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14. Discuss the potential benefits and possible harmful effects of one example of genetic modification.
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Advantage
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Disadvantage
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| 1. Human insulin may be produced cheaply and quickly and no animals are harmed (Years ago, cattle and horses were bled once a month and the insulin was filtered out!) | 1. No disadvantage? |
Example #2: Transfer of the Bt toxin gene into corn (maize) DNA
The Bt gene, found in the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and transferred to corn, produces the Bt toxin that kills corn borers that feed on the corn.
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Advantage
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Disadvantage
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| 1. Allows less use of pesticides which are harmful to farmers & wildlife. | 1. Humans eating Bt corn could be harmed either by the bacterial DNA in it or by the Bt toxin. |
| 2. Bt kills pests so less crop damage and thus crop yields are higher. More people can thus be fed from same acreage. | 2. The Bt gene could be spread (via pollen) to oter related species. This would change the new species so they have an ecological advantage for survival (not eaten as much!) |
| 3. More crops survive so less acreage needs to be planted (more land can remain in its natural state). | 3. Non harmful organisms (butterflies) may be killed by the Bt toxin in corn, or by pollen from Bt corn that lands on wild plants! |
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