What does that even mean? Though the words “organic food” are familiar to our minds, how it is actually produced is a bit less so. Farmers who produce organic food must focus on the use of renewable resources and not use many of the conventional pesticides or fertilizers. Of course these farmers also do not genetically modify their food. In order to ensure that this food is organic and has been treated as such from its production to your plate, the government has set up many standards that the food and handlers of the food must meet at every stage. The Science Behind Frankenfood (otherwise known as GMO’s) Potty Mouth Have you ever wondered how we genetically modify food? Well first let’s talk about the parts of a gene. A gene has three parts: the promoter, coding region, and termination sequence. The promoter signals how much protein to make, the coding region dictates which protein to make, and the terminating sequence signals the end of the gene. Desirable qualities from other organisms are selected, and the gene that produces this quality is then isolated and copied. Scientists can then isolate the coding region of the gene and insert it into the genes of the crop and bam! The crop now produces the desirable quality of the foreign organism! mo

One of the genes scientists are putting into corn to genetically modify it is named “cry 1Ab.” This gene is from the DNA of Bacillius thiurengenesis, a bacterium found in soil. Cry 1Ab is a gene that makes the bacteria have insecticidal protection. Once the scientists take the gene out of the bacteria and put it into the corn, the crop will be able to better ward off pests. Another gene used to modify corn is a gene from the common bacteria, Bacillus sublimes. This gene is called cold shock protein B or “cspB.” When the corn is implanted with this gene, it inherits drought-resistant properties. cropwatch.unl.edu/biotechnology/makinggmo A Crop with Super Powers Getting Down and Dirty What’s the difference between conventional farming and organic farming anyway? It’s all in the soil, literally. For plants to grow naturally they primarily rely on three chemicals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen helps plants grow quickly, phosphorus aids in photosynthesis as well as root growth and blooming, and potassium builds protein and also helps the photosynthesis process. The problem is that conventional farming has taken this combination to new heights. The overuse and focus on these chemicals directly neglects trace minerals that plants need to ward off pests and diseases. Farmers then need to use harmful pesticides and herbicides that contaminate our waterways from runoff, weaken the soil itself, and produce less nutritious, weaker plants. gricultural_Fertilizers.pdf

Many people never notice the many benefits that genetically modified corn has impacted society with in this century. One of the main reasons why corn is genetically modified is because the gene inserted into the food, Bacillius thiurengensis, allows for the corn to be created in a certain way that can make this food grow larger in size and grow to become more flavorful. Also Bacillius thiurengensis can prevent negative environmental conditions such as drought caused by lack of water or the attacking of insects that can affect the plants development process. Another positive aspect of genetically modified corn is that the outcome of this product can lead to a more nutritious form of corn for society. Not to mention that medicinal foods such as corn can aid the health of humans and animals by being available as vaccines or other medications htm Saying “Hello” to a different type of corn! Contributors: Molly Gallagher, Kalyn Profilet, Diana Smith, Ian Davenport, Erica Eckel, John Randazzo Why Organic? The reason most farmers switch to organic farming is the belief that it is healthier than that of conventional farming. Organic farming is thought to be better for humans and the environment because the pesticides used are derived from natural resources instead of made synthetically. About half of the synthetic chemicals can cause cancer, these chemicals no only get on the foods that we eat but they also get in the water we drink because of run-off. This is a big reason why organic farming exists.