Part I: Introduction
1: Who are the ELF? What are they against?
The ELF are the Earth Liberation Fund. They are against bio-technology.
2: Which crop was the catalyst to the GMO food industry?
The papaya
3: What is “the gene gun”? How does it work?
It puts genes into plants for transgenic plant genes.
Part 2: BT
4: Which university was the 1st to try GMO foods?
Cornell University
5: What were some of the first ideas for GMO’s?
To genetically engineer papaya to resist the ring virus and to genetically engineer crops, give rice more nutrition
6: Who are Monsanto? What did they “set out” to do?
Monsanto was a agrochemical company, set out to go build a new biotech industry instead of pesticides
7: What is a big risk for corn crops? What is the problem with spraying with pesticides?
The big risk for corn crops was the European Corn Borer. The problem with spraying pesticides, is that insects can develop a resistance, making the pesticide useless.
8: What is BT? What does it do?
BT is Bacillus thuringiensis, it produced toxins that killed caterpillars.
9: Why was genetically engineering considered to be a saver of the environment?
Pesticides weren't used anymore after puting BT into crops. These pesticides are toxic, get onto the person's body and the run-off would cause eutrophication in lakes, rivers and oceans.
10: When did GM foods get into the widespread media?
GM foods get into widespread media by 1996.
Part III: The Anti-GM Movement
11: What did the European Union vote for?
The European Union voted for a ban on GMOs.
12: What did the University of New Mexico researchers find out from surveys and focus groups?
The University of New Mexico researchers found out that 20% say they have eaten GMOs. Most Americans have no idea they have been eating GMOs.
13: What is your opinion on GMO’s? (Before watching the video?)
That it was the next big invention that would benefit humanity.
14: Can someone “prove” that GM foods are safe?
No one can prove that GM foods are safe.
15: How are GM foods tested for safety?
GM foods are tested for safety by feeding the food to mice.
16: How does Monsanto test their GM foods at the molecular level?
Monsanto tests their foods by comparing molecules between GM and Non-GM crops.
17: What does the USDA, FDA and EPA do for GM foods?
USDA:Safe to grow
FDA: Safe to eat
EPA: Regulates pesticides
Part IV: Allergies
18: Why are people concerned about allergies with GM crops?
Genetically modified foods have proteins that haven't been in our body so we don't know if they would cause a new allergy.
19: Why should people have confidence in GM foods?
People should have confidence in GM foods because they are based on 3 decades of research.
20: What do the “Union of Concerned Scientists” believe should be done?
The Union of Concerned Scientists believe that this technology deserves special scrutiny.
21: What happened to “Starlink Corn”? Explain the events and consequences.
Starlink corn was considered a human allergen. Recreate human gut and time how long human protein breaks down. Slow break down concluded it was a potential human allergen. Company sold it to farmers for animals. The starlink corn was fed to animals and made it into our food.
22: Describe the meaning of the statement, “The absence of evidence isn’t the absence of harm.”
Even though the harm isn't present or is not known, the harm might or still be there
Part V: GM History
23: How did humans get different types of fruits and vegetables?
Humans get different types of fruits and vegetables by genetically modifying through conventional breeding.
24: What are some of the risks of natural breeding of fruits and vegetables?
Natural breeding can breed high levels of toxic chemicals. Celery, has a chemical when hit by sunlight turned toxic: caused skin rash.
25: What is the difference between “classic” breeding and genetic engineering?
Classic breeding crosses related plants, involves mixing thousands of genes at a time. Genetic engineering is precise, moving individual genes. Cross breed from different life forms.
26: Do you believe that a single gene in a new species would change the species as a whole?
No, because the gene focuses on only one thing, so things that aren't meant to be changed wouldn't be changed.
27: Monsanto holds _____ % of U.S. agricultural patents.
28
Part VI: GMO’s and the Environment
28: Monarch Butterflies love to eat __________
milkweed
29: What did the scientists find out about the BT Corn and Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars?
Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars who ate BT corn ate less, grow slower and had more mortality.
Part VII: GMO’s and Consumers
30: What is the difference between BT Corn Pollen in the lab and in the field?
BT Corn Pollen in the lab was concentrated in one spot and BT Corn Pollen in the field affects only Monarchs in the area around the field because it was slow moving.
31: Why is it so hard to know if BT Corn Pollen is harmful to Monarch Butterflies in the field?
The test in the lab might contain an error and is in an artificial environment compared to the field where everything is natural.
32: If you had the choice between BT Corn and spraying with insecticide- which would you choose and why?
I would spray with insecticide, because the BT Corn can be used in our food and we wouldn't know the health risks of them.
33: What does it mean when food is “organically grown”?
Food is organically grown by using natural things such as compost and animals to clear grass, instead of using pesticides and GMOs.
34: What are the fears of using BT Corn over time?
There would be more toxins in corn than in pesticides and the BT could be ineffective over time.
Part VIII: Pesticide Resistance & Feeding the World
35: What has the EPA mandated against the pesticide resistance? How should this help?
The EPA has mandated a refuge, for every BT crops there has to be non BT crops around the area. Refuge should ensure generations of susceptible bugs.
