GMOWhat is a GMO?A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a virus, bacteria or more complex life form whose DNA has been modified for a particular purpose . Some of these goals include: researching the nature of genes and biological processes, making animal proteins, correcting genetic defects, and improving animals and plants (Natural Environment Research Council). Making improvements to animals and plants is a major motivation for producing GMOs. With the global population on track to reach more than 9 billion by 2050, a viable option for subsistence production is needed. With this ever-increasing global population, it is necessary to somehow control the number of births. China is a country that has solved its overpopulation problem, but it seems that many other countries around the world are doing little, if anything, to control their own populations. Because of this lack of action to control the world's population, the need shifts to how we are going to provide for all of these people. GMOs are a way that we, as a global population, can better sustain ourselves so that everyone has enough supplies to survive. How do you create a GMO? GMOs have been created naturally for millions of years. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is an example of a natural genetic engineer because it is able to modify the DNA of another organism for its own benefit. This species of soil-dwelling bacteria infects plant cells with a piece of its own DNA, and when integrated into the plant's chromosome, it uses the plant's own cells to proliferate the bacterial population. The bacteria achieves this through the use of its bacterial chromosome and a plasmid, which is...... middle of article......info/articles/myths.htmlMurphy, Paul. (May 2004) The Gene company is a pioneer in desert crops. Retrieved October 23, 2004 from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,1221662,00.htmlNatural Environment Research Council (nd). GMOs and the environment: scientific certainties and uncertainties. Retrieved October 3, 2004 from: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/publications/gmo/Read, Deborah. (2000, December) Use of antibiotic resistance marker genes in genetically modified organisms. Retrieved October 24, 2004 from: http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/resources/Publications/pdfs/ER-GI-01-1.pdfShelton, Anthony M. (March 2000) Bt Crops on Trial. Retrieved October 24, 2004 from: http://www.foodsafetynetwork.ca/gmo/pr-bt-crops-on-trial.htmUNFPA. (2004) Population growth remains a problem. Retrieved November 25, 2004 from: http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2004/english/ch1/page7.htm#1