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Research questions
Background
1. What are the GE foods on the market?
2. In what food products do corn and soy appear? What percentage of corn and soy products is
genetically engineered?
3. What are the GE crops NOT in the marketplace?
4. Please explain why many people see GE as an extension of plant breeding. What is the major
difference between traditional plant breeding and GE?
5. How are genetically engineered foods labeled? How are GE foods labeled in other countries?
Regulation and Distribution
1. Does our food distribution system have a way to keep GE separate from non-GE foods? (Starlink case
study)
2. What is the FDA? What is the role of the FDA in regulating GE foods and crops? Are there differences
in GE requirements for human food versus animal food?
3. What is the EPA? What is the role of the EPA in regulating GE foods and crops? Who regulates a
plant that produces its own pesticide? Is it a plant or a pesticide? Which agencies are responsible for
regulating each?
4. What is the USDA? What is the role of the USDA in regulating GE foods and crops?
Potential Risks
1. What is “horizontal gene transfer”? What are the risks it poses? How can it be controlled? Does GE
increase the chances that a crop may “escape” the field and become a weed? How likely is it? What
are the risks associated with “weedy” crops?
2. What are the risks of GE foods to people with food allergies: Who regulates and tests for allergic food
qualities? Are these tests stringent and effective?
3. What are the risks of GE plants producing toxic substances? Do conventional crops have toxins in
them? Please describe.
4. What are some of the potential risks from antibiotic resistance? What methods are available to deal
with these risks?
5. What are the potential effects of GE on non-target insects? Have any cases been documented?
6. Has enough research about GE foods been done? Has the research asked the right questions?
Current and Potential Benefits
1. What are the current benefits of GE use of Bt genes? What are the potential problems in terms of
evolution of insect resistance to over-used pesticides like Bt? How does the use of GE Bt impact
organic farmers who have used Bt on their crops for many years?
2. What is herbicide resistance? What are the current benefits from GE use of herbicide resistance?
3. What are the current and potential benefits of GE in reducing pesticide use? Please give an example
where GE has reduced pesticide use, and another example where GE is associated with increased
pesticide use.
4. What are the potential benefits of GE in terms of resistance to viral diseases that have no other cure?
Please give an example.
5. How can GE alter plant nutritional qualities? What is altered oil content? What are the current benefits
from GE use of altered oil content?
6. How can GE eliminate chemicals known to be harmful? Describe the case of nicotine-free cigarettes.
7. What are the potential benefits in solving problems like plant growth in drought or salt conditions?
Please give an example.
8. What are the potential benefits of GE in terms of plant-based vaccines? Please describe an example.