Karen A. Beitler
Note to teachers- I have this pretest with pictures in Power Point; email me and I will send it to you. (karen.beitlernew-haven.k12.ct.us)
GM Foods Pretest Name______________
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1. Do tomatoes have genes?
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2. Are genetically modified foods in the supermarkets now?
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3. Does genetic modification of food mean inserting genes from one chromosome to another to enhance the food in some way?
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4. Does inserting a fish gene into a tomato mean the tomato will taste "fishy"?
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5. Can the genes from a genetically modified food enter your genes and be passed onto your future children?
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6. Are there risks to health and the environment in the current method of breeding new varieties of food?
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7. Has there ever been any documented harm to anyone from a genetically modified food?
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8. Name two genetically altered foods.
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9. Name a food process that is on the label of any food?
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10. Is labeling of genetically modified food fair?
GM Foods Pretest ANSWERS
From the lecture "Science, Society and the Real Threats Posed by GM Foods" given by the author of the popular book Pandora's Picnic Basket Dr. Alan McHughen.
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1. Do tomatoes have genes?
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Of course tomatoes have genes - they are living eukaryotic cells!
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2. Are genetically modified foods in the supermarkets now?
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Yes there have been genetically modified foods in the supermarkets for over ten years!
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3. Does genetic modification of food mean inserting genes from one chromosome to another to enhance the food in some way?
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Yes! Genetic engineering involved removing a gene from one cell and inserting it into another.
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4. Does inserting a fish gene into a tomato mean the tomato will taste "fishy"?
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That's just silly! A gene that is inserted will perform as the scientist intended- why would a scientist want a "fishy" tasting tomato?
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5. Can the genes from a genetically modified food enter your genes and be passed onto your future children?
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No! Food is processed in your system and digested; foods don't change your genes.
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6. Are there risks to health and the environment in the current method of breeding new varieties of food?
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Yes! There are always risks in agriculture, but GM Foods may have lower risks than current methods.
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7. Has there ever been any documented harm to anyone from eating a genetically modified food?
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No! There has never been any documented harm from GM foods.
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8. Name two genetically altered foods on the market today.
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85 % of corn and 65% of soybeans are genetically engineered
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9. Name a food process that is on the label of any food.
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There isn't one, processes aren't on labels; genetic engineering is a process.
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10. Is labeling of genetically modified food fair?
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Opinion
