Frankenfoods

We will spend a little time this week talking about that as well as looking at a case study, in which a university research laboratory is vandalized by environmental activists opposed to genetic engineering, focuses on the science and ethics of genetically modified crops. We will discuss both the risks and benefits of biotechnology and explore the positions of various stakeholders, including environmentalists, conservationists, agricultural businesses, research scientists, and farmers.

Read through the case study. Using the document, answer any 4 of the questions below. You must answer question 1 as well. You will be answering 5 questions in total.

Write your post in a narrative format based on your answers. Original posts are due by midnight EST on Wednesday.

1) What degree are you working toward? What is your progress in accomplishing your education goals and what are the next courses you taking?

2) The recent acts of activists intent on destruction of research plots included plants altered by molecular as well as classical genetic techniques. Is it possible to distinguish between plants altered by classical genetics and those altered by modern techniques? If it is possible how is it done?

3) What safeguards are in place to protect Americans from unsafe food? Are these methods science-based?

4) What are some of the ethical concerns that surround genetic modification of food? Examine your references when researching this question. How many may be biased?

5) Is there any reason to be concerned with the role of private corporations in the development of agriculture biotechnology?

6) Should companies be allowed to patent organisms? Include details to back up your stance.

7) Do you think there are good reasons for preventing the development of biotechnology foods? Why or why not?

References for the pdf:
Bent, Andrew F., and I. Ching Yu. 1999. Applications of molecular biology to plant disease and insect resistance. In: Donald L. Sparks. Editor. Advances in Agronomy. V. 66:251-298.
Bell, Ted. Vandals strike 2 private farm fields. Genetic engineering protest expands. The Sacramento Bee. September 30, 1999.
Boulter, D. 1997. Scientific and public perception of plant genetic manipulation-a critical review. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 16(3):231-251.
Ford-Lloyd, Brian, and Kevin Painting. 1996. Measuring Genetic Variation Using Molecular Markers. Version 1.2. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.
Glausiusz, Jose. 1998. The great gene escape. Discover 91-96.
Frewer, Lynn F., Chaya Howard and Jackie I. Aaron. 1998. Consumer acceptance of transgenic crops. Pesticide Science 52:388-393.