What are they?
What does GMO stand for?
Genetically Modified Organism
What is the process of changing an organism’s DNA?
Genetic modification
What is the primary environmental benefit of the Arctic Apple?
Engineered to never turn brown, which helps prevent millions of tons of food waste.
How do GMOs help keep food prices lower?
Reducing crop losses from pests, diseases, and harsh conditions.
True or False: All approved GMO foods have been found to be unsafe for humans.
False. Approved GMO foods are considered safe by major scientific organizations.
What is a GMO?
An organism whose DNA has been changed using genetic engineering to give it specific traits.
What part of the cell is changed in GMOs?
DNA
How does the "purple tomato" showcase the potential of genetic engineering for human health?
By incorporating a gene from a snapdragon flower, scientists increased the tomato's antioxidant levels, giving it the cancer-fighting properties typically found in blueberries.
How do GMO crops promote sustainable agriculture?
Use fewer resources, such as water and pesticides, while producing higher yields.
Which ethical concern is related to people wanting GMO products to be clearly identified on food packaging?
Consumer choice (GMO labeling)
Can GMOs include plants, animals, and microorganisms?
Yes
What do you call adding a useful gene into an organism?
Gene insertion
What is the advantage of the pink pineapple?
Creates a sweeter, less acidic flavor compared to traditional pineapples.
Why are drought-resistant GMO crops important?
They can continue growing and producing food even during periods of low rainfall.
Name two ethical concerns
Food safety concerns
Environmental impact
Farmer rights
Consumer choice (labeling)
Religious or cultural beliefs
Why are GMOs developed?
To improve agriculture, medicine, and scientific research.
What tool is used to cut and edit DNA?
CRISPR - Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
How does it challenge the common perception of genetic engineering as a "threat to our environment"?
It argues that genetic engineering is a tool that allows for protecting crops from pests without the use of toxic chemicals and helps reduce food waste, ultimately serving as a way to support, rather than destroy, nature.
How can extending a crop's shelf life benefit consumers and the environment?
Longer shelf life reduces food spoilage and waste during storage and transportation
How can patented GMO seeds affect farmers?
Farmers may have to buy new seeds every planting season instead of saving and replanting them.
How are GMOs different from organisms produced through traditional breeding?
GMOs are created by directly modifying DNA in a laboratory, while traditional breeding relies on natural reproduction and selection.
What is the first step in making a GMO?
Finding a useful trait
What is the goal of genetic engineering?
To "rewrite nature's potential", "nature, just reimagined".
Explain how GMOs can improve food security while supporting sustainability.
Increase crop yields, resist pests and drought, reduce the need for pesticides and water, and extend shelf life.
Why is the debate about GMOs considered an ethical issue and not just a scientific issue?
Because it involves not only scientific evidence but also environmental protection, farmer rights, consumer choice, economic fairness, and religious or cultural values.