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Selectivebreeding led tohigher-yielding

varieties.

What is plant biotechnology?

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Modern cornTeosinte

What is plant biotechnology?

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Desired gene

Traditional plant breedingDNA is a strand of genes,much like a strand ofpearls. Traditional plantbreeding combines manygenes at once.

Traditional donor Commercial variety New variety

Desired GeneX =

(crosses)

(many genes are transferred)

Plant biotechnologyUsing plant biotechnology,

a single gene may beadded to the strand.

Desired gene Commercial variety New variety

(transfers)

=

Desired gene

(only desired gene is transferred)

What is plant biotechnology?

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PHARMING -EDIBLEVACCINES

FOODS CAN BE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TO

CONFER RESISTANCE TO CERTAIN DISEASES

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How common are GMO foods?

8

Labeling of GM foods is not mandatoryunless ifthere is a health or safety concern

(Health Canada/Canadian Food InspectionA enc

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Potential Benefits

Humanitarian:

Improved

farming

Cheaper

food

More

food

Increased nutrition

Reducing

world

hunger

and

improving

world

health

Pest resistance

Herbicide

resistance

Cold tolerance

Drought

tolerance

Edible vaccines

Environmental: reduced use of herbicidesand chemicals in farming.

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Potential Environmental Hazards

Reducedeffectiveness of

pesticides asinsects becomeresistant toengineered toxins.

Loss ofbiodiversity

Harm to other organismsPollen from Bt corn was shown to

cause high mortality rates inmonarch butterfly larvae(9). BUT

follow-up studies have shownthat the exposure levels in the

fields are negligible(10).

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Potential Environmental Hazards

Gene Transfer to non-target species Herbicide resistant plants and weeds could

cross breed and create superweeds

To address this one could: Create sterile male plants that dont produce

pollen

Engineer the plants so that pollen doesnt contain

the foreign genes Create buffer zones of non-GM crops around GM

crops. The buffer crops would not be harvested.

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Potential Human Health Risks

Allergens Genetic engineering could potential introduce or

create allergens

For example, inserting genes from a nut into anotherplant could be dangerous for people who are allergicto nuts

Unknown health risks Biological processes involve a lot of

INTERACTIONS It is often difficult to identify every possible

interaction.

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Economic Hazards

Elimination of competition

GM seeds are patented

Suicide seeds

Plants with sterile seeds that are infertile arecreated

Farmers are forced to buy seeds every year

However, some companies have reducedcosts or donated GM seeds toimpoverished nations.

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Creating a balance

So are GM foods agood or bad thing?

It depend on each

individual case. Consumers, the

government andscientists shouldbe responsible forweighing thebenefits againstthe costs.

Improved Nutrition

Resistance to disease

Reduced use of

chemicals

Environmental risks

Health risks

Economic risks