Genetically Modified Products

The development of the biological science of genetics began in the mid-1800s, when Gregor Mendel (1822–84) studied the characteristics of plants, and peas in particular, over several generations. His studies were followed by the development of hybrids by [Page 178]Luther Burbank (1849–1926) through selective breeding. Between 1945 and 1965, the green revolution in agriculture greatly increased the world's food supply through the use of selective breeding of hybrid seeds, along with large quantities of pesticides and fertilizers.

The great advance in genetics came in 1953, with the discovery of the DNA molecule by James D. Crick (1928–) and Francis Watson (1916–2004). The secret of life is in the DNA, and especially in the genes on the chromosomes. Genes are attached to the DNA double helix. Genes ...