Genes are the blueprints of life. Genetic material found within cells determines the differences between all living organisms - plants, animals, humans and microorganisms. Genetic engineering is the process by which scientists artificially alter this information. It is accomplished by introducing selected genes into the host DNA without knowing precisely where they will end up. Given the complexity of DNA material, most of which is still unknown to us, this procedure has the potential to cause unexpected problems which could be passed on to future generations.
Genetic engineering combines genes from completely different species.
In the case of genetically engineered foods, fish genes have been spliced into tomatoes, human genes into pigs, and insect genes into potatoes. Genetic engineering is a new, relatively untested technology that can have enormous impacts on the very fabric of life. Given the many unanswered questions about this technology, its widespread application to agriculture and food makes it a risky experiment that is being tested on American consumers without their knowledge or consent. Parents are unwittingly collaborating in this experiment by feeding GE foods to their children. There are a mounting number of scientific studies from around the world that show the real and potential dangers of GE foods.