Man Made Vegetables
Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet for all ages, but what is a man made vegetable? Man made vegetables are ones created in a laboratory or facility using a process of genetic engineering and selective breeding to bring about desired traits.
What Traits are Desired?
Man made vegetables are typically created with a few wanted traits in mind. These include:
- Higher Nutrient Content – Genetic engineering allows scientists to enhance the nutritional content of certain vegetables, such as adding lutein to tomatoes or omega-3 fatty acids to soybeans.
- Increased Disease Resistance – Genetic engineering can also be used to create vegetables that are resistant to certain diseases, such as blight or mildew.
- Improved Flavor – Science has enabled us to create vegetables with a better flavor, such as sweeter and firmer tomatoes.
Examples of Man Made Vegetables
Many man made vegetables can be found at grocery stores and farmers markets. A few examples include:
- Golden Rice – This genetically modified strain of rice is produced using genetic engineering techniques. It is high in beta-carotene, which the body can convert to Vitamin A.
- Innate Potatoes – These potatoes have been genetically modified to resist discoloration and produce 10-50% less acrylamide when fried or baked.
- Crimson Sweet Watermelon – This genetically modified watermelon was created to resist disease and have increased sweetness. It is more drought resistant than other watermelons.
Conclusion
Man made vegetables are a great way to add nutrition, flavor, and disease resistance to our diets. They can be found in grocery stores and farmers markets, and are an important part of a healthy diet.
