Genetically Modified (GM) Crops: Techniques and Applications

Abstract

• Genetic modification (GM) technology allows the transfer of genes for specific traits between species using laboratory techniques.
• GM crops were first introduced in the U.S. in the mid-1990s. Most current GM crops grown in the U.S. are engineered for insect resistance or herbicide tolerance. Corn, soybeans, and cotton are the three largest acreage GM crops.
• GM crops grown in Colorado include corn, alfalfa, sugar beet, soybeans, and canola.
• Potential future applications of the technology include nutritional enhancements, stress tolerance, disease resistance, biofuel efficiency, and remediation of polluted sites.
• GM crops are regulated at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), each with authority to oversee specific aspects of the crops and their products.