What is a GMO... cuz you're eating a lot of them!

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms.  Genetically modified organisms are the source of genetically modified foods.  Monsanto is the giant corporation that is creating these GMO's and literally taking over our entire food supply.  They are bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. 

So here is how these GMO's are created.  Remember back to science class when you learned about base pairs in the DNA strand?  They are like rungs on a ladder.  

Well scientist take a gene from a different species and introduce it to the DNA of another species.  So picture them adding a new rung to the ladder.  

This artificially added gene is called a transgene.  The transgene consists of a promoter, the new gene, and a terminator.  The promoter tells the gene to turn on and start expressing itself.  Likewise, the terminator tells the gene when to stop expressing itself.  

K so for example, a gene was taken from an insecticide called BT toxin and added to the DNA of corn so that the corn would create its own insecticide.  Cool, right?

No, not cool!  Here is one of the many problems... and there are MANY problems.

There is study after study showing how these inserted genes are mutating the DNA causing changes to the nutrition of the food as well as unintended toxicity.  It is proven that the "promoter" of the new, added gene (transgene) does not, in many cases, ever shut off.  This can result in way too much toxin being produced and many other uncontrolled and untested problems.  Another problem that has been proven from many studies is that the "promoter" and "terminator" of the transgene will actually promote or terminate other natural genes of the crops DNA.  As these GMO crops create generation after generation of themselves, the mutation continues to worsen.  And we literally don't even know what we are eating.  Corn is just one of the crops that is largely genetically modified.  And by largely, I mean 85% of ALL of the corn being produced is genetically modified.  

Before you think to yourself, "Well, no big deal.  I don't eat corn that often" check the labels of everything in your pantry and refrigerator.  This corn is in virtually all manufactured food today!  

One study on GMO fed rats:

- mammory tumors
- severy kidney and liver damage
-50% of males and 70% of females died pre-maturely
(The study is entitled, "A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health." Read the abstract here:
http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.htm

And you guys, remember that this is only one study and it is only using GM corn.  GM soy is a whole other terrifying story as well as the other GM crops we are being fed.  I'll expand more on all of this in another post.  The studies are fascinating... because while you are reading about all the proven, scientific results you are realizing that corporations like Mansanto are doing it all legally and very discretely... and all the while, we are being told that these things are improving our lives.  

Don't trust the food industry with your and your family's health.  I repeat, Don't trust the food industry with your and you family's health!

So... what should you do?  Look for USDA organic certified labels.  They cannot use any GMO's and are grown without pesticides along with other regulations.  Be careful because a food can bear the label "Non-GMO" if they have a single indredient that is Non-GMO... but all of their other 20 or so ingredients can be GMO.  Tricky huh.

source:

http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/65-health-risks/2notes

(this website is awesome!)