Take-Home Message:
The creation of genetically modified crops is a high-tech, relatively safe and targeted breeding method that allows to speed up and diversify obtaining of new cultivars. Do not be afraid of GMOs, which are naturally common among bacteria and plants.
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Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. They range from genome-edited organisms to metabolically engineered ones. But in any case, target gene can be carefully controlled by the organ- and stage-specific expression. More than 430 varieties of 32 GM crops are grown on the field, demonstrating increased resistance to herbicides, diseases and pests, or improved yield quality. GM plants also can be used as bioreactors for the synthesis of pharmacologically significant compounds and biopolymers [1]. The appearance of GM crops on the market formed a negative attitude towards GMOs in public opinion, which was largely inflated by mass media. Most of the scandalous studies on GMO dangers have methodological inaccuracies. DNA transformation is a natural process commonly widespread among prokaryotes. More than 50 years of use of GM bacteria was harmless to humans and environment, and did not cause any significant objections from society. An analysis of sequenced genomes shows about 6% of dicots are natural GMOs that have been used by humans throughout their history [2]. Supported by RSF 21-14-00050