Overview
This lecture discusses the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture, highlighting both benefits and potential unintended consequences.
Benefits of GMOs
- GMOs increase crop yield per hectare or acre, using less land to produce more food.
- Higher yield means less impact on ecosystems due to smaller farming footprints.
- Genetic modification uses biology to fight pests and diseases, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.
Risks and Unintended Consequences
- Unintended effects can occur, such as harm to non-target species like monarch butterflies due to associated herbicides killing milkweed.
- Monoculture farming (growing only one crop type) can harm pollinators, especially bees, by limiting food sources and stressing their populations.
- Potential unknown risks ("known unknowns") exist because the long-term effects of GMOs are still being discovered.
Human Innovation and Technology
- Humans have selected and hybridized crops for thousands of years; modern GMOs are the latest method.
- Advances in biotechnology now allow scientists to sequence genes up to 10 million times faster than a decade ago.
- Preference for better-tasting, more nutritious crops is a driver for GMO development.
Regulation and Management
- Effective regulation is necessary to manage risks and ensure GMO safety.
- Balancing benefits and risks is crucial as the global population grows and food demand increases.
Key Terms & Definitions
- GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) — organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
- Monoculture — the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a large area.
- Pollinators — animals (like bees) that transfer pollen between plants, essential for crop reproduction.
- Herbicide — a chemical substance used to control or eliminate unwanted plants (weeds).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on the benefits and risks discussed; prepare arguments for both sides of the GMO debate.
- Review recent advances in gene sequencing technology.
- Read up on current regulations covering GMOs in agriculture.