© Oxford University Press 2011 IB1.27.3 Varieties of GM crops Varieties of GM crops

© Oxford University Press 2011

IB1.27.3 Varieties of GM crops

Varieties of GM crops



GM soya beans

Resistant to weedkiller.

77% of all soya grown in the world is GM.

Click on the picture to find out more



GM maize

Resistant to a pest, the corn borer. 80% of the maize grown in the US

is GM. GM maize is now grown in Spain,

Portugal, the Czech Republic and Germany.

The gene from algae has been put into another variety of corn to provide the ‘fish oils’ humans need for brain development.




GM golden riceGolden rice contains vitamin A and can be a way of providing enough of this vitamin to children in developing countries at no extra cost. (White rice contains no vitamin A.)




GM cotton Resistant to pests. Cotton fibres are used for textiles

and the seeds provide oil and protein for animal feed and oil for margarine.

GM cotton has a gene from a bacterium. The gene codes for a toxin that kills the pests.

Most GM cotton is grown in India and the US but some is grown in other parts of the world.




GM tomatoes, potatoes, squash, papaya

Resistant to pests and so fewer chemicals have to be used. Tomatoes have a longer shelf life as ripening is delayed.

This means the fruits can be ripened on the plants before being picked, giving them more flavour.




GM bananas

Resistant to pests. GM bananas contain more zinc,

an important mineral which can be lacking in a diet which contains little meat, such as in some African countries.




Genetically modified (GM) crops

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© Oxford University Press 2011 IB1.27.3 Varieties of GM crops Varieties of GM crops