When scientists alter the genetic structure of an animal or plant in order to manufacture advantageous traits in the organism, they’re engaging in what is known as genetic modification. The resulting product is a genetically modified organism (GMO).
Scientists are creating new genetically modified foods all the time, and below you’ll find some of the latest foods that have been designed with the consumer in mind.
1. Non-Browning Apples
Most people don’t like eating fruit with flesh that has become discolored. Thankfully, this never happens to Arctic apples as they have been genetically modified to be resistant to browning. They went on sale in the US in November 2017.
2. Potatoes That Don’t Bruise
The Innate potato is less prone to bruising and black spots. Furthermore, when fried, it produces less acrylamide, a substance that is suspected to cause cancer, than conventional potatoes.
3. Wheat with Good Gluten
People suffering from celiac disease could soon have their cake and eat it. At least two groups are editing out the genes for the gluten proteins that damage the guts of people with this digestive disorder. One GM wheat is actually undergoing clinical trials in Spain.
4. Pink Pineapples
They’re pink because they accumulate lycopene, the pigment that makes tomatoes red, instead of converting it into yellow beta-carotene as normal pineapples do. Lycopene is believed to have various health benefits.
The US gave the go-ahead for this sweeter variety of pineapple to be eaten in December 2016, but it’s yet to go on sale.
5. Omega-3 Rapeseed (Canola)
This seed from the rape plant is rich in beneficial omega-3 oil DHA. The idea is to market it first as fish food and then for human consumption. Last year, in the US, 1,200 hectares of rape plant was grown and harvested.
6. Lower-Saturated Fat Rapeseed Oil
Conventional rapeseed oil contains 7% saturated fats. A gene-edited variety will have half this amount.
7. High-Fiber White Bread
Gene-edited wheat gives us white flour with three times as much dietary fiber than standard white flour.
8. Bloodier Oranges
Blood oranges are extremely healthy as they’re rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins. Normal blood oranges only turn red if they experience cold nights while growing, but the GM strain is always full of anthocyanins regardless of the weather. These oranges are not yet on sale.
9. Bananas with a Boost
The matoke cooking banana is a staple food in Uganda. The GM variety contains provitamin A, a lack of which can lead to blindness. It’s currently being field tested in Uganda and could go on sale in 2021.
10. Golden Rice
Rice designed to reduce vitamin A deficiency has been under development for decades but has yet to reach the market. However, it received a big boost earlier this year when Canada, Australia, and New Zealand declared it safe for humans, meaning there would be no regulatory issues if those countries imported food containing small quantities of the rice.
Source: newscientist
Images: depositphotos
The Inner Workings of How Your Mind Identifies Beauty!
Ever wondered what it is that makes something look beautiful to you? If so, you're about to find out right now in this enlightening TED-Ed video.
Sticking to One Doctor Could Help Prolong Your Life!
Keeping the same doctor rather than switching between different ones has a noticeable effect on mortality rates. Find out more here.
These Cases Were Cold... Until Science Cracked Them
Technology and science aren't always about the future. Take a look at these cold cases that were solved only thanks to the advances of science.
Ever Wondered How Hormones Work? Well, Wonder No More!
Ever wondered how hormones work? Well, wonder no more as this informative TED-Ed video explains all!
9 Great NASA Inventions That Took the World By Storm!
For around six decades, NASA have been inventing top-notch products. Here are nine great examples!
9 Reasons You Should Start Eating More Beans
Many people avoid eating beans regularly because they give them gas, but they're extremely healthy. Here are 9 benefits of the humble bean.
Incredible: First-Ever Complete Map of an Insect's Brain
This incredible project is the first to completely map the brain of an insect, a monumental undertaking even for such a small creature.
17 Incredible Eye Facts You Have To See To Believe
They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and they also happen to be our windows to the world. Here are 17 insanely fascinating facts about eyes.
Is it REALLY the Coffee that Wakes Us Up in the Morning?
A recent study has revealed that the coffee you drink may just be a placebo...
Amazing Science: THIS is the True Scale of Our Universe...
Get a sense of the true scale and shape of the universe we've discovered so far.
11 Technologies to Potentially Achieving Immortality
Scientists are hard at work developing technologies that could extend our lifespans and even make us immortal. Here are 11 of them.
Ever Wonder What Life Is Like if We Zoom In All the Way?
A selection of some of the winning photographs from Nikon's yearly macro photography contest.
The Magical Geometry of Crystals and How It Came to Be
How and why crystals are formed in such distinctive shapes that look like a human must have shaped them.
