Harvest Of Fear

Should we grow GM crops?

1. A GM crop is any food that is derived from organisms which have been genetically modified.

2. 2 arguments FOR the growing of GM crops: 1.GM crops will promise many health benefits. They will be healthier fot us than regular foods, and there will be less vitamin A deficiency deaths per year.
                                                                        2.Genetically modifying plants is completely natural, because they genetically modify themselves all the time; they've been doing this forever.

3. 2 arguments AGAINST the growing of GM crops: 1.GM foods may pose health risks for certain individuals, including introducing children to new allergies.
                                                                                 2.GM crops could harm the environment, and even other wildlife. Some bugs, to survive surrounded by the danger caused by GM crops, will have to become "superbugs." The same thing will also happen with weeds; they will become "superweeds."

Engineer A Crop

I had to practice this simulation twice until I got the largest ear of corn.

What's For Dinner?

Two foods and how they are being modified: 1. Fruit. Fruits, such as strawberries, pears, melons, apples, grapefruits, and watermelons are being modified by altering their sugar content, fruit ripening cycles, and pest resistance.
                                                                    2. Pizza. Scientists are testing GM varieties for all the ingredients in pizza, including cheese, wheat, green peppers, onions, and tomatoes. They are modifying rennet (a dried extract that is used to curdle milk for cheese) to speed up the process of making cheese and wheat that is used in bleached flour to make pizza more digestible. They are even modifying green peppers, onions, and tomatoes so that they stay fresh longer while in supermarkets, resist pests, and survive droughts.

Viewpoints

I do think food should be labled if it has been genetically modified, because no matter what has been done to the food, people deserve to know exactly what their eating.

Yahooligans Websites

http://www.eurekascience.com/ICanDoThat/gen_eng.htm

http://www.eco-pros.com/genetic_engineering.htm



  
             







                                                                     

DNA Fingerprinting

1. DNA is unique for everyone. The only exception is if a person has an identical twin.

2. DNA fingerprints are used for solving crimes.

3. The "crime" that was committed was that someone licked Jimmy's lollipop.

4. The bodily fluid that was removed from the crime scene to get DNA was saliva.

5. A restriction enzyme cuts long DNA molecules at different locations.

6. Agarose gel is a thick, porous, jello-like substance.

7. Electrophoresis is the process of moving molecules with an electric current.

8. Smaller fragments of DNA move more easily than longer strands.

9. You need to place a nylon membrane over the gel because it makes the agarose gel easier to work with.

10. Probes attach themselves to the DNA fragments on the nylon membrane.

11. The chemical that is radioactive in the "virtual lab" is the probes..

13. Based on my DNA fingerprint, Honey licked the lollipop.