GMO Knowledge Test
How many more tons of soybeans were produced between 1996 and 2012 due to crop biotechnology?
122 million tons of soybean
How many more tons of cotton lint were produced between 1996 and 2012 due to crop biotechnology?
18.2 tons of cotton lint
When was the first GM animal created?
1974, Biologist Rudolf Jaenisch creates the first genetically modified animal, a transgenic mouse, by introducing foreign DNA into its embryo.
When was the first GMO patent issued?
1980 Settled in court case between a genetics engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Office with a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on a living organism
When was the first GMO approved by the FDA?
1982 Humulin, insulin produced by genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, appears on the market
When was the first transgenic plant created?
1983, The first transgenic plant, a tobacco plant resistant to antibiotics, is created at Washington University in Missouri.
How long have GMO's been sold since?
1994
When did the first GMO hit the grocery stores?
1994
When was the first GMO resistant weed discovered?
1996 Weeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide used with many GMO crops, are detected in Australia. Research shows that the super weeds are seven to 11 times more resistant to glyphosate than the standard susceptible population.
When did GMO specified labels become mandatory?
1997 The European Union rules in favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO food products, including animal feed
In what year did GMO food crops begin to "dominate" the market?
1999 Over 100 million acres worldwide are planted with genetically engineered seeds. The marketplace begins embracing GMO technology at an alarming rate.
What percent of Americans support labeling genetically modified ingredients on food packages?
2/3 of Americans according to a December Associated Press-Gaff poll
When was the first GMO resistant pest discovered?
2003
When was Bt Toxin discovered in humans?
2011 Research in eastern Quebec finds Bt toxins in the blood of pregnant women and shows evidence that the toxin is passed to fetuses.
When was the bill passed in the House of Representatives to prevent mandatory food labeling of GMOs?
2015
How many more tons of corn were produced between 1996 and 2012 due to crop biotechnology?
231 million tons of corn
How many counties have banned GMOs?
26
What percent of large herds (with 500 cows or more) are injected with rBGH?
42%
What percent of American soybeans are used for poultry feed?
48%
How many more tons of canola were produced between 1996 and 2012 due to crop biotechnology?
6.6 million tons of canola.
How many countries around the world have GMO labeling laws?
64
GMOs are what percent of the food we eat?
70-80%
Food-producing animals such as cows, pigs, goats, chickens and other poultry species now consume what percent of all genetically engineered crops?
70-90%
What percent of soybeans, corn, sugar beets and canola are grown from GMO seeds?
85%
What percent of Unite States corn is genetically modified?
89%
What percent of the soy grown around the world goes into animal feed?
90%
What percent of the soy, cotton, canola, corn and sugar beets sold in the United States have been genetically engineered?
90%
What is Mansanto's Roundup Ready line?
A line of products sprayed with the "Roundup" pesticide
What is the Bt toxin?
A protein that is toxic to chewing insects and is produced by the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis
How common are GMO's?
According to the USDA, in 2009, 93% of soy, 93% of cotton, and 86% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO
What does AAEM stand for?
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
What does APHIS stand for?
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
How many genetically engineered foods are on the market?
At least 35 varieties of genetically engineered crops have been registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
in 2000, the following countries pass laws requiring GMO food labeling:
Australia, Russia, Hong Kong, Czech Republic
What does the "Bt" in Bt toxin stand for?
Bacillus thuringiensis
What was the first GMO resistant pest?
Bt-toxin-resistant caterpillar-cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, is found feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops in the southern United States. In less than a decade, the bugs have adapted to the genetically engineered toxin produced by the modified plants.
How much did the usage of GM crops reduce the use of pesticides in the United States?
By 46.4 million pounds of pesticide in 2003
Can rBGH cause cancer?
Cattle injected with rBGH produce milk with higher levels of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 has been linked to a higher risk of developing certain cancers, including double the risk of developing breast cancer.
How many GMO's are produced in China?