36: Why is it hard to “guarantee” that foods are GM free?
GM foods look alike to non GM foods so you wouldn't know whether or not your food contains GM.
37: What is subsistence agriculture?
Farmers grow enough food to feed their families.
38: Why did Monsanto invest in the sweet potato for Africa? What were the results?
Monsanto invested in sweet potatoes to help sustain the population and to make richer farms to buy other Monsanto products. The results were that the GM varieties grew tall and lush while the diseased was small. The GM potato was large and healthy and the non GM was small.
Part VIIII: Feeding the World
39: What is one of the biggest problems with soil in farming in parts of Mexico?
Poor soil loaded with excess minerals decreases productivity of crops.
40: Why do people resist the idea of helping people with GM foods?
People ignore the benefits and focus on the negative effects of GM foods. The GM foods cost money and would make the poor pay for them.
Part X: Success and Challenges
41: How much money did Monsanto donate toward the world agriculture project?
$2500 was put toward the world agriculture project
42: What other actions have the ELF taken?
ELF has targeted colleges with GM test sites.
43: The genetic Salmon have been engineered to grow __ x larger than regular Salmon.
4
44: What is special about the transgenic Salmon?
Transgenic Salmon reach full size on 1/4 of time of regular salmon
45: What is the “good genes hypothesis”?
If a male is large, it carries good genes to make it a better parent.
Part XI: Population Problems
46: What did the model tell us about what would happen if the transgenic fish “escaped” and ended up mating with regular fish?
The transgenic fish populations went down to zero. Fewer of the genetically modified young survived.
47: What other GM products are in development? Explain the plans for bananas.
Genetically modifying medicines. The plan is to put the vaccine into bananas. It is to create an edible vaccine for third-world countries.
48: What is “golden rice” and how it is helpful? Explain
Golden rice is rice that contains nutrients like vitamin A. It is helpful because it will supply a quarter of a child's vitamin A needs and prevent blindness and malnutrition.
Part VII: The Future of GM Products
49: Why are biotech companies worried about “labeling” GM products?
They are worried because they will lose profit due to the GM negative connotation
50: Why do labels reduce American’s fear of GM food?
It gives them a choice to choose GMO’s
51: In spite of the fact that people in focus groups stated that they would rather see GM foods labeled, proposition 37 was rejected by Californians in November 2012. Voters were concerned about the increased costs of products that would be forced to be labeled. What is your opinion of labeling?
I think labeling it should be required on all food to allow consumers to make the choices they want to make
1: Who are the ELF? What are they against?
The ELF are the Earth Liberation Fund. They are against bio-technology.
2: Which crop was the catalyst to the GMO food industry?
The papaya
3: What is “the gene gun”? How does it work?
It puts genes into plants for transgenic plant genes.
Part 2: BT
4: Which university was the 1st to try GMO foods?
Cornell University
5: What were some of the first ideas for GMO’s?
To genetically engineer papaya to resist the ring virus and to genetically engineer crops, give rice more nutrition
6: Who are Monsanto? What did they “set out” to do?
Monsanto was a agrochemical company, set out to go build a new biotech industry instead of pesticides
7: What is a big risk for corn crops? What is the problem with spraying with pesticides?
The big risk for corn crops was the European Corn Borer. The problem with spraying pesticides, is that insects can develop a resistance, making the pesticide useless.
8: What is BT? What does it do?
BT is Bacillus thuringiensis, it produced toxins that killed caterpillars.
9: Why was genetically engineering considered to be a saver of the environment?
Pesticides weren't used anymore after puting BT into crops. These pesticides are toxic, get onto the person's body and the run-off would cause eutrophication in lakes, rivers and oceans.
10: When did GM foods get into the widespread media?
GM foods get into widespread media by 1996.
Part III: The Anti-GM Movement
11: What did the European Union vote for?
The European Union voted for a ban on GMOs.
12: What did the University of New Mexico researchers find out from surveys and focus groups?
The University of New Mexico researchers found out that 20% say they have eaten GMOs. Most Americans have no idea they have been eating GMOs.
13: What is your opinion on GMO’s? (Before watching the video?)
That it was the next big invention that would benefit humanity.
14: Can someone “prove” that GM foods are safe?
No one can prove that GM foods are safe.
15: How are GM foods tested for safety?
GM foods are tested for safety by feeding the food to mice.
16: How does Monsanto test their GM foods at the molecular level?
Monsanto tests their foods by comparing molecules between GM and Non-GM crops.
17: What does the USDA, FDA and EPA do for GM foods?
USDA:Safe to grow
FDA: Safe to eat
EPA: Regulates pesticides
Part IV: Allergies
18: Why are people concerned about allergies with GM crops?
Genetically modified foods have proteins that haven't been in our body so we don't know if they would cause a new allergy.
19: Why should people have confidence in GM foods?
People should have confidence in GM foods because they are based on 3 decades of research.
20: What do the “Union of Concerned Scientists” believe should be done?
The Union of Concerned Scientists believe that this technology deserves special scrutiny.
