Today, many foods are genetically engineered (GE). GE foods are an example of how science is trying to   41  nature. Scientists use a special process to put new genetic information into a plant.   42   , the plant’s DNA, or genetic code, changes. For instance, to protect a plant from a certain virus, scientists can put a gene into the plant to make it more   43   to the virus. Such development seems positive. Why then has there been a worldwide negative reaction to GE foods? 

        The answer is simple: genetically changed plants are   44   the same as the original ones. Think of something like GE tomatoes. They may be larger and juicier, but they may contain DNA from plants such as nuts or even from animals such as fish. Opponents of GE foods say that the great   45   is for people allergic to substances such as nuts or fish. That tasty tomato could cause an allergic reaction—possibly even death for someone with severe allergies. Yet a person with allergies might never know that the tomato contained the substance.

        An old proverb says that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” But if you look at real-life stories of technology,you’ll see that not all inventions were planned. Some of them were accidents! In the 1940s, a scientist named Percy Spencer was working to develop radar systems for the U.S. military. Oneday, in his laboratory, he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had gotten very soft and melted even though itwasn’t hot in the room. He was standing next to a machine called a magnetron. Quickly, he did an experiment, puttingsome kernels of corn next to the magnetron. In a minute, he had popcorn. And that was how the microwave oven wasinvented. 

        “Accidental inventions” have been happening for a long time. In 1839, a salesman was experimenting with a newproduct from Brazil called rubber. It could be used to make erasers, but it melted at high temperatures, and broke whenit was cold. The inventor tried mixing it with different chemicals, but nothing worked until he accidentally dropped iton a hot stove. Heat made the rubber strong and flexible. Thanks to Charles Goodyear’s accident, we now have rubbertires for our cars, and rubber soles for our shoes.