Each student group will be assigned one of the topics below to research in some detail and prepare a short, 10-minute PowerPoint presentation on it. They will then use their PowerPoint presentation to explain the topic to their fellow students at the next class period.

1. Provide a brief overview of recombinant DNA technology. What are restriction enzymes? What are plasmids?

2. Who are Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer and what was their role in the development of recombinant DNA technology? What was the Asilomar conference on recombinant DNA? What was the conclusion of the conference?

3. What is Agrobacterium tumefacians? What is the role of this organism in production of transgenic plants? What are some current and potential applications of transgenic plants?

4. Certain government agencies play a role in regulation of the production of genetically modified plants. What are the roles of the governmental agencies, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), and APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) in permitting the development and growth of transgenic plants?

5. What is Bt protein? How does it act on insects? Why is it considered “safe” for ingestion by humans and animals?

6. What is an ELISA? Compare a direct versus an indirect ELISA. Provide examples of things an ELISA procedure can be used to detect. How can an ELISA be used in identifying Bt corn?

7. What is Bacillus thuringiensis? How is it related to other species of bacteria? Talk about the microbiology of this bacterium. Do the same for Streptomyces hygroscopicus.

8. What is an allergen? What are the most common food allergies? Give an overview of the typical reaction(s) to a food allergen by humans. What is anaphylactic shock? How can an allergen lead to development of anaphylactic shock?

9. “Genetically modified organisms contain genes obtained from other species, but the procedures used to produce these GMOs are closely regulated by companies, universities, the state and federal government, and scientists themselves.” This statement is from the letter written to the editor of the newspaper. How “closely” are GMOs regulated? What are the procedures used by companies, universities, and scientists to regulate production and distribution of GMOs? Compare these to those by state and federal agencies (see Question 4 above).

10. Consider the economic and health benefits of GMOs, both realized and potential. At what point would current and potential future benefits outweigh the risks? Relate the development of GMOs to other historical developments in biology that were “controversial” at the time (e.g., vaccination) and current “controversial” developments (e.g., embryonic stem cells).

11. Genetically modified animals as well as plants have been produced. Give an overview of the techniques for producing transgenic animals. What are some of the potential applications of genetically modified animals?

12. If someone is particularly interested in the legal aspects of GMOs, then the following might be appropriate questions to consider as part of a presentation. Why did the lawyers for the Linder family choose to pursue a civil rather than a criminal case? Consider levels of evidence required in civil versus criminal cases to obtain a decision of guilt or innocence. Should criminal charges be considered in this case? What is criminal negligence?

13. Have transgenic insects been produced? What technique was used to develop them? For what purpose(s) were they produced?

14. How can genes from a genetically modified plant be transferred to a plant that is not genetically modified? Can such gene transfers occur between different species of plants? What are the dangers, if any, for harm to non-pest organisms feeding on the GMO or coming in contact with the pollen of the genetically modified plant? Are there dangers of transferring genes from a genetically modified plant to a “weed” species growing nearby? Why would such an event be of concern?

15. What methods are available for detection of genetically modified crops and products? Which is most sensitive? Which has the broadest application in GMO detection and is generally accepted for regulatory purposes? Why? What is the advantage(s) of using an immunoassay, ELISA? Which is faster and more readily available for use in “field” sampling?

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