Genetically modified organisms
Ok kiddo, so you know how sometimes we can change things about ourselves, like getting a haircut or wearing different clothes? Well, scientists can do something similar with plants and animals by changing their genes to make them better in some way. This is called genetically modifying organisms or GMOs for short.
Think of a gene as a set of instructions that tells an organism how to grow and work. Scientists can use special tools to cut and paste genes from one organism into another. For example, they can take a gene from a fish that helps it survive in cold temperatures and put it into a strawberry plant to help it survive frost.
GMOs can be really helpful because they can make crops grow faster, be resistant to pests, or have more nutrients. This can help farmers produce more food, and make it cheaper and easier for people to get fruits and veggies that are good for them.
However, some people worry that GMOs could have long-term effects on the environment or our health. So, scientists are carefully testing new GMOs to make sure they're safe before they're allowed to be used.
In summary, GMOs are organisms whose genes have been changed by scientists to make them better in some way. While they can be really helpful, scientists are making sure they're safe before using them.
Think of a gene as a set of instructions that tells an organism how to grow and work. Scientists can use special tools to cut and paste genes from one organism into another. For example, they can take a gene from a fish that helps it survive in cold temperatures and put it into a strawberry plant to help it survive frost.
GMOs can be really helpful because they can make crops grow faster, be resistant to pests, or have more nutrients. This can help farmers produce more food, and make it cheaper and easier for people to get fruits and veggies that are good for them.
However, some people worry that GMOs could have long-term effects on the environment or our health. So, scientists are carefully testing new GMOs to make sure they're safe before they're allowed to be used.
In summary, GMOs are organisms whose genes have been changed by scientists to make them better in some way. While they can be really helpful, scientists are making sure they're safe before using them.