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Biotechnology is viewed by many scientists and the public as a solution to a potential food supply crisis in the coming decades; however, debates about the use, ethics, and the effectiveness of genetically engineered crops are now growing in intensity. This Figure Set guides students through the interpretation of some of the data collected so far to inform discussion about genetically engineered plants. Plant biotechnology involves the manipulation of living organisms, particularly their genetic material. Currently, important crops, such as corn and soybeans, are grown using genetically engineered seeds. These crops are often designed to withstand insect and weed infestation (in some cases by engineering higher tolerance to chemical pesticides and herbicides), thrive despite poor growing conditions, or possess enhanced nutritional value. The popularity of biotech plants rests on the idea that they will produce higher and more stable yields than non-biotech plants, but long-term evidence has not been gathered.
Associated files
Format
Resource Group TIEE
Resource Group Link https://ecoed.esa.org/index.php?P=SearchResults&F46=TIEE
Primary or BEN resource type
Discipline Specific Core Concepts
Life science discipline (subject)
Keywords TIEE, pedagogy, student active, inquiry based, biotechnology, genetically modified, genetic engineering, GMO, GE, plant, crop, agriculture, technology
Key taxa corn, Zea mays, monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, soybean, Glycine max
Audience
Intended End User Role
Language
Educational Language
Pedagogical Use Category
Pedagogical Use Description This Figure Set presents several figures from research papers that provide data relevant to discussion on the use and impacts of biotechnology. Students should be able to comprehend, interpret, and evaluate the figures from published papers and also be able to discuss certain biotechnology issues (allergies, effects of Bt corn on monarch butterflies, persistence of engineered genes in wild populations, and pesticide tolerance in soybeans) in light of what data we do and do not have so far.
Aggregation Level
Structure
Url http://tiee.esa.org/vol/v2/issues/figure_sets/biotech/abstract.html
Full Name of Primary Author Dara Zycherman
Primary Author Controlled Name
Primary Author Affiliation U.S. Green Building Council,
Ecological Society of America
Primary Author email dzycherman@usgbc.org
jason@esa.org
Added By Id
  • riemjg
Rights Copyright 2004 by Dara Zycherman, Jason Taylor, and the Ecological Society of America.
License
Publisher
Review type
Drought and Water Ecosystem Services Collection Off
Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection Off
Big Data Collection Off
Editors Choice No
Resource Status
Date Of Record Submission 2007-12-26
I Agree to EcoEdDL's Copyright Policy & Terms of Use No
Date Of Record Release 2010-02-16 01:06:58
Last Modified By Id
  • educationintern
Date Last Modified 2018-07-23 14:11:32
Release Flag Published

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