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Genes and Our Food Past, present and future
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Science is used to improve our food supply “And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together. “ Jonathan Swift in Gulliver’s Travels
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Science is used to improve our food supply All food comes from living organisms Genetics can be used to improve the plants and animals we eat Many people are not aware of these facts “Ordinary Tomatoes Do Not Contain Genes, while Genetically Modified Ones Do”
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Biotechnology Technology based on biology. This concept was developed to help produce more food with a higher nutritional value for consumption in starving countries. Definition: the application of scientific knowledge in the management of microorganisms to supply goods and services of use to human beings (Wikipedia (1), 2007).
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Biotechnology (continued) Typically known as recombinant DNA technology. DNA molecules from different sources are combined in vitro into one molecule to create a new gene. This new gene is then inserted into the organism of interest, causing the expression of a modified trait, and thus, creating genetically modified organisms (GMO).
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Biotechnology (continued) Green Biotechnology: Applications used in agriculture are: To improve crop yield. To reduce crop susceptibility to environmental stresses. To reduce crop susceptibility to pathogens. To increase the crops nutritional value. To improve taste and texture of the crop. To reduce dependency of crops on pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
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Creation of a GM plant relies on a natural gene transfer mechanism
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Genetically Modified Organisms Any organism that has had genetic material altered by genetic engineering techniques (biotechnology). Also know as transgenics. Transgenic animals (mice and fish), transgenic microbes (fungi and bacteria), and transgenic plants (corn, rice, tomato, and canola).
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“Ordinary Tomatoes Do Not Contain Genes, while Genetically Modified Ones Do” 1996 - 1998
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We have genetically modified food for thousands of years The earliest farmers and gardeners saved seeds of the very best plants to start the next growing season By doing this, they unknowingly selected plants with the more desirable genes Assyrian mural from 870 BC showing palm pollination
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Domestication of corn TeosinteCorn 9000 Years Ago
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Domestication of lettuce Leaf Lettuce Prickly lettuce 4,500 Years Ago
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Domestication of carrot 1,100 to 300 Years Ago Queen Anne’s Lace Orange carrots appeared in Holland in the 1700s
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Brassica oleracea Wild cabbage Kohlrabi Germany, 100 AD Kale, 500 BC Cabbage, 100AD Cauliflower 1400’s Broccoli Italy, 1500’s Brussel sprouts Belgium, 1700’s Ornamental kale Late 1900’s
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Some crops never existed in nature Wheat, Triticum aestivum Triticum urartu X Aegilops speltoides 2n=142n=14 Triticum turgidum X Aegilops tauschii 2n=282n=14 Triticum aestivum 2n=42
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BiotechnologyInAgriculture
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Major uses of biotechnology Making maps of plant and animal chromosomes using technology developed for the Human Genome Project Using our knowledge to add new genetic information to plants and animals
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How is this information obtained? Set of techniques that allow us to "read" genes Set of techniques that allow us to "read" genes
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Old and New Approaches to Plant Improvement
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Current Crops with Biotech Traits Herbicide Tolerance- Lower grower cost (corn, soy, cotton, canola) - Reduced herbicide residues - Enables no-till - Simplicity / flexibility Insect/Corn Borer Resistance- Lower grower costs (corn, cotton, potato) - Reduced pesticide usage - Decreased molds - Higher yields - Simplicity Commercial Products Benefits to Growers / Consumers
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Current Crops with Biotech Traits Virus Resistance- Lower cost (potato, papaya)- Higher quality foods - Less acres used Delayed Ripening- Higher quality food products- Longer shelf-life Commercial Products Benefits to Growers / Consumers
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Reduced Pesticide Use with Insect-Protected Cotton Insect Control Ledger for 2000: Bollgard ® Cotton on Five Million Acres Manufacturing DistributionApplicationFinancial BenefitStewardship Applies 1.04 million fewer pounds of insecticide in 2.5 fewer applications per acre Disposes of 416,000 fewer insecticide containers Saves 41,250 10-hour farm work days Eliminates 2,150 10-hour days of aerial application Conserves 2.41 million gallons of fuel and 93.7 million gallons of water Accrues $168 million in economic benefits from lower production costs and increased cotton yield Reduces pesticide exposure risk Preserves beneficial insect populations Creates wildlife benefits Gives cotton producers more time for family and community activities Gives cotton producers peace of mind Transports and stores 416,000 fewer gallons of insecticide Conserves 604,000 gallons of fuel oil Produces fiber equivalent to that found in all consumer products derived from cotton Consumer Benefit Dr. Roger Leonard, LSU Agricultural Center Dr. Ronald Smith, Auburn University Saves 3.46 million pounds of raw material Conserves 1.48 million gallons of fuel oil Eliminates 2.16 million pounds of industrial waste Net Bollgard ® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company © 2001 Monsanto Company Bollgard ® Cotton
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Some GM crops have the potential to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture: less pesticide, less dust, more biodegradable herbicides “Roundup” tolerant soybeans can be Planted with no-till procedures, which eliminate plowing (dust), Save water and use a biodegradable herbicide herbicide
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Insecticide sweet corn: known as “Bt corn”. Modified to express genes that produce a toxin that kills insects that feed upon it. Modified with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bionet, 2002). Advantage: 1) farmers no longer need to apply insecticides to the crop, thus saving money and reducing harm to the environment.
