Ma. Cristina V.

Nollora
Ed Wilfred Marcial
BSIT1B

CRITICALLY THINKING GMOs

COMPARING CROP PRODUCTION METHODS

Growing a non-GMO crop

• Desired traits can be

identified. It may take

Growing a GMO crop
• desired traits can be a significant amount of
• Desire traits can be fairly
easily identified. time (decades) to find.
identified
• Life cycle and • Diseases and pests are
• Has genetically resistant
growth of plant is controlled with
equivalent
to diseases or pest
• Scientists can put a single
• Safe and nutrition chemicals
pacific trait in DNA
of plant is equal or other cultivation
practices
• Desired traits cannot be
Perpetuated individually.
 Benefits of GMO crops Risks of GMO crops
• Tastier food • Creation of foods that can cause an
• Disease- and drought-resistant plants allergic or toxic reaction
that require fewer environmental • Unexpected or harmful genetic
resources (such as water and fertilizer) • changes
Increased supply of food with reduced • Inadvertent transfer of genes from
cost and longer shelf life
one GM plant or animal to another plant
• Faster growing plants
or animal not intended for genetic
• Food with more desirable traits, such as
potatoes that produce less of a cancer-
modification
causing substance when fried • It can be dangerous to other insects
• Medicinal foods that could be used as that are important to our ecosystem.
vaccines or other medicines • It sparks concerns about changing the
• increased attractiveness to consumers, field of agriculture.
for example, apples and potatoes that are • It can damage the environment.
less likely to bruise or turn brown • It causes unwanted residual effects.
• longer shelf life and therefore less • It can create more weeds. • It
waste threatens crop diversity.
• greater resistance to viruses and other • It has trade issues. In other countries
diseases, which could lead to less waste and regions in the world, there may be
and increased food security problems regarding trade matters, such
• greater tolerance to herbicides, making
as tariffs and quotas.
it easier for farmers to control weeds
• increased nutritional value, as in golden
rice, which can boost the health of people
with limited access to food
• greater resistance to insects, allowing
farmers to reduce trusted source pesticide
use
• ability to thrive in a harsh climate, such
as drought or heat
• ability to grow in salty soil
• It is known to decrease food prices.
 CRITICALLY THINKING IN PAIRS

Step 1: After being grouped into pairs, you will be assigned a position on the use
of GMOs in our food supply. Mark it below:
I am in favor of GMOs
 I am against GMOs

Step 2: Find evidence to support your assigned position. List three (3) pieces of
evidence below in order, from highest to lowest quality. Your notes on the first
two (2) pages of this worksheet will serve as your reference.

1. Some GMO plants contain genes that make them resistant to certain
antibiotics. This resistance could pass on to humans.
2. Researchers believe that eating GMO foods can contribute to the
development of cancer. They argue that because mutations in DNA cause
disease, it is dangerous to introduce new genes into the body.
3. Outcrossing refers to the risk of genes from individual GMO plants mixing
with conventional crops. There have been reports of low levels of GMO
crops approved as animal feed or for industrial use being found in food
meant for human consumption.
Step 3: Formulate your argument to support the position you have been assigned.
Summarize it below in 1-2 paragraphs.

 People have little understanding of science regarding the long-term effects

and protection of GMO plants. There is more potential for GMO foods to
cause allergic reactions, and consuming GMO foods will lead to cancer
growth; it is harmful to insert new genes into the body because DNA
mutations cause disease. There is also a concern that genetic engineering,
which can prove a crop’s resistance to disease or make it more resistant to
herbicides, may affect people’s ability to protect against disease. It is a slim
possibility that food genes can be passed to the body’s cells or bacteria in
 the gut. Some GMO plants produce genes that make certain antibiotics
immune to them. The resistance could transfer to humans. To conclude, it
is best to use traditional planting and consume natural plants; it is not
wrong to innovate but make it more natural, and safe.

Step 4: With your partner, discuss your final positions on the use of GMOs and
the evidence for each position. Identify which portions of the position are based
on scientific research and which portions are based more on social issues. List
them below:
SCIENTIFIC ISSUES SOCIAL ISSUES
 GMO plants contain genes that  Reports of low levels of GMO
make them resistant to certain crops approved as animal feed or
antibiotics. This resistance could for industrial use being found in
pass on to humans. food meant for human
 GMO foods can contribute to the consumption.
development of cancer.  GMO foods have more potential
to trigger allergic reactions. This is
because they may contain genes
from an allergen – a food that
prompts an allergic reaction.

Step 5: Reach a consensus. The use of GMOs is a topic that combines both social
and scientific issues. Your consensus will be a combination of two (2) opposing
views based on multiple lines of evidence. Below, formulates a NEW position,
which addresses the needs and wants of both sides of the issue. (Note: The
consensus could include multiple solutions)

 Researchers worldwide have widely studied genetically modified organisms

or GMOs to study various scientific and social issues. GMOs need more
scientific research and drug trials. Because saving human life at the expense
of a lab-produced organism is seen as a balancing measure by many.
Various agricultural applications, especially in areas such as the great lakes
region, carry much importance because it improves the quality and
quantity of the produced product. The dangers of GMOs on health are,
however, not much known and thus. It becomes of prime importance to
check the safety before the introduction of such organisms. Various
diseases, primarily genetic, may find their answer in GMOs. The gene of
interest may be produced and/or introduced from GMO to a deficient
person.