GM Plant Issue Presentation Old ENGL 1302 Presentation #1. For the most part, pretty good slides. Remember which slides need their bullet points a bit condensed. Slide #4 is good, if you want to incorporate a necessary image with a little bit of text.

Introduction Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, can be defined as organisms that have had their genetic material (DNA) altered in a way that does not occur naturally. Increased profits in crops, effects on animals and humans, decreasing pesticide use and resistance, and challenges/effects on developing countries are going to be the key points we discuss today.

Decreased Pesticide Use Potential Pesticides are substances that are specifically designed to kill organisms that are considered pests. Genetically modified organisms produce substances that deter these pests. Genetically modified organisms can also be made pesticide resistant. Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of human health hazards. Decreased pesticide decreases net spending.

Pesticide Resistance Pesticide resistance is a trait that occurs in individual pests and allows for their survival and reproduction. As this resistance builds up and creates larger populations of resistant individuals, technology must develop pesticides that these individual are non- resistant to. From "Five pest species now immune to GMO corn and cotton" by John Upton, 2013, Grist

Increased Profits from Crops Biotechnology is responsible for producing 231 million metric tons of corn in 2014. Farmers worldwide gained over 44 billion dollars due to a 57% increase in crop yields. Genetically modified crops can be produced easier than regular crops.

Effects on Animals There are some proven negative effects on animals. A study from Cornell University shows that when larvae population ate genetically modified corn pollen that is attached on the milkweed plants, half of their population died. A long-term study published on a journal, Environmental Sciences Europe, shows that pigs that were fed genetically modified foods resulted in the pigs having digestive disorders and a reduced ability to reproduce. http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/752/art%253A10.1186%252F2190-4715-23-10.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fenveurope.springeropen.com%2Farticle%2F10.1186%2F2190-4715-23-10&token2=exp=1456718819~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F752%2Fart%25253A10.1186%25252F2190-4715-23-10.pdf*~hmac=565ff4fdb9c48a421bf682cf0b2ba914e5db9f59bcfa774f8f8137f789682b7a

Effects on Humans There is no data collected or proven that genetically mutated foods harm humans because they are a new technology. It's too soon to tell if genetically modified crops will have a negative effect on humans; however, if there are negative effects, the results could be catastrophic.

Effects on Developing Countries GM plants help to end starvation in Africa. Higher production of the GMO decreases the food price, so it makes food more affordable to people. GM crops are beneficial to African economy.

Challenges in Developing Countries European Union (EU) regulation on GMO plants may hinder Africa board adoption of GM crops. Large scale production of GM crops may lead to monocropping that is unsustainable.

Conclusion GM technology has been around for the past 20 years, and today, 70-80% of the foods we eat in the United States, both at home and away from home, contain ingredients that have been genetically modified. Genetically modified plants offer many benefits over naturally occurring crops. However, genetic engineering is a very powerful tool and must be used prudently.