1. And its Issues Genetic Engineering

2. ‘Genetic Engin-what?’ • That’s exactly the response Mrs. Beach got from her class when asked to do a Genetic engineering project. • Genetic engineering is the process of extracting certain genes from plants, animals, or people and placing them in other plants, animals, or people. • For example, if a farmer in Alaska wanted to genetically engineer a potato so that it wouldn’t freeze, he could make it so by adding a gene from a freeze-resistant animal or plant to it. • Genetic engineering has both positive negative sides. However, there are more negatives than positive views. • My job is to show you the negative sides and what you can do about it.

3. Negativity! • Genetic engineering is like ‘trying to perform heart surgery with a shovel’. • No one knows the long-term effects of genetic engineering and what it can do to us. • As a result of genetically-engineered bacteria in food, 37 people died, 1500 were partially paralyzed, and 5000 more were temporarily disabled in 2003. • Genetic engineering cannot be reversed, so whatever we do now cannot be changed in the future. • Most genetically engineered foods have been approved by the FDA and are on food stands now.

4. What about the animals? • In 2003, scientists at Illinois were in the middle of a top-secret experiment which included injecting cow genes into pigs to increase their milk supply. After they were injected, the FDA told the scientists to kill the pigs. But, the 386 offspring of the pigs were sold to livestock brokers, who then sold them to slaughterhouses. The pigs were then processed and sold to markets. • How many hotdogs did you eatin 2003?

5. Food Concerns • Allergic Reactions- If you are allergic to peanuts, you could have a serious allergic reaction to a genetically-engineered food. If scientists inject genes from a peanut into an apple without you knowing, you might die! • Food- Birds, insects, and other animals can carry genetically engineered seeds into crops, which can cross pollinate with other plants! Sooner or later, all of our food can be genetically engineered without scientists having to do anything! • New Diseases- Genetically engineered foods have a tendency to contain certain genes that are antibiotic-resistant. These genes could make disease-causing bacteria resistant to antibiotics, creating an invincible new kind of illness!

6. Plants too? • Genetic engineering affects people and animals. Did you know that they affect plants too? • Some concerns about genetically engineering: • It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Super Weeds! The genetically engineered crops can cross-pollinate with weeds, creating DDT resistant ‘Super Weeds’ that might be difficult to control. • Threats to our food supply- Cross-pollination can unknowingly create new species of plants and animals. If these poison-resistant new species attack food, we could have crop failures, resulting in shortages of food.

7. More concerns for plants • On shelves now- These are some of the genetically engineered foods that have been FDA approved: • Alfalfa, Cheery Tomatoes, Chicory, Corn, Cotton, Flax, Papayas, Rice, Soybeans, Squash, Sugarbeet, and Tomatoes.

8. Did you know? • The United States produces 68% of the world’s genetically engineered foods. • In 2003, more than 75% of soybeans produced in the U.S. were genetically engineered and then sold to markets. • In useless genetic engineering news, during January of 2006, scientists from Taiwan injected a gene from a jellyfish into a pig to make it glow in the dark.

9. Well, what can I do? • You’ve heard all about genetic engineering and its problems. Here are some things you can do to help reduce its effects- • Look for foods that are labeled, ‘GMO free’. Almost all major brands of foods are genetically engineered, so be cautious and read the labels.

10. Some other things you can do • Some products, like Silk Soymilk, state on the back of their carton that their milk isn’t made from genetically engineered soybeans.. • Eat organic! Organically-grown foods do not allow genetically engineered fruits, vegetables, and meat to be processed. So eating organic will guarantee that you will not eat any genetically engineered food.

11. References • http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/dangers.html • http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/ge/