How To Be Sure Your Dog Adores You
10 scientific ways to know if your dog loves you
Science Proves: These 10 Bible Stories Probably Did Happen
The Bible describes many seemingly supernatural cases, but today, science can show that they might have indeed happened.
12 Earliest Versions of Tech Inventions We Use Every Day
Witness the evolution of 11 popular devices we use all the time by looking at how they all started...
5 Robotics Trends Anticipated in 2024
What does 2024 have in store for the field of robotics?
Breathalyzers May Be More Important Than You Thought
This video does a great job in breaking down how in the future, breath analysis can be used to detect disease and prevent more invasive procedures.
Why is Everyone Obsessed with This Weight-Loss Tool?
Ozempic has been touted as a wonder drug for weight loss in recent months. But what's the real truth behind it?
Researchers Claim This Ingredient Can Cure Depression!
A preliminary study has suggested that magic mushrooms may be able to soothe the symptoms of depression. Read here to find out more.
The Disappearing Computer: Revolution on a Personal Scale
What happens when we lose the physical large computer all together? This lecture explains what ahead for computers.
Are Underwater Turbines the Answer to Our Energy Question?
One of the most promising technologies in the renewable energy market is the ocean. Learn all about it.
New Study: A Pill that Works Out Your Muscles?!?
New study shows that, though we are not there yet, a pill can and probably WILL come out that works out the muscles and grows them.
The Facts You Didn't Know About the Human Body...
Discover 120 fascinating and surprising facts about your body you may not have known. Going over most of the body parts, you will learn so much you never knew about the body we all use.
Understanding the Aging Process of Our Body Parts
Find out how every organ and body part in our body changes with age.
Fascinating Science: How Old Can We Actually Get?
All things being equal, and technology continually progressing - How old can a human body really get?
How Can You Recognize a Fake Gadget Before Buying It?
More often than not, you're almost unable to recognize them. So, before purchasing the product you want to have, bear in mind the following tips:
Six Inventions Da-Vinci Made Ahead of Their Time
He created and envisioned many inventions that were sometimes even centuries ahead of their time. Was there ever a genius as great as Da-Vinci?
20 Incredible Inventions That We Have Completely Lost
Here are some of the most amazing ideas and inventions we have ever seen. But, sadly, all of them have been lost to science in the mysterious mists of history.
17 Experiments That Produced Very Bizarre Results...
Take a look at this collection of photos showing how common people performed some fascinating accidental scientific experiments.
There are Some Great Secrets Found in Mathematics...
Numbers hold some great secrets - they even tell us about life!
50 Crazy But True Facts About Dreams You Need to Know
Here are some strange and unusual facts about dreams that will surprise you.
6 Remarkable Yet Overlooked Minds That Shaped Our World
These underappreciated geniuses deserve more recognition.
Doctors Make History With First Whole Eye Transplant
Surgeons in New York have performed the world’s first transplant of an entire human eye!
This Visual Shows the Science Behind the Shape of Rivers
A fascinating visual model that explains why and how rivers change their course.
Take an Incredible Tour of Our Colossal Milky Way Galaxy
Fly Through the Milky Way Galaxy!
The Surprisingly Convoluted History of Traffic Lights
What did the first-ever traffic light look like? Probably stranger than you imagine...
Here Are the 16 Oldest Household Objects in the World
If you think ancient life is remote, these pre-historic household items will make you think again. Just look at how old they are!
Behind the Scenes of the Human-Like Atlas Robot
In this video, we get a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the incredible Atlas robot.
19 Everyday Items That Started as Military Inventions
Look around your home, and you’ll surely find a handful of these items that were originally developed for the armed forces.
What Does Medicine ACTUALLY Do In the Body? Fascinating.
What really happens in our bodies when we take medicine, have you ever wondered? This video will answer your question.
These Shoes Can Boost Your Walking Speed by 250%!
Robotic engineers have created shoes that, they claim, will increase your speed by 250%.
NASA's Plan to Colonize the Moon by 2026
NASA has a Moon colonization plan that involves utilizing 3D printers to construct an entire space station by 2026. Here's what it will look like.
The BIGGEST Indoor Ocean in the World - Jaw-Dropping!
Did you know that the US Navy has a football field-sized indoor ocean that can create any wave?
These Wacky Inventions of the Past Appear Odd to Us Today!
These vintage tech inventions may look very interesting or even incredible, but their practicality today is questionable...
Watch the Best HD Panorama Photo of Mars Ever Taken
Watch an incredible 1.8-Billion-Pixel panorama of the planet Mars that was recently captured by NASA's Curiosity rover.
The Accidental Discovery of the World’s First Antibiotic
Not too long ago, it was fairly common to die of the simplest of wounds due to bacterial infection. Penicillin changed everything.