21: What happened to “Starlink Corn”? Explain the events and consequences.
Starlink corn was considered a human allergen. Recreate human gut and time how long human protein breaks down. Slow break down concluded it was a potential human allergen. Company sold it to farmers for animals. The starlink corn was fed to animals and made it into our food.
22: Describe the meaning of the statement, “The absence of evidence isn’t the absence of harm.”
Even though the harm isn't present or is not known, the harm might or still be there
Part V: GM History
23: How did humans get different types of fruits and vegetables?
Humans get different types of fruits and vegetables by genetically modifying through conventional breeding.
24: What are some of the risks of natural breeding of fruits and vegetables?
Natural breeding can breed high levels of toxic chemicals. Celery, has a chemical when hit by sunlight turned toxic: caused skin rash.
25: What is the difference between “classic” breeding and genetic engineering?
Classic breeding crosses related plants, involves mixing thousands of genes at a time. Genetic engineering is precise, moving individual genes. Cross breed from different life forms.
26: Do you believe that a single gene in a new species would change the species as a whole?
No, because the gene focuses on only one thing, so things that aren't meant to be changed wouldn't be changed.
27: Monsanto holds _____ % of U.S. agricultural patents.
28
Part VI: GMO’s and the Environment
28: Monarch Butterflies love to eat __________
milkweed
29: What did the scientists find out about the BT Corn and Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars?
Monarch Butterfly Caterpillars who ate BT corn ate less, grow slower and had more mortality.
Part VII: GMO’s and Consumers
30: What is the difference between BT Corn Pollen in the lab and in the field?
BT Corn Pollen in the lab was concentrated in one spot and BT Corn Pollen in the field affects only Monarchs in the area around the field because it was slow moving.
31: Why is it so hard to know if BT Corn Pollen is harmful to Monarch Butterflies in the field?
The test in the lab might contain an error and is in an artificial environment compared to the field where everything is natural.
32: If you had the choice between BT Corn and spraying with insecticide- which would you choose and why?
I would spray with insecticide, because the BT Corn can be used in our food and we wouldn't know the health risks of them.
33: What does it mean when food is “organically grown”?
Food is organically grown by using natural things such as compost and animals to clear grass, instead of using pesticides and GMOs.
34: What are the fears of using BT Corn over time?
There would be more toxins in corn than in pesticides and the BT could be ineffective over time.
Part VIII: Pesticide Resistance & Feeding the World
35: What has the EPA mandated against the pesticide resistance? How should this help?
The EPA has mandated a refuge, for every BT crops there has to be non BT crops around the area. Refuge should ensure generations of susceptible bugs.
36: Why is it hard to “guarantee” that foods are GM free?
GM foods look alike to non GM foods so you wouldn't know whether or not your food contains GM.
37: What is subsistence agriculture?
Farmers grow enough food to feed their families.
38: Why did Monsanto invest in the sweet potato for Africa? What were the results?
Monsanto invested in sweet potatoes to help sustain the population and to make richer farms to buy other Monsanto products. The results were that the GM varieties grew tall and lush while the diseased was small. The GM potato was large and healthy and the non GM was small.
Part VIIII: Feeding the World
39: What is one of the biggest problems with soil in farming in parts of Mexico?
Poor soil loaded with excess minerals decreases productivity of crops.
40: Why do people resist the idea of helping people with GM foods?
People ignore the benefits and focus on the negative effects of GM foods. The GM foods cost money and would make the poor pay for them.
Part X: Success and Challenges
41: How much money did Monsanto donate toward the world agriculture project?
$2500 was put toward the world agriculture project
42: What other actions have the ELF taken?
ELF has targeted colleges with GM test sites.
43: The genetic Salmon have been engineered to grow __ x larger than regular Salmon.
4
44: What is special about the transgenic Salmon?
Transgenic Salmon reach full size on 1/4 of time of regular salmon
45: What is the “good genes hypothesis”?
If a male is large, it carries good genes to make it a better parent.
Part XI: Population Problems
46: What did the model tell us about what would happen if the transgenic fish “escaped” and ended up mating with regular fish?
The transgenic fish populations went down to zero. Fewer of the genetically modified young survived.
47: What other GM products are in development? Explain the plans for bananas.
Genetically modifying medicines. The plan is to put the vaccine into bananas. It is to create an edible vaccine for third-world countries.
48: What is “golden rice” and how it is helpful? Explain
Golden rice is rice that contains nutrients like vitamin A. It is helpful because it will supply a quarter of a child's vitamin A needs and prevent blindness and malnutrition.
Part VII: The Future of GM Products
49: Why are biotech companies worried about “labeling” GM products?
They are worried because they will lose profit due to the GM negative connotation
50: Why do labels reduce American’s fear of GM food?
It gives them a choice to choose GMO’s
51: In spite of the fact that people in focus groups stated that they would rather see GM foods labeled, proposition 37 was rejected by Californians in November 2012. Voters were concerned about the increased costs of products that would be forced to be labeled. What is your opinion of labeling?
I think labeling it should be required on all food to allow consumers to make the choices they want to make