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Corn (continued) Disadvantages: 1) may cause resistance in the insects as they are constantly given doses of insecticide. 2) may kill beneficial insects as well as the harmful insects. 3) considered to be a “franken food”.
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Rice: known as “golden rice” which was modified to contain large amounts of beta- carotene (which the body converts to vitamin A). The inserted genes were from a bacterium and two were from daffodils (Bionet, 2002). Advantages: 1) advantageous to nutrient deprived third world countries. 2) helps balance the diet of countries with limited diets consisting mainly of rice (Asia).
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Rice (continued): Disadvantages: 1) makes the third world countries dependent on the “rich western world” for the rice, as it cannot be grown from the sterile plants. 2) again, the “franken food” fear that we are somehow playing with the natural order of things.
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Tomatoes: known as the “flavr-savr” tomato. Came on the market in 1994 and was the first genetically modified food available to consumers (Bionet, 2002). Advantages: 1) modified to remain fresher longer, so can ripen on the vine to produce a better flavor. 2) can tolerate lengthier transportation to market, so the tomatoes do not need to be picked while still green.
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Tomatoes (continued): Disadvantages: 1) used genes that made them resistant to antibiotics. Genes for antibiotic resistance are no longer inserted into the tomatoes. 2) the “franken food” fear. People do not understand the process and advantages and therefore do not want this tomato on the market.
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Pesticide resistant rape: rape is also know as “canola”. Was modified to be resistant to pesticides that are applied on the field crop. Advantages: 1) less pesticide sprayed into the environment. 2) can use a more environmentally friendly pesticide. 3) more money for the farmer who can grow a larger crop.
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Examples of Transgenic Plants Rape (continued): Disadvantages: 1) the genes used for modifying the plants can be transferred to the insects, causing resistance in the insects. 2) these plants can pollinate weeds, transferring the herbicide resistance to the weed creating “super” weeds
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Transgenic Milk Known as rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin) or rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone): increases milk production in dairy cows by 10 to 30 percent (GMF, 2007). Advantages: 1) increased milk production 2) reduction in animal feed consumed 3) aids in water conservation.
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Transgenic Milk Disadvantages: 1) is believed to be linked to cancer in humans. 2) believed to cause early development in young girls. 3) believed to cause aggression in young boys.
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Transgenic Animals Fish: a variety of Atlantic salmon that grows to market weight in 18 months instead of 24 to 30 months. More economical for fish farmers to raise transgenic fish that are cheaper to feed and faster to market than to raise conventional fish.
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Transgenic Microbes Bacteria: the synthetic version of the human insulin gene was inserted into E. coli to produce synthesized insulin. The sweetener in most diet sodas (phenylalanine) is made by transgenic bacteria. The Tech Museum of Innovation (2004): Understanding Genetics: Making Medicines http://www.thetech.org/genetics/art06_medicine.php
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Biotech Benefits and Risks Decreasing reliance on pesticides Insect resistance management Gene flow and outcrossing Non-target organisms Human, wildlife and environmental health Preserving genetic diversity in plants and animals Economic
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Transgenic Plants Regulated by three federal agencies: Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Thompson, 2000).
