Description
Genetically Modified Organisms – GMOs – are experimental plants or animals that have been genetically engineered by humans in a lab using DNA from other plants and animals, as well as bacteria and viruses. GMOs have strong proponents. They tout higher crop and livestock yields; better tasting, more nutritional food; drought and pest resistant crops; and the ability to farm on marginal land for food production. GMOs have strong opponents. They say genetically modified foods are “Frankenfood” and represent a dangerous proposition. They point out the risks of relying on a food system that has potential for unforeseen impacts to ecological and human health, and cite heightened allergies, potential risk of abnormal tumor growth and even death among the tradeoffs. They also warn of becoming over-reliant on a few specialized products, compared to a more diverse, nutritionally complex food system. In this challenge, you will answer “Yes!” to one side of this debate by making a TV commercial for or against a GMO product. Whether you choose the GMO-pro or -con side is entirely up to you, but your job now is to be convincing.
