Download Genetically modified maize From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Genetically modified maize
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Modified by A.Teague)
Genetically modified maize (corn) is a genetically modified crop.
Specific types of corn have been genetically engineered to have
agriculturally-desirable traits, including resistance to pests and to
herbicides. The maize with both traits are now in use in multiple
countries. GM maize has also caused debate because the possible
health effects, impact on other insects and impact on other plants is
unknown. One type of maize, called Starlink, was approved only for
animal feed in the US, but was found in food, leading to a series of
recalls starting in 2000.
Herbicide resistant maize
Herbicides are used to kill unwanted plants. Use of these within the fields of maize produces crop loss
because the herbicide kills the corn plants. Scientists have developed corn varieties that are resistant
to herbicides, allowing a higher corn yield for farmers. They were first commercialized in 1996
by Monsanto As of 2011, herbicide-resistant GM corn was grown in 14 countries.
Insecticide-producing corn
The European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis, destroys corn crops by burrowing into
the stem, causing the plant to fall over. Bt corn is a variant of maize that has
been genetically altered to express one or more proteins from the Bacillus
thuringiensis bacteria. The protein is poisonous to certain insect pests and is
widely used in organic gardening. The European corn borer causes about a billion
dollars in damage to corn crops each year.[9]
In recent years, traits have been added to ward off Corn ear worms and root
worms. Root worms cause about a billion dollars in damages each year.
The Bt protein is in the plant. When an insect eats the plant, the protein goes to
its stomach. With the chemicals in the stomach, the protein becomes poisonous, making holes in the
stomach. The insect stops eating and eventually dies of starvation.