Biotechnology is the study of direct manipulation of biological life at a base level - A new, profound and enormously powerful area of scientific research.
It is an area of science currently without known boundaries, where anything is possible, and where very little is currently understood.
According to science, evolution is the self-governing force by which every biological
entity is controlled. Evolution seems to find it's own direction, depending upon many
factors, arguably an infinite number.
So complex is the subject that a complete knowledge of exactly how and why something
evolves the way it does is not yet known, and may never be. Biotechnology has discovered
ingenius methods of manipulating genes and organisms in ways that would not occur
naturally by evolution.
BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone), rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone), BST, rBST (recombinant Bovine Somatotropin) are different terms used in reference to a manufactured hormone, produced by Monsanto, used to increase milk yeild by 15% in dairy cattle. It was licensed by the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) for use in the US in 1993. It has not yet been granted a license for use in Europe and has been officially banned in some European countries, due to concerns about it's safety, even so, Monsanto continues to encourage governments around the world to grant a license for it's use.
Monsanto is one of the biggest, most powerful, most ambitious and contraversial biotechnology companies on the planet. Monsanto's tactics have repeatedly and regularly raised concerns around the world, on subjects of ethics, greed, and corruption. There are reported to be very close links between Monsanto and the US FDA, who ultimately grant licenses for the use of Monsanto's technologies in the US. An indication of this is in the 'revolving door' policy Monsanto and the FDA share - Many former employees of Monsanto are now working at the FDA, and vice-versa. Of course, this could just be coincidence.
GE Foods (Genetically Engineered Foods), GM Foods (Genetically Modified Foods). These terms both describe a foodstuff whose manufacturing process has involved the manipulation of genes in the laboratory. The term 'GE' is usually used in the US, while in the UK 'GM' is used to the same meaning. GE/GM crops are usually grown in the same way as any other crop, from a seed which has been altered to possess enhanced or subdued traits. The growth and ingestion of foods of this type have shown potential threats to both human health and the ecology of the entire planet.
GMO, GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) - Are the altered components of a GM crop which directly or indirectly drive the characteristical change for which the modification is designed.
GURT (Genetic Use Restriction Technology), AKA - Terminator Technology - A procedure developed by Monsanto to create seeds of which only the first generation will germinate. Not yet licensed (as at June 1999) This means that farmers will not be able to collect their own seed for re-use on the following year, but instead will have to buy seed from Monsanto year after year. This is contraversial because it will ultimately leave absolute control of world food resources in the hands of Monsanto.