GM Food Vs. Genetic Health Technology

While the technology for making Genetically Modified food organisms and the technology developed for human health seem similar, there are a few key differences setting them apart. The technology for GM humans like designer babies is much more hypothetical and complicated than the GM food technology.  Genetically modifying humans raises more ethical and societal questions while the GMOs argument raises health questions, as well as debates over the size and power of farming and bio companies like Monsanto. The actual process of genetically modifying food crops is simple. First, the part that is chosen to be modified is isolated. Scientists have to study the isolated gene very carefully to determine the genome of the trait. After analyzing the genome, scientists insert the desired trait into a different genome using enzymes.

Powell, Chelsea. "How to Make a GMO." Science in the News. Harvard University, 9 Aug. 2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.

The last part of the process may sound familiar because it uses plasmids like in recombinant DNA, pictured below.
 
Recombinant DNA was used in the bodies of people with diabetes. Scientists isolated the gene that produces insulin, inserted it into a plasmid, and then inserted the plasmid back into a cell. Nowadays, diabetic people take biosynthetic insulin that perfectly matches their bodies. Iowa Public Television. "Recombinant DNA: Example Using Insulin." Explore More Genetic Engineering. Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and the USDE Star Schools Program, 2004. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.
Designer babies are the hottest topic regarding GM human health technology. Although most of the technology is hypothetical, the process would most likely be similar to GMO technology in that it would involve taking parts of a genome and inserting it into the embryo's genome.
"The Science Behind “Designer Babies”." Women's Bioethics Project Book Club. Women's Bioethics Organization, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.