China grows 4.0 million hectares of cotton, papaya, tomato, and sweet pepper
What countries require foods to be labeled?
China, Australia, and the European Union require GMO foods to be labeled
How has crop biotechnology benefited the environment?
Crop biotechnology has reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2012) by 503 million kg (-8.8%). This is equal to the total amount of pesticide active ingredient applied to arable crops in the EU 27 for nearly two crop years. As a result, this has decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on the area planted to biotech crops by 18.7%
What benefits come with the use of GMOs and therefore the reduced needs for pesticides and herbicides?
Decreased man-power to grow crops.
What does EPA stand for?
Environmental Protection Agency
Who has the final say in GMO labeling?
FDA
What major science and health organization has confirmed GMO's safety?
FDA, American Medical Association, National Academy of Sciences, World Heath Organization
What does FDA stand for?
Food and Drug Administration
What are the changes in nutritional value when a crop is genetically modified versus a non-GM version of the same crop?
Foods made from GM crops have the same nutritional value as foods made from non-GM crops, whether it's protein, fat, fiber, oil or carbohydrates
What was the results of the Paul Francois vs Monsanto case?
Francois wins and sets a new precedent for future cases.
The only mandatory labeling law enacted in the U.S. is for
GE fish in Alaska
How can GMOs help farmers?
GMOs can help farmers reduce loss of crops to viruses and other plant diseases
When did genetic engineering start?
Genetic engineering as the direct transfer of DNA from one organism to another was first accomplished by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973.
What are genetically modified crops?
Genetically modified crops are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques
With the adoption of GM crops, how much has the usage of pesticides been reduced in the world?
Globally, the use of GM crops has reduced pesticide spraying from 1996-2011 by 9% or 975 million pounds.
What does HT stand for?
Herbicide Tolerant
With the adoption of GM crops, how much has the usage of pesticides been reduced in the United States?
In 2003, the usage of pesticides was reduced by 46.4 million pounds.
When was the first U.S. approval of a GE animal?
In 2009 the Food and Drug Administration approved ATryn, an anticlotting agent that is produced in the milk of transgenic goats
From 1996-2011, by what percent did the average yield gains increase for corn and cotton due to the insect resistant technology?
Increased by 10.4% for insect resistant corn and by 16.1% for insect resistant cotton
How much GM cotton does India grow?
India grows 10.8 million hectares of cotton
What does IR stand for?
Insect Resistant
in 2001, the following countries begin requiring special labeling for GMO foods:
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan
Who are the companies producing GMOs?
Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, Dupont, Syngenta, BASF (in conjunction with Monsanto)
Do GM crops produce larger harvests?
No
Is it mandatory in the United States to specify genetically modified foods on labels?
No
Will mandatory labeling make foods more expensive?
No
Are GMO's causing an increase in allergies?
No, commercially available crops contain allergens that have been created by genetically engineering a seed/plant and the rigorous testing process ensures that will never happen.
Are GMOs causing an increase in the use of pesticides?
No, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), claimed that in 2007 alone use of GMO crops resulted in a reduction of pesticide use (18 percent less pesticide on farmers' fields)
Can GMO's cause cancer?
No, there is absolutely zero reputable evidence that GMO foods cause cancer
How do GMO's benefit biofuels?
Organic matter could be bred to provide energy. Plant material fuel, or biomass, has enormous energy potential.
What happened in the Paul Francois vs Monsanto case?
Paul Francois, a French farmer, sues Monsanto for chemical poisoning he claims was caused by its pesticide Lasso, part of the Roundup Ready line of products.
What is the difference between genetically engineered plants and plants altered through natural hybridization processes?
Plants altered through natural hybridization processes crossbreed plants within the same species. But,The genes of genetically engineered (GE) plants have been altered by the insertion of genes taken from unrelated plant species, animal or bacterium that would not otherwise occur naturally
Why would people oppose food labeling?
