(Photo: illuminating9_11/Flickr/CC BY-ND)

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are organisms that are DNA-altered in order to include an additional gene, or genes, from another organism to give that altered organism a desired characteristic. Some of the many different modified plants include genetically altered corn, soybeans, tomatoes, rice, potatoes and wheat, to name a few. Not surprisingly, GMOs are present in many products available on supermarket shelves and produce bins today, and many people do not even realize they are eating GMOs every day.

Creation of GMOs

GMOs are typically generated using recombinant DNA technology. Recombinant DNA technology is a process that allows scientists to combine genetic materials artificially from one or more organisms. Scientists must first isolate the gene they would like to add to the plant. They then create a circular piece of DNA that contains this gene, along with other DNA sequences necessary to express the gene. Once this DNA, known as a plasmid, is created, it is inserted into the plant.

The most common way to engineer a plant is to use Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a bacterium that causes crown gall disease in plants. Some of its DNA, as well as the engineered DNA, is inserted into the plant genome. The individual plants will then be screened to determine which ones have been genetically modified. Scientists will selectively breed the modified plants. While the process may not sound too difficult, it often takes seven to 15 years to create a new market-ready GMO. To help finance some of these extensive scientific tests, these experienced scientists may at times require some special form of credit, such as a no hassle payday installment loan or just some cash until payday.

Pros and cons of GMOs

GMOs have been created for many reasons: improve nutrition, drought resistance, pest resistance, improve flavor, increase shelf-life, etc. Some supporters have even argued that GMOs can help fight world hunger and nutrition deficiencies, prevent erosion and protect the environment from the use of harmful chemicals. Those opposed to GMOs, however, are concerned about the health effects these products may have on the consumers who eat them. They question whether these plants are producing allergens and transferring unwanted genetic material across species.

Another concern critics have is the “genetic pollution” of the environment, as some of these GM plants can cross to pollinate with others. In fact, pollen from genetically modified plants has been discovered many miles away from GM fields. They are concerned about the effects of genetic pollution on natural plant species and bio diversity. They are also concerned that these plants might speed up the evolutionary process, creating super weeds and super bugs that may have negative impacts on both the GMOs and naturally occurring plants.

Implication of GMO and fishing

Recently, the U.S. FDA has been asked to approve a genetically modified salmon. This may be a viable response to the dwindling global fish supply. However, it is not clear what the effect will be on the ecosystem and current fish populations.

Sources

http://nextbigfuture.com/2008/09/fish-farming-feeding-future-world.html

Image from Flickr.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding the new Reebok Easytone shoes, which boast that they can help firm up your gluteus maximus. Reebok Easytone shoes retail for $99 to $109, so the hundred-dollar question is: Are Reebok Easytone shoes worth it?

With the holidays so close, it’d be silly to go out and get an instant cash loan so you can buy them right away. You should probably ask for them as a gift instead. However, before you do that or go spend your own hard-earned money on Reebok Easytone shoes, make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Pros: science points to effectiveness

The basic gist of how Reebok Easytone shoes work is that they are constructed for creating instability or making it harder than usual for the wearer to maintain balance. It’s pretty well-known that maintaining balance requires muscle tension and thus creates more developed muscles.

So the idea behind the Reebok Easytone shoes checks out; it appears logically sound and feasible. However, it’s not a quick fix. These shoes won’t help you suddenly shed pounds and develop a perfect posterior. Walking is walking, and until the walker develops more muscle — which will take awhile, even with the shoes — calories won’t burn much faster than walking alone. So, Reebok Easytones shoes are step up from regular walking on the fitness scale, but not a huge step.

Cons: One-trick pony

While the instability-creating soles of Reebok Easytone shoes are the key to power walking, the Reebok web site cautions buyers against playing sports or basically doing anything other than walking or running in them. This is because being off-balance is a very bad thing if you’re jumping or moving side-to-side in a fast-paced game such as tennis or basketball.

So, while Reebok Easytone shoes cost the same as high-end cross-trainers, they can’t be used for the same purposes. If you are considering getting Reebok Easytone shoes to replace your regular athletic shoes and  you often participate in sports, I say don’t do it. Stick to regular shoes and be comforted in the fact that if you’re regularly participating in sports, you’re way ahead of most of us in the calorie burning department.

If you plan to use your Reebok Easytone shoes for walking only, it’s just a matter of cost versus result. Understand that results will be gradual and only slightly superior to regular walking. So if $100 is small potatoes to you, it might be worth it.