Harvest of Fear

 

Name Sharon Kolawole Date November 10, 2014

 

“Harvest of Fear” GMO Activity

 

1. Read the introduction at the following website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/exist/

2. Based on your current knowledge, should we grow genetically modified crops?

This seems to be a two-sided question. For some fruits and vegetables, giving them the ability to be rid of sickness and etc, is amazing and very beneficial to us. But we can’t possibly predict the magnitude of the consequences if we continue to consume genetically modified crops. We already consume toxins on a daily basis, why add to the concoction?

3. Watch the Frontline Video and answer the following.

 a. What is The E.L.F.?

ELF is The Earth Liberation Front (ELF). They are autonomous individuals or covert cells who, according to the ELF Press Office, use "economic sabotage and guerrilla warfare to stop the exploitation and destruction of the environment"

b. What devastated the Papaya crop in Hawaii?

The Papaya ringspot virus devastated the Papaya crop in Hawaii.

c. How did the researchers possibly solve this problem?

Researchers took a harmless gene from ringspot virus and used it to ‘vaccinate’ the papayas.

4. Select the Engineer a Crop link. Complete the “Transgenic Manipulation” activity.

 

a. What gene were you manipulating?

We are taking the toxin gene from the bacteria Bt to make tomatoes resistant to insects.

b. What is a vector?

A vector is a short piece of DNA capable of replicating on its own when inside a bacterial cell.

c. What type of organism is used to transfer the gene?

Agrobacteria is the organism used to transfer the gene

d. How do you determine if the new gene has been added to the tomato leaf cells?

By spraying the plants with a herbicide, we can determine if the new gene has been added to the tomato leaf cells, because only those will survive.

e. How do you know if the new tomato plant is pest resistant?

To test if the new tomato plant is pest resistant; the pest was allowed to eat the plant’s leaves. If the plant was resistant, then the Bt will kill the pest.

5. Visit two links from the following page: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/etc/links.html .

Choose a link from each side of the debate. Give a summary of the organization or article that

you chose. Include the organization name, their stance or viewpoint on the GMO debate and

your reaction to the information the organization is providing to the public.

 

a. Source: The Alliance for Better Foods is pro genetically modified crops. They these crops are perfectly safe, even as safe as their natural counterparts. They say they are ready to face any safety and regulatory challenges that these products bring. I was very surprised to say the least. Their point is invalid. If these products are perfectly safe, then why should they have safety challenges…?

b. Source: National Family Farm Coalition is against genetically modified crops. They want the U.S. to change its farm and food policy because it has caused economic devastation to family famers and rural communities.

 

6. Visit the “What’s for Dinner” page. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/coming/

7. List and describe the genetically modified items in the activity.

Tablecloth (Cotton): moth resistant and drought tolerant

Pizza: Most of the ingredients; wheat- easily digestible, cheese, peppers

Bananas: Edible vaccines

Coffee: Altered caffeine content

Sushi: Rice with altered starch levels, pest resistance, edible nutrition. Salmon may become the first genetically modified fish. It grow in the winter and grow faster and bigger.

Corn: altered oil profiles, amino acid compositions, seed color, starch content, and ability to tolerate drought.

Petunias: coloring, pesticide resistance

Fruit: altered sugar content, fruit ripening cycles, pest resistance

Fries (Potatoes): engineered to absorb less oil when fried, high performance cooking oils that may allow healthier fried foods.

Fly: Sterile Insect Technique, sterilize pest population to reduce it or even eliminate it.