There's no evidence that genetically modified crops are capable of causing any harm, and plenty of indications say they are safe. Nevertheless, the use of these plants is controversial in a number of countries, limiting their adoption.
One of the most frequently mentioned issues with GMO foods is a vague concern about bringing genes from distantly related organisms into plants. But an international team of biologists has now found that this has occurred naturally in a major crop plant: the sweet potato. The strains of this crop that we currently cultivate had a set of genes inserted into their genomes by bacteria—the same bacteria used to create many genetically modified plants.
The bacteria in question are part of the Agrobacterium genus, a group of plant pathogens. Upon infection, the bacteria insert a small piece of DNA (termed T-DNA) into the plant's genome. The DNA carries a number of genes that interfere with a few normal plant hormones. These changes cause plant cells to start proliferating, forming tumor-like growths.
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