• Genetically modified foods are grown all over the world.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Genetically modified plants are used as commercial crops in countries such as the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, Canada and India. These plants are known as genetically modified foods and are genetically altered in a number of ways. Modifications include the mixing of DNA in injection of pesticides and phytohormones. These alterations encourage growth and increase disease and pest resistance. Plants that are commonly modified include corn, tomatoes, soybeans and cotton.
  
  

Fruit

• Many fruiting plants are modified to increase the strength of the fruit. Fruit includes any part of a plant a human or animal might eat, such as vegetables, grain and tubers. Soybeans, corn, cotton, canola and alfalfa are modified to resist pests. Sweet potatoes have been genetically modified to resist disease and tomatoes have been altered to stay fresh for longer periods of time in order to ease crop harvesting and transportation. Golden rice, for example, is a genetically modified fruit designed to add essential nutrients, such as Vitamin A, to those living on a rice-based diet.
  
  

Seeds

• Species of transgenic or genetically modified plants that have been harvested for multiple generations are capable of producing transgenic seeds for self-propagation. One such example of genetically modified seeds can be found in the case of transgenic canola plants growing in the wilds of North Dakota. Hundreds of genetically modified plants were found growing wild in the northern plains state, according to Discovery News, but these plants are only available to farmers. Therefore, the only way the plants could occur in the wild is through the ability to self-propagate through seed. This wild growth provoked worry that herbicide-resistant DNA in a wild environment may lead to herbicide-resistant weeds.
  
  

Roots

• Genetically modified plant roots are designed with the purpose of increasing a species' ability to absorb and retain water in arid regions or in the event of poor irrigation. Research is underway at Israel's Tel Aviv University to develop genetically modified roots with improved water uptake, Science Daily reports. The aim of the project is to design roots for plants such as mustard and cabbage that are more sensitive to water. By improving water uptake and sensitivity, scientists hope they will prevent crop devastation in dry years. Researchers also hope to improve the quality, productivity and longevity of commercial and food crops, thus providing a more steady income for farmers of such crops and increasing the amount of edible plants in the region, according to Science Daily.