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19.3.219 · Genetic Technology

Using GMOs in Agriculture — Cambridge AS & A Level Biology 9700 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 11 parts Lesson 20 of 20 1 quiz

📚 Cambridge AS & A Level Biology 9700 Hub / Topical Revision
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19.3.2 Using GMOs in Agriculture — CAMBRIDGE AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY 9700 — REVISION NOTES notes: Evaluate the social and ethical implications of using GMOs in food production.GM microorganisms making medicines, antibiotics and enzymes cause less controversy than GMOs used for food.…

  • Social implication
  • Non-target species
  • Percentage change
  • Genetically modified
  • Genetic engineering
  • GMOs in food have been proposed as a solution to:Feeding the growing world population

Part 1 of 9Why GMOs are used in food production

Why GMOs are used in food production
GM microorganisms making medicines, antibiotics and enzymes cause less controversy than GMOs used for food.
GMOs in food have been proposed as a solution to:
  • Feeding the growing world population.
  • Decreasing the impact on the environment.
There are also concerns about wider impacts, which can be ethical or social.

Part 2 of 9Ethical implications: human health

Ethical implications
  • Ethical implications ideas about morality: whether something is morally good and right or unacceptable.
Positive health impacts:
  • GM crops may relieve hunger where yields are low.
  • GM crops may add nutrients to diets where deficiencies are common.
Concerns:
  • There is little long-term research on human health effects.
  • Long-term consumption may cause health problems not yet known.

Part 3 of 9Ethical implications: environment

Ethical implications: environment
Protecting the environment is considered an ethical choice by many.
Positive:
  • Insect-resistant crops reduce insecticide spraying and harm to non-target insects.
  • Larger yields reduce the land needed, so land can be set aside for habitat.
Negative:
  • Insect resistance genes may enter wild populations, creating invasive varieties that reduce biodiversity.
  • Herbicides sprayed on resistant crops may enter food chains and be toxic.
  • Target species may evolve resistance, so chemical use may rise in the long term.

Part 4 of 9Ethical implications: consumer choice

Ethical implications: consumer choice
Consumers should be able to make informed choices.
If GM foods are not clearly labelled, consumers may eat them without consent.
Pollen from GM crops may contaminate nearby non-GM crops certified as organic.

Part 5 of 9Social implications: economy

Social implications: economy
Positive:
  • GM crops may need fewer resources and be cheaper to buy.
  • Higher yields in countries with difficult conditions may allow trade and improve the national economy.
Negative:
  • Seeds are often produced by large biotech companies and are expensive.
  • This locks poorer and subsistence farmers out of varieties that could feed their families.
  • Plants from GM seeds are often sterile, so farmers must repurchase seed every year.

Part 6 of 9Social implications: health of society

1
Food supply may improve, reducing starvation.
2
Fewer dietary deficiencies mean fewer health problems and less pressure on health services.
3
Patents give companies control of seed, which can make farmers dependent.
4
Some countries ban GM food or require labelling.

Part 7 of 9Risks of GM crops

ConcernExplanation
Gene flow to wild relativesPollen can pass herbicide resistance to related weeds
Resistance in pestsConstant exposure to Bt toxin selects for resistant insects
Harm to non-target organismse.g. possible effects on butterflies or pollinators
Reduced biodiversityFewer weeds mean less food for insects and birds
Human healthPossible allergens; testing is required before approval

Part 8 of 9Evaluating data on GM crops

1
Describe the trend with figures and calculate percentage change = (new − original) ÷ original × 100.
2
Differences in location, weather and farm size limit comparisons.
3
A fair test compares plots of the same area, soil and management, with replicates.
4
A statistical test, e.g. a t-test, is needed to show that a yield difference is unlikely to be due to chance.

Part 9 of 9More from the specification

Genetically modified
  • Having had genes from another organism inserted.
Genetic engineering
  • Deliberate modification of a characteristic of an organism by transferring genes.

Key terms

TermMeaning
Ethical implicationConcern about whether something is morally right or unacceptable.
Social implicationEffect on society as a whole.
Non-target speciesSpecies that are not the intended pest but are affected.
Gene flowTransfer of genes to other populations, e.g. by pollen.
OrganicFarming certified free from GM and artificial inputs.
Percentage change(new − original) ÷ original × 100.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Mixing up ethical and social issues — one idea can be both, but know the definitions.
2
Giving only benefits or only risks — evaluate both.
3
Assuming GM crops are proven harmless or proven harmful — long-term effects are still uncertain.
4
Forgetting the economic issue of patents and repurchased seed.

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