Most have only a four-digit code, which are your regelmaigen, pesticides grown produce. If five bodies, all you have to do is look at the first row. If it begins with a 9 It is in order. Fantastic even. A nine means it is organically grown. But it's okay to hate the number 8th Produce, the eight as the beginning of genetically modified. Avoid them!

If it is not enough to have to read labels like a detective in those days, now we have to decipher codes in the course to produce. But with this little catch-phrase, at least you can crack the code!

 

Ellen Holder is co-founder of CarenOnline, an ecommerce store for natural, organic and chemical free skin care products. As an advocate of chemical-free living, Ms. Holder coaches families and small business owners on ways to eliminate synthetic chemicals wherever possible in order to improve their health, their businesses and their lives.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Holder

Private-Public Sector Partnership Necessary in Biotechnology Research  

There are very interesting developments in the field of agricultural biotechnology currently in India.

The Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) has offered to the technology and basic breeding material from Bt Brinjal, low-calorie vegetables grown widely in India on two bodies in the public sector , The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (TNAU) and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UASD) .

The public sector institutions will not pay any royalties, as long as they do not have the marketing of genetically modified Brinjal. This is a very unusual, but very significant gesture.

Private seed companies, especially in the field of biotechnology, are not aware that free innovation shares information with public organisations. They keep this information under lock and key for fear of patent infringement. While this is understandable, but it has fueled hostility and suspicion among scientists in state institutions, particularly in developing countries.

Obviously, no company would be prepared to invest billions of dollars for the development of new seed varieties for an armchair scientists copy cat. But the need to protect proprietary information should not wish for the seed company cooperates with public institutions. This will deny the anti-biotech audience a chance to characterize biotech companies as selfish and secretive.

Mahyco has a good example that all biotech seed companies should follow. Biotech companies stand to benefit if they open their doors to other public institutions. This is particularly critical in Africa, where GM crops are still too large inroads.

It can not be gainsaid that such a partnership is already happening in Africa. In Kenya for example, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) is working closely with biotech seed companies in the development of genetically modified maize resistant to stem borers cells. But more such partnership is necessary to ensure the adoption of genetically modified crops in developing countries.

 

James uses his communication expertise to create awareness about GM food. To read more about him, go to http://www.gmoafrica.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Wachai

2008-07-04

The Benefits of Organic Gardening  

Gardening

Organic refers to the system in which plants are grown in an organic environment. According to the USDA rules, which are involved in the process of organic gardening, it is prohibited, irradiation, sewage sludge or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in organic production. This kind of food production would be certified as organic farming or gardening.

Accordingly, the important aspects of organic gardening will include the following:

  • Those in the organic farming or horticulture can not use chemical fertilizers or synthetic pesticides and .
  • There should be a systematic approach in organic gardening. This means that a system must be implemented. This system describes the methods of sowing, production and use of plants.
  • Records must be kept, a way of the products until they are sold.
  • buffer zones should be maintained so that there is no accidental contamination from the gardens and farms, where the conventional method of agriculture or horticulture.
those involved in environmental horticulture understand the importance of crops, the soil, the pests and insects and the mutual dependence of all these factors. Organic Gardening helps in maintaining and promoting the very soil of cultures. Thus the advantages we are naturally grown flowers, trees and garden plants.

Organic work can also be certified by government agencies and private organizations that have been approved by the USDA. The farms and gardens, which are statements to certify themselves, have to submit their ecological systems on an annual basis.

Based on these systems, the inspectors come and inspect their facilities and check with the systems that they have submitted. All facilities are in the inspection and that includes the method of pest control, animal husbandry, feedstock for the animals, soil management programs etc.

The organically grown products are minimally processed to retain their natural freshness and nutritious value. However, irradiation, synthetic and genetically modified foods and products may not be used in organic agriculture or gardening.

The grate advantage is that there are no chemicals and pesticides are used. Therefore, there are no residues, if we eat the fruits. There is nothing to wash or anxiety as normal produce.

This means that we live a healthy life and we beget a healthy life for our children and future generations. As a people we want to lead a healthy life and this gives us the right to decide what food we eat and how we will foods.

 

Laura Fox makes it easy to learn organic gardening. To get started organic gardening and claim your free guide to organic gardening visit http://www.organicgardeningmagic.com now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Fox