Last updated on August 24th, 2019 at 04:06 pm
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs or GMs) are one of the most well-studied areas of biological and agricultural research. However, one of the tactics of the GMO refusers is that “there’s no proof that GMOs are safe.” It’s time to look at the GMO science facts – examining myth from science.
Typically, in a debate, the side making the assertion (those that say GMOs are unsafe) are responsible for the evidence that supports their contention. But, the anti-GMO gang relies upon the argument from ignorance, trying to force the argument to “if you can’t prove that they’re safe, they must be unsafe.”
The anti-GMO forces also like to invoke the precautionary principle, which attempts to shift the burden of proof to those who are advocating GMOs (or any new technology) until the advocates “prove” that there are absolutely no negative consequences of using GMOs.
The principle is often cited by anti-science and/or environmental activists when there is a perceived lack of evidence showing that this technology is absolutely safe.
I’ve written numerous articles about GMOs, focusing on scientific evidence supported by high-quality research. And more than a few articles debunked myths and bad research from the anti-GMO crowd. To assist those who are doing research on the topic, this article was created to be a one-stop shop for GMO science facts – and fiction.
GMO science facts
- Scientific theories are really scientific.
- Science supports GMO safety. A list of the most current published research on GMOs.
- Scientific consensus on GMO safety and climate change.
- Review of 10 years of GMO scientific research – they’re safe./li>
- Vaccines from GMO corn – science deniers everywhere faint. It’s always good to have an article that combines GMOs and vaccines.
- No more “debates” about GMO safety–thanks to trillions of data points.
- Journal retracts Séralini’s controversial “GMO causes cancer” article. Gilles-Eric Séralini hogwash article ends up on the waste heap of bad science, right next to the garbage article from Mr. Andrew Wakefield.
- Do GMO crops have a higher yield? It depends on the answer.
- Correlation does not imply causation. Except when it does or doesn’t. It’s an important concept in understanding the safety of GMOs.
- Stopping dengue fever with genetically modified mosquitoes. The attack of the Frankensquito.
- Cancer rates are increasing in the USA. Not really. And GMOs are not involved either way.
- Oh no, here comes Frankenfish. Actually not.
- Another anti-GMO paper retracted because the authors wanted to support their preordained conclusions that GMOs are unsafe.
- Séralini again. He goes to court to sue someone for calling his research fraudulent. He kind of wins. Doesn’t mean that his research is anything but bad, very bad, science.
- GMOs have been around for 10,000 years, give or take. So unless you want to eat inedible grains growing on the plains, enjoy those GMO foods.
- And another anti-GMO article is retracted because the data was essentially manufactured out of nothing.
- Genetically engineered crops – safe for humans and animals, according to the National Academy of Sciences.
- Almond milk – examining the science behind this food fad – not really about GMOs, just a silly food fad.
- GMO crop pesticide use in the USA soybeans and corn – just the facts – a newly published article seems to imply that glyphosate-resistant GMO crops cause resistant weeds. No, it doesn’t say that.
- GMO food safety – those genes do not transfer to humans – why do anti-GMO activists believe that GMO genes are somehow incorporated into the human genome? Because it doesn’t.
- Anti-GMO and anti-vaccine activists – they’ve converged – like climate change deniers, the anti-vaccine and anti-GMO zealots ignore real science to further their beliefs.
- GMO vs non-GMO foods – genetic modification techniques – we’ve been genetically modifying foods for 10,000 years, here’s how.
- GMO bananas – necessary to save the fruit from extinction – because most bananas shipped internationally are from one cultivar, to save the banana, we need a genetically modified version.
- GMO corn – safe and more productive according to new meta-review – another large systematic review that shows us GMO corn is safe and productive.
Debunking anti-GMO pseudoscience
- The bad science checklist of GMO opponents. GMO opponents are almost the same as anti-science people who populate the global warming denier community.
- The anti-GMO bad science checklist. Examining some of the Red Flags of Science used by the GMO refusers.
- GMO opponents are the left’s version of global warming deniers. Neither climate change deniers nor GMO refusers want to believe this, but they both use junk science.
- GMO foods cause cancer–pseudoscience says it’s so. But real science says this is ridiculous.
