PASSAGE 1: Genetically Engineered Crops
By Tony Esplanade
More than 11,000 years ago, humans began to alter plants. Farmers picked plants with certain traits and bred them to make new types of plants. In time, farmers cultivated plants that differed from plants that grew in the wild. Here is one example. About 10,000 years ago in an area that would become Mexico, farmers chose a type of grass called the teosinte plant. The plant produced grains of starch stored in small seedpods. Over time, farmers picked and grew plants that made more starch. The end result was the corn plant.
In modern times, scientists alter plants by genetic engineering. The word “engineering” refers to the science of designing and constructing things.
Genetic engineering uses science to isolate, analyze, and modify genes. Plants that have altered genes are called genetically engineered (GE) plants. U.S. farmers planted the first large-scale GE crop in 1996. Since then, people have argued about whether GE crops are harmful or helpful.
Those who oppose GE crops argue that the plants pose possible risks to human health and the environment. One argument against GE crops is that changing a plant’s genes might accidentally cause the plant to produce a toxin that would harm humans. After almost 20 years of experience, this problem has not occurred.
Another argument against GE crops is that GE plants may spread beyond their fields. GE plants that grow in the wild might breed to produce new types of plants. This problem has happened. The canola plant produces seeds that are used to create canola oil. In 2010, scientists showed that GE canola plants were growing outside of their original fields. They also found evidence that the plants bred in the wild to produce new types of GE canola plants. The study highlighted the need to restrict GE plants inside their fields with chemicals. These chemicals are not only costly for farmers but also harmful to the environment.
Other types of GE crops provide unique advantages to farmers. One type of GE crop can resist viruses that cause diseases. As an example, a serious outbreak of ringspot virus threatened Hawaii’s papaya crops during the 1990s. Today, most papayas sold in Hawaii are GE plants that resist the virus. Another type of GE crop is designed to enable farmers to decrease the amounts of chemical herbicides used to kill weeds. Yet another type of GE crop is designed to enable plants to survive under harsh conditions. For example, corn is a widely grown staple crop in Africa. African farmers often face the problem of drought. One type of GE corn tolerates these dry conditions.
PASSAGE 2: The Facts about Genetic Engineering
by Harriet Harrington
It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to genetically engineered plants. Some scientists claim that this type of genetic engineering is no different from the engineering that has always been done by farmers to breed for the best crops. This is not entirely true. Some crops have been genetically modified as a result of traditional plant breeding. For example, two types of corn plants might be cross-pollinated on purpose to create a hybrid (combined) version. On the other hand, some plants have been genetically engineered (GE) as the result of high-tech genetic tinkering. This kind of engineering produces plants that would otherwise not occur in nature. For many reasons, GE plants are concerning.
GE plants are made to have qualities that don’t occur naturally. High-tech methods are used to incorporate genes directly into the plant rather than alter it through cross pollination. The result is a plant with pest control properties. These plants can be antibiotic resistant, and they can be designed to be resistant to herbicides. This genetic engineering creates a man-made plant. This calls into question the safety of these genetically engineered plants, especially with regard to people’s health.
What's more, the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture have done very little research on genetically engineered plants. It is hard to trust research completed by the high-tech companies connected to the plants. Those companies have billions of dollars at stake in the results of the information. Due to this and other reasons, many people do not believe GE foods are safe.
There are many things to consider about high-tech GE plants. There are issues with environmental damage. GE crops may spread to native crops. There are also economic consequences. Consider the farmers who don’t wish to grow genetically engineered crops. Also, and perhaps most importantly, there are health factors to think about. Studies increasingly show that medical issues may be associated with eating food produced from GE crops.
Corn. Soy. Cottonseed. Almost all of these crops are genetically engineered. In addition, most sugar is GE. Unless the sugar is labeled certified organic cane sugar, it is GE. Frighteningly enough, no labeling is required to differentiate GE produced foods from non-GE. This is a mistake. Because GE crops are so prevalent, it can be difficult to avoid them as consumers. However, it is not impossible.
3. What is ONE common idea found in BOTH Passage 1 and Passage 2?
ACorn, soy, and cottonseed are almost all genetically engineered foods.
BHigh-tech companies provide research on GE foods.
CGE crops may spread outside of their fields.
DPeople have been altering plants for thousands of years.