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Potential of crop biotechnology 1995200020052010 Agronomic traits Potential products Quality traits Pharmaceuticals Specialty chemicals
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Genetically Enhanced Plants The Next Generation CropCustomer Focus on improved farming "" "Thinking in crops" Focus on improved processing " "Thinking in applications" Functionality of crops or components Customer needs Source: The Boston Consulting Group; modified Situation So FarFuture Trend
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Biotech Foods and Health Enhanced protein and essential nutrients prevent disease Vitamin A to prevent childhood blindness Increased calories and nutrients to prevent malnutrition Increasing food availability by reducing spoilage golden rice
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Healthier Foods Added Nutrients wheat rice Reducing Natural Food Toxins
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Fighting Hunger Improving yields of food staples Controlling insects Controlling crop diseases bananas cassava sweet potato virus Greater salt tolerance
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Food Security Increasing crop productivity to meet growing global food needs Increasing crop productivity of staple foods rich in protein and calories Increasing access to a healthy, diverse diet
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Concerns over GMOs Cross-pollination is a big concern in the agricultural arena. Genetically altered plants can cross-pollinate with “normal” plants introducing the altered gene into the plants. The main area of concern is with herbicide resistant plants cross-pollinating with weeds, thus making the weeds herbicide resistant.
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Concerns over GMOs The creation of “terminator” gene technology which produces sterile seeds from the genetically modified plant. The farmers will have to re-purchase the non-sterile seed each year. This can become expensive, especially to the small farmer or farmers in third world countries.
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Concerns over GMOs Another concern is the loss of biodiversity. Since genetically modified plants do not occur in nature, the possibility of “genetic pollution” may occur. When the gene pool from the wild and native species collapses because of the introduction of these modified genes, there will no longer be diversity in the plants.
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Are GMO’s safe? That would depend on who you ask. The food must still meet all FDA requirements on food safety before they can be released on the market (FDA, 2000). There does not seem to be an adverse effect on people who consume GMOs.
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Safety of GMOs There is the possibility of allergic reactions if a gene that can produce an allergic reaction (say from a peanut) were inserted into corn. People with allergies to peanuts would then become allergic to the corn. However; the FDA requires that the label state if an allergy causing gene was used, unless they can prove the gene does not make the food cause allergies. There is the possibility that natural plant toxins may be enhanced in unsuspecting ways.
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What will the future bring?
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Foods as Medicine Delivery System Vaccines human veterinary
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Foods as Medicine Delivery System Benefits of food as a Drug Delivery System reduced expense low tech – easy to deliver reduced spoilage - no refrigeration Vaccines Enhanced protein and essential nutrients prevent disease
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Other uses of biotech Over 100 drugs on the market developed with biotech Bioremediation Industrial biotech Improved enzymes in chemical, textile, pharmaceutical, metal, and energy industries Starch and grain processing Sweeteners Ethanol
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Other uses of biotech Coffee is decaffeinated by solvent extraction Concern about safety and flavor Engineer to be decaffeinated Also can make uniform ripening
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Other uses of biotech Nicotine-free tobacco Low lignin spruce trees for paper production
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Industrial uses Cleaning industry Detergent proteases Textile industry Finishing cloth Better cotton fibers Paper and pulp industry Processing with biotech, environmentally friendly chemicals
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NONRENEWABLE AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES
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HMMMM.... What do you think nonrenewable resources are? Break it down... Nonrenewable? Resource?
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NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be re-made or re-grown at a scale comparable to its consumption.
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NUCLEAR ENERGY Nuclear fission uses uranium to create energy. Nuclear energy is a nonrenewable resource because once the uranium is used, it is gone!
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COAL, PETROLEUM, AND GAS Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are considered nonrenewable because they can not be replenished in a short period of time. These are called fossil fuels.
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HOW IS COAL MADE ???
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HOW ARE OIL AND GAS MADE ???
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WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COAL AND OIL/GAS?
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HMMMM.... If nonrenewable resources are resources that cannot be re- made at a scale comparable to its consumption, what are renewable resources?
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RENEWABLE RESOURCES Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished in a short period of time. ● Solar ● Geothermal ● Wind ● Biomass ● Water
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SOLAR Energy from the sun. Why is energy from the sun renewable?
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GEOTHERMAL Energy from Earth’s heat. Why is energy from the heat of the Earth renewable?
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WIND Energy from the wind. Why is energy from the wind renewable?
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BIOMASS Energy from burning organic or living matter. Why is energy from biomass renewable?
