The History of GMOs  

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The art of gene splicing dates from 1972. Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer developed techniques that made it possible to chemically cut and splice strands of DNA at specific places in the sequence.  In 1976, they founded the new company Genentech and introduced human genes that produce insulin into strains of bacteria. Those bacteria started manufacturing insulin.

By 1983, scientists at two universities and the seed giant Monsanto had figured out how to take out harmful genes from plasmids, insert the desired gene and get the plasmid into the plant cell where it would introduce the gene into the nucleus of the plant itself.

These techniques opened the floodgates for genetic engineering, and lead to the development of Bt, Roundup Ready and other genetically modified crops

Gene-splicing technology entered the food industry in 1990 when the FDA approved the safety of a new strain of GMO rennet.

In 1994, Monsanto introduced a form of bovine growth hormone (BGH) that was manufactured by genetically modified bacteria. Farmers could inject the hormone directly into dairy cattle to increase their milk production. Critics were concerned that the hormones could get into the milk supply and possibly harm the cows. Studies suggest concerns are very real. read more

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Like many of man's creations and scientific breakthroughs, sometimes progress or the end goal creates as many problems as it resolves.  In efforts to create hardier, round up resistant plants, nutrition value and cellular continuity has change the properties of the food that is being created.   There are numerous groups and individual reports, studies and opinions on the safety of altering the DNA of things we consume, and what their effect is on our own DNA.  There is a significant population world wide that either bans or limits the use of genetic modified products.