- The myth of GMO gene transfer to humans. Impossible.
- GMO corn causes cancer–Myth vs. Science (recent news). Gilles-Eric Séralini writes bad science.
- Overhyped GMO corn study gets more scrutiny. Séralini again.
- Dr. Oz falls for the overhyped and debunked GMO corn study. Oz promotes Séralini.
- GMO opponents are the global warming denialists of the left. More information on how the left is wrong about GMOs (and the right is wrong about climate change).
- Refusers misuse GMO rice research data.
- Arguments that GMO opponents should delete from their brains. A list of arguments used (or misused) by the GMO refusers that should not be used anymore.
- GMO opponents fall for a hoax.
- Glyphosate causes cancer. No, not really.
- Reblog: “10 ‘scientific’ responses” to “10 reasons we don’t need GMOs”
- Regarding those mistakes made by science… They weren’t really mistakes.
- One hour of research on Google–obviously all science is wrong. No, many years of research tells us that GMOs are safe.
- Agricultural pesticides cause autism? Don’t hold your breath. Not necessarily about GMOs, but it’s the old trope that “everything causes autism.”
- Another myth – labeling GMO foods is not expensive.
- GMO labeling law – Senate thinks they’re smarter than scientists – US Senate pushes a compromise GMO labeling bill that could cause food prices to go up.
- Greenpeace anti-GMO beliefs – Nobel laureates say they’re wrong
- Girl Scout cookies and GMO – subtly pushing an anti-science agenda – Some Girl Scout USA cookies are labeled GMO free. Why!?!?!?!
GMO food fads
- Genetically modified gluten – delicious and tasty irony – Only a tiny number of people have real diagnosed gluten sensitivity. And for those people, GMO gluten may eliminate the nasty problems.
- High fructose corn syrup – it’s just sugar. Sometimes high fructose corn syrup is conflated with GMOs. Not only shouldn’t be conflated, but HFCS is nothing more than sugar.
- Anti-GMO liberals attack Cheerios.
- And then, Cheerios is now GMO-free – it’s not what it appears to be.
- GMO sugar vs natural sugar – can you tell the difference? – probably not, but the answers will be amusing.
Supporters of GMO science facts
- Richard Dawkins GMO position is positive. Renowned evolutionary biologist Dawkins takes on Prince Charles.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson tells GMO haters to chill out–liberals get angry. Everyone’s still mad that he removed Pluto from the list of planets.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson–unafraid of GMO’s.
- Developing and supporting a scientific consensus. This story is not just about GMOs but also about how to develop a consensus.
- The solid GMO scientific consensus. The consensus is similar to the ones for evolution, the Big Bang, vaccines, and climate change.
- Where’s the common sense in the GMO discussion?–A review of an article by Nina Fedoroff, a Penn State University faculty member, who actually studies biotechnology. Her scientific bona fides are public, including being past President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
- Anti-GMO activist changes his mind–what does it really mean? A former member of the anti-GMO forces switches sides. Could it be that Mark Lynas saw real science and changed his mind? Or did Monsanto brainwash him?
Anti-GMO ad hominem personal attacks
- Bill Gates, part 3 – despised by GMO refusers. Apparently, Bill Gates is hated by Apple users, antivaccine cultists, and the anti-GMO gang. That means he’s doing good things.
- GMO refusers and vaccine deniers cross–call Big Pharma and Monsanto.
- Anti-GMO activists and climate change deniers – no science. Using the tactics of the climate change deniers, anti-GMO gonzo journalists take emails from Dr. Kevin Folta, a renowned plant geneticist, in an attempt to destroy his reputation. They failed.
- Dr. Kevin Folta, Part 2. The non-apology apology.
- Dr. Kevin Folta, Part 3. Ad hominem personal attacks.
- Dr. Kevin Folta, Part 4. More fallout from personal attacks and threats.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in June 2015. It will be regularly updated as we publish new articles on GMO science facts.
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Chief Executive Officer at SkepticalRaptor
Lifetime lover of science, especially biomedical research. Spent years in academics, business development, research, and traveling the world shilling for Big Pharma. I love sports, mostly college basketball and football, hockey, and baseball. I enjoy great food and intelligent conversation. And a delicious morning coffee!
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