Producers fear that the existence of a label implies a food safety risk and would deter consumption when no such risk has yet been proven
What is the problem with the safety of the Roundup Ready Soybean?
The "Roundup" pesticide is sprayed on soybean crops during growth. When they are cooked and then eaten, the "Roundup" pesticide is cooked out. When they are given to cattle, the soybeans are raw and therefore the cattle are infected by the pesticide. Cases show that this is dangerous to humans when eating infected steaks medium rare or rare.
How does the Bt toxin work?
The Bt toxin dissolve in the high pH insect gut and become active. The toxins then attack the gut cells of the insect, punching holes in the lining. The Bt spores spills out of the gut and germinate in the insect causing death within a couple days.
What did the FDA declare in 1992?
The FDA declared that genetically engineered foods are "not inherently dangerous" and do not require special safety testing or specific regulation
What was the first genetically modified food to be entered into grocery stores and why was this beneficial?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves. The delayed-ripening tomato has a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes.
Who regulates safety in meat and poultry products?
The US Department of Agriculture regulates meat and poultry products
Who regulates safety in pesticide residue in foods?
The US Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticide residue in foods
Who regulates food safety?
The US Food and Drug Administration regulates foods produced by traditional techniques as well as those produced using genetic engineering. It is the primary federal agency responsible for food safety and covers all foods except for meat and poultry products.
How many GMO's are produced in the U.S?
The United States grows 69.5 million hectares of corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, sugar beets, alfalfa, and squash
What benefits come from GMOs in regard to potential higher crop yields?
The ability to feed more people in lesser developed countries.
How is the Bt toxin used in genetic engineering?
The genes for Bt toxin can be isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis and transferred to plants to be used as a biological pesticide.
What legal requirements must GE plants meet?
The same requirements enforced by the FDA for all foods.
For how long have people been modifying foods and how?
Thousands of years ago and through selective breeding
What organizations does the FDA work with to regulate foods from GE crops?
U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA)
What does USDA stand for?
U.S. Department of Agriculture
What country grows the highest amount of GMO's?
USA
What is the only state that has mandatory GMO food labeling laws?
Vermont is the only state set to require the labels. That law will take effect in July 2016 if it survives a legal challenge from the food industry. Maine and Connecticut have also passed laws requiring the labeling, but those measures don't take effect unless neighboring states follow suit.
Are GMO's resistant to pesticides?
Yes
Are seeds that have been subjected to GMOs resistant to weeds?
Yes
Do GMO's use less water and fewer pesticides?
Yes
Has GM crops aided in contributing to reducing the release of greenhouse gas emission from agricultural practices?
Yes , GM crops resulted in less fuel use and additional soil carbon storage. In 2012, the use of GM crops was equivalent to removing 27 billion kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or equal to removing 11.9 million cars from the road for one year.
Can GMO's contribute to intestinal disorders?
Yes, An Australian study recently claimed that pigs fed genetically modified (GM) soy and corn displayed a 32 percent rate of severe stomach inflammation whereas pigs not fed a GMO diet only showed 12 percent
Can GMO's contribute to fewer animal health problems?
Yes, Genetic modification can result in animals that are resistant to diseases and can better withstand typical factory farm conditions.
Do GMO's improve food quality and shelf life?
Yes, a GMO crop can be engineered to stay fresher for a longer amount of time, therefore increasing shelf life.
Do GMO's cost more than non-GMO products?
Yes, a bag of GM corn seed may cost $300, while non-GM corn seed costs about half of that amount
Is it true that GM foods can withstand weather fluctuations and extremes?
Yes, this means they can provide sufficient yields and quality despite a severe, poor weather season.
What is recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH)?
a genetically engineered artificial hormone injected into dairy cows to make them produce more milk
Has herbicide use increased from the use of GMOs?
herbicide-use increased (both in amount and strength) by 11% between 1996 and 2011
What percentage of our food on the market today contains GMO's?
up to 80%