Life on Gene

                                                            Z IK A Virus What is Zika Virus? Zika virus ( ZIKV) is a member of the   Flaviviridae   virus   family   and the   Flavivirus   genus. In humans, it initially causes a mild illness known as   Zika fever , Zika, or Zika disease, which since the 1950s has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. In 2014, the virus spread eastward across the Pacific Ocean to   French Polynesia , then to   Easter Island   and in 2015 to Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, where the   Zika outbreak   has reached   pandemic   levels. Illustration of Zika Virus.           Zika virus is related to   dengue ,   yellow fever ,   Japanese encephalitis , and   West Nile   viruses. The illness it causes is similar to a mild form of   dengue fever ,   is treated by rest,   and cannot yet be prevented by drugs or vaccines. There is a possible link between Zika fever and   m

                                                                                                                    GMO     What are GMOs? GMOs(or “ genetically modified organisms ”)  are   living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory by genetic engineering, or GE. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. How GMOs Are Made Here’s how it works. Scientists take a plant. They change the plant by adding DNA from another plant, bacteria, or virus to it. DNA is what gives everything its special characteristics. So in this way, the original plant now has new qualities. The changes can make them more resistant to disease, bugs, or drought. It can give them other qualities too, like those that affect their taste or shelf life. Are GMOs SAFE? I think GMOs are safe for health