Harvest of Fear

Should we Grow GM Crops?

Instructions: Read the page and click YES or NO, reach the next...click YES or NO...etc until you’ve read all the arguments -- You will need to do this 12 times in order for your votes to be tallied. Navigate the site, each of the bold headings below are links within the site


1. What is a GM Crop.

A GM crop is a fruit or vegetable that has been genetically modified.


2. List 2 arguments FOR the growing of GM crops

Crops can be engineered to grow in climates that they usually aren't suited for, so they could enhance the local economy. Also,
crops can be engineered to grow faster, so eventually there will be many more crops. Eventually, this could go as far as to combat world hunger.


3. List 2 arguments AGAINST the growing of GM crops.

Genetically modified crops can sometimes create new allergies and cause health risks.


*Read some of the reader’s responses.



Engineer a Crop

4. Practice this simulation until you get the largest ears of corn. How many times did it take you?

I bred the largest ears of corn in two tries.



What’s for Dinner?

*Click on the foods on the table to see what research is being done to bioenginner the foods.

5. List two foods and desribe how they are being modified.

Cotton is being genetically modified to be more resistant and tolerant to low moisture. Bananas are being modified to contain edible vaccines to a variety of diseases, such as hepatitis, polio, cholera, and malaria. Bananas are well-equipt for this job because their thick peel prevents contaminants from getting inside.




Viewpoints

*Read the article titled “Are GM Food Sufficiently Regulated in the US?”

Do you think food should be labeled if it has been genetically modified? Why or Why not?

I think that it would be considerate to mark genetically engineered items, so that anyone who is opposed to genetic engineering will be able to opt out of purchasing the items. This could last until genetic engineering became a more accepted practice.