1 GM Food - Activity 1Activity 1 - Activity 2Activity 2 - Activity 3Activity 3 - Extension ActivityExtension Activity - Alternative activity 3 Alternative activity 3 Click the links below to access the activities:

2 Activity 1: What is on the shelves? What are your favourite snacks and drinks?

3 Have you ever bought genetically modified (GM) food?

4 Activity 1: What is on the shelves? Are they your favourite snacks? All of them contain GM food ingredients!

5 35% of instant noodles and other snacks tested in Hong Kong contain genetically modified ingredients (Choice Magazine, 2003)

6 Examples of GM food 1994: FlavrSavr © tomato – the first approved GM food product - tomato genes are usually modified to delay ripening and softening

7 Examples of GM food maize potato Their genes are usually modified to make the crops pest or herbicide resistant rice soya bean

8 GM food is everywhere whenever you eat!!

9 Why can characteristics from one organisms be transferred to another? Are there any similarities between the two? Yes! They share the same genetic material: DNA

10 GM Food GM = genetically modified Genes can be transferred from one organism to another by recombinant DNA technology Foods with any ingredients from genetically modified organisms are known as genetically modified (GM) foods. The universal genetic code

11 Would you choose to eat GM food? Count the number of students accepting or not accepting GM food. ForAgainstUndecided No. of students

12 The introduction of GM crops has been highly controversial. The introduction of GM crops has been highly controversial. Why? Read the two articles! Activity 2: Good or Bad?

13 From the two articles, what can you conclude about science? Solution? Can science solve all the problems?

14 Activity 2: Good or Bad? What are the claims of the two articles? What is the evidence supporting the claims? After reading the articles, can you accept GM food? What are your reasons? Count the number of students accepting or not accepting GM food. ForAgainstUndecided No. of students

15 How to make a decision? What should we do before deciding whether or not to accept the production of food from GM organisms?

16 Activity 3: Should Genetic Modification continue? (1) What are the claims for the role you are playing? (2) Match evidence on p.9 which might be used to support your claims!

17 Claims should be based on evidence!

18 A part of doing Science is seeking evidence to support claims!

19 Poster design Design an attractive, convincing poster for or against GM food GM Food ……….………. ……….……….

20 Poster Competition Each group is given 7 minutes to present your poster. The posters will be judged based on: –creativity –originality –artistic quality –the clarity of your position on GM foods and the evidence supporting it

21 Have you read all the posters? Do you accept GM food now? What are your reasons? Count the number of students for or against GM food. ForAgainstUndecided No. of students Should Genetic Modification continue?

22 Have you changed your mind about GM food? Explain your reasons for change or no change Are you influenced by evidence? Are you influenced by others?

23 Do people support GM foods? How do they make decision? Decision making may be influenced by … the mass media trust in the Government other organizations (e.g. Greenpeace) scientists

24 What should we base our decisions upon? benefits risks evidence Should we believe all the claims made by others?

25 Extension Activity: Which countries are participating in research into the rice genome?  USA  China  Taiwan  Korea  India  Thailand  France  Brazil  UK  Japan Job allocation of participating countries. Rice carries 12 pairs of chromosomes. The Academia Sinica of Taiwan is responsible for the 5 th pair.

26 Why is the research into rice dominated by these countries? What other aspects of science are seen here in this research project? What aspect of culture is affecting science here?

27 In the case of GM food, what have you learnt about the characteristics of science? Does science affect society and the environment? Does the society affect scientific research? Do you think science can solve all of society ’ s problems?

28 GM food can be used to increase food supply and quality of nutrition in poorer countries GM food will only benefit a few large companies. GM food will improve human health GM food is safe for humans GM food is likely to cause health problems to humans. GM food benefits the environment GM food will cause serious damage to ecosystems GM food can benefit farmers Part A: Finding evidence Alternative activity 3

29 Part A: Finding evidence Are these claims supported by evidence? Choose the evidence supporting each of the claims! Alternative activity 3

30 Claims should be based on evidence! Alternative activity 3

31 A part of doing Science is seeking evidence to support claims! Alternative activity 3

32 Part B: Poster Design Do you accept GM food? Design an attractive, convincing poster for or against GM food GM Food ……….………. ……….………. Alternative activity 3

33 Have you changed your mind about GM food? Explain your reasons for change or no change Are you influenced by evidence? Are you influenced by others? Alternative activity 3

34 Do people support GM foods? How do they make decision? Decision making may be influenced by … the mass media trust in the Government other organizations (e.g. Greenpeace) scientists Alternative activity 3

35 What should we base our decisions upon? benefits risks evidence Should we believe all the claims made by others? Alternative activity 3