Biotechnology and Your Food

In this lesson, we are going to look at how biotechnology has effected what you eat.

First, you will need to complete the web quest below in a separate word document. You can submit your answers to me through email: alc0322@gmail.com

Second, you must create a blog post(s) that will:

1) Answer one of the following questions:

• Which side do you believe has the strongest argument? Why?

• What facts do you think are most relevant to people’s everyday lives?

• What types of arguments did either side make that you thought was persuasive?

2) Comment on a fellow classmate's answer.

______________________________________________________________________

Name: __________________

Date: __________________

Biotechnology and Your Food Web Quest

Introduction: Although "biotechnology" and "genetic modification" commonly are used interchangeably, GM is a special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of organisms such as animals, plants, or bacteria. Biotechnology, a more general term, refers to using organisms or their components, such as enzymes, to make products that include wine, cheese, beer, and yogurt. Combining genes from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology, and the resulting organism is said to be "genetically modified," "genetically engineered," or "transgenic." GM products (current or those in development) include medicines and vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds, and fibers.

Task: Technologies for genetically modifying foods offer dramatic promise for meeting some of the 21st Century's greatest challenges. Like all new technologies, they also pose some risks, both known and unknown. Your task is to complete this webquest and choose a side either supporting or not supporting the use of GM foods. Once you have chosen your side, and have enough information to back up your stance, you will create a four minute persuasive podcast trying to convince the rest of your class that your opinion is the right one.

Process: With a partner, go to the web site under each heading and answer the questions. Remember that this information is going to help you create your persuasive podcast. Once you have finished gathering all your information, create a script for your podcast stating your opinion and the facts to back it up. Try to make this as persuasive as possible, so be sure to appeal to the audience’s feelings, fears and beliefs. After practicing your speech, ask the teacher to help you record it. At the end of the project, the entire class will listen to all the podcasts and vote on the one that is the most persuasive.

Biotechnology and Your Food: Web Exploration Guide

Go to the web site under each heading and answer the questions…

Youtube Time

Watch each video and answer the questions.

For:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCrLVw_Bg38&feature=related

• What does this video make you think about GMOs?

Against:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAP6ZtfP9ZQ&feature=related

• What does this video make you think about GMOs?

• Which video did you find had better facts to back up their opinions?

• Which video did you find more persuasive?

PBS: Harvest of Fear

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/

Click on each of the following links (in bold) on the home page to explore different aspects of GM crops.

“Should We Grow GM Crops?”

Read the first page and click “Yes” or “No.”

• What is the reason for your answer?

Read the counter arguments to each answer.

• Have any of these changed your opinion? Why or why not?

Read over all the arguments for and against GMOs.

• Which argument do you believe is the strongest? Why?

“Engineer a Crop”

Read the introduction page and then click on “Transgenic Manipulation”

• What are the steps for creating a transgenic plant?

Step 1. _____________________________________________________

Step 2. _____________________________________________________

Step 3. _____________________________________________________

Step 4. _____________________________________________________

Step 5. _____________________________________________________

Step 6. _____________________________________________________

Step 7. _____________________________________________________

Step 8. _____________________________________________________

• The tomato plant incorporated the _____ gene and is now resistant to _____________.

“Guess What’s Coming for Dinner?”

• Choose 3 of the foods and describe how it will be affected through biotechnology.

ONE:

TWO:

THREE:

• Do you think these ways of modifying the food is beneficial to society? Why or why not?

Maize Mutants

http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitdna/crops04activity.jsp

• Choose a gene on a chromosome and discuss how you could manipulate this gene to have a different, desired outcome.

Chromosome & Gene: ________________________

Outcome:

Meat Taste Test

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/taste-test.html

Read about the Virtual Taste Test and then click on “Launch Interactive.”

• How is the original meat different from the lab-grown meat?

• Poll: Would you eat cultured meat? Why or Why not?

True Foods

http://truefoodnow.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/cfs-shoppers-guide.pdf

• How is GMO contamination possible?

1) ________________________

2) ________________________

3) ________________________

4) ________________________

• What are the four tips for avoiding GM crops?

Tip #1: ___________________

Tip #2: ___________________

Tip #3: ___________________

Tip #4: ___________________