Only genetically modified food crops have genes

Whether or not they are genetically engineered, all food crops contain genes. Plants have DNA, just like humans, and the genotypes of the plant determine which phenotypes will be expressed. Actually, Gregor Mendel, the founder of genetics, first understood how genes work while researching pea plants.

Food crops that have undergone genetic modification differ from conventional food crops because their genomes have been altered to incorporate genes from other organisms. In order to make crops resistant to herbicides and pesticides, bacteria-derived genes are the most frequently used alterations. Because the crops are already resistant to pests, farmers can spray their fields with herbicide to kill weeds without harming the crops or use fewer chemicals overall.

Therefore, the inclusion of one or two genes is the only genetic distinction between conventional crops and GMO crops. The topic of labeling foods that include GMO plant products has generated a lot of discussion.