*** GENETICALLY *** Modified Food
* Introduction
GM is a new kind of science that is in the news at the moment.
Scientist are trying to produce better crops using a science called Genetic Modification, or GM
GM works by changing genes, tiny parts inside plants and animals.
GM foods are in the news, People do not agree how safe they are.
*What are GM foods?
Inside every plant and animal are groups of chemicals called genes. Genes control how living things work and grow.
Scientists can change plants and animals by changing their genes.
We call this Genetic Modification, or GM, which means "changing the genes" of something.
GM food is any food that contains parts of GM plants or animals.
*Why is GM different?
Farmers can change plants and animals by breeding.
Breeding involves thousands of genes, so it can take a long time to work.
Scientists can now pick out genes that do a certain job.
They add new genes to living things to change them in particular ways.
GM can be fast compared to breeding methods.
But, like all new science, GM needs lots of testing.
*GM in the future
Some scientists believe that GM crops could one day put an end to hunger, one of the world's biggest problems.
They are trying to create crops that could grow in areas that are too dry or cold for farming today.
But it may take a long time to create these crops.
*Health worries
There are different views about GM foods and our health.
When GM scientists create a new crop, they run yests to find out if the food is safe.
Some scientists think that better tests are needed.
If GM crops do make people ill, we may not know the reason for many years.
It is safer to carry out tests over a long time.
*DO we need GM?
GM science is here to stay.
But people disagree about how soon GM crops should be grown.
Some people do not think that GM foods should be sold in stores.
More people are buying foods that are grown using simple methods.
They think that GM crops are not the best way to feed the world.
*You decide!
Many people have strong views about GM foods.
Some people feel GM crops are the way forward for farming.
Other people feel that the risks for both people and nature are too great.
Find out more about GM and discuss it with your friends.
Then make up your own mind. 
by- Jen Green
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