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WATER or HYDROELECTRIC Energy from the flow of water. Why is energy of flowing water renewable?
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Our Natural Resources, Then and Now
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What is a natural resource? Any form of energy which can be used by humans. Those things that people come in contact with that may be used to perform any useful function. Objects, materials, creatures, or energy found in nature that can be put to use by humans.
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Usefulness Changes A. Things that affect our definition of usefulness. 1. Religion- Hindu- cattle 2. Custom- Dogs as food source. 3. Technology and Science
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Soil Resources A. Land area 1. U.S. 3,675,545 square miles or 2.26 billion acres 2. Surface ranges from 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley to 20,320 feet above sea level on Mt. McKinley
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Soil Resources 3. Topsoil- uppermost layer of soil from which we get almost all of our food and natural fibers. 4. Today, almost 1/3 of our land area is not suited for farming; 8% covered by cities, factories, homes and highways; 60% is suited for food and fiber production of that only 17% can be used to grow crops.
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Soil Resources B. Erosion 1. Since colonial times we have lost 1/3 of our topsoil to erosion. 2. Only 1/4 of our cropland is undamaged by erosion.
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Soil Resources B. Erosion 1. Since colonial times we have lost 1/3 of our topsoil to erosion. 2. Only 1/4 of our cropland is undamaged by erosion.
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Soil Resources C. Urban expansion 1. Land is converted to business or home usage. 2. Compaction results from concrete or other paving materials. 3. We must establish priorities for land use to balance food an d fiber production and industrial uses of our land.
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Water Resources A. Useable Water 1. Earth is 70% water, how much is useable? 2. As a power source water was used to carry logs, float boats, turn water wheels
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Water Resources 3. Everyday we use 300 billion gallons of water a. 60 billion depleted b. 240 billion return to the hydrologic cycle c. Much is damaged by heat and pollutants
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Water Resources B. Controlling excess runoff 1. 37 states have average annual runoff of more than 10 inches 2. Much of the rain that falls, runs directly into the sea
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Water Resources C. Major water problems 1. Control 2. Quality 3. Distribution
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Fish and Wildlife Resources A. Non-domesticated animals, either game or nongame. 1. Considered renewal - only true while the species is alive and reproducing.
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Fish and Wildlife Resources A. Since colonial times, 48 vertebrate species have become extinct in our nation. B. 130 regarded rare and endangered by 1970
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Fish and Wildlife Resources 2. Assets A. pleasure derived from wildlife B. meat C. insect destroying ability, valued at over one billion dollars per year. D. hunting and fishing brings in more than one billion dollars each year.
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Fish and Wildlife Resources 3. Wildlife conservation programs A. programs directed especially for hunters and fishermen. B. satisfying the demands of the non-hunting and non-fishing public through the use of parks and game preserves.
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Forest Resources A. Acres of forest land 1. In 1607 half our land was forested, over 1 billion acres. Almost 70% is still forest 1/3 of today’s forest land is noncommercial
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Forest Resources B. Production 1. Since colonial times U.S. forests have produced about 2,700 billion board feet of timber. 2. Each year our forests grow more wood than we harvest.
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Forest Resources C. Mature Forests 1. Canopy is dominated by mature, slow-growing trees a. produces very little wood
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Other Resources A. Energy Sources 1. Most energy comes directly or indirectly from the sun 2. Wind- used to move our goods and pull water form the earth. A. Windmills Sailing Ships
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Other Resources 3.Coal A. Most widely distributed storehouse of the sun’s energy. B. First discovered in America in 1673 in Illinois.
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Coal C. 35 billion tons have been produced in the US since mining began. D. Estimate reserves of 2.5 trillion ton of US coal, but is a one time resource.
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Other Resources 4. Oil A. In late 1950’s projected that oil reserves would last 14 years. B. Today we use more oil but have greater store of known oil- is a one time resource.
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Oil 5. Natural Gas A. Clean, efficient B. Proven reserves 260 trillion cubic feet.
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Other Resources B. Minerals 1. Most widely used are the metals a. Fe, Cu, Al, Mg, Pb, Zn, Sn, (Iron, Copper, Aluminum, Magnesium, Lead, and Tin)
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Other Resources C. Recreational Resources 1. Forests, lakes, beaches, mountains, parks, game animals and fish
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