Name______________________

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

GMO Webquest
What are GMOs?
Use the following website to define Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs): http://www.thefreedictionary.com/genetically+modified+organism
GMOs are
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What is Genetic Engineering?
Genetic engineering is the process of changing an organisms original
genetic code by adding additional genes that create new traits for the organism.
Go to the following website to see the steps that occur in a genetic engineering
experiment.
http://www3.iptv.org/exploremore/ge/
Click on the blue GE in depth tabs and then click on Example Using Insulin
List the 7 steps that occur in a genetic engineering experiment
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________
6. _________________________________________________
7. _________________________________________________
Read the top of this page and write what it means to be diabetic.
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Move your mouse over each picture to see how insulin can be genetically
engineered using bacteria. Did you do this part? __________________

How is genetic engineering used?

Use the following website to see how genetic engineering is used in our every day
life: http://www3.iptv.org/exploremore/ge/
Click on Uses on the left hand corner of the webpage.

Name______________________
Click on 3 different ways in which genetic engineering is used and describe 1
products that result from each use.
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2. ____________________________________________________________________________
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3. ____________________________________________________________________________
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Engineer an Organism
Use the following website to genetically engineer a border collie:
http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/games/game_dogbreeding.html
Click on How to Play and read through the instructions. Then return to the main
menu and complete Level 6.
Did you succeed in producing the desired border collie on your first try?
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Answer the following questions based on what you just did.
Try the selective breeding activity.
1. Why do different combination of parents create different odds of traits in
their offspring? (Hint: what do the wheels represent? What did we learn
about in Unit 6?)
2. In your own words, what is selective breeding? (Hint: its what you just did to
the border collie.)

3. What did you have to do the produce a border collie with floppy ears, a
brown coat, and long hair? Would it have been easier to produce a border
collie with different traits? Why or why not?

Name______________________
4. How many seasons did it take to produce this new corn crop by selective
breeding?

Use the following website to selectively breed organisms in a different way.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/engineer/)
Read the 2 introductory paragraphs and then click on Transgenic Manipulation
Follow the directions to make a new tomato plant through genetic
engineering.
1. How did you make the tomato crop insect resistant?

2. How many steps did it take to produce an engineered plant?

Guess Whats Coming to Dinner?

Use the following website to explore the future of genetically engineered
products. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/coming/
Read the paragraph on the left and then click on Guess whats coming to dinner
on the right.
Click on each food product and then list 1-2 traits that are being engineered for
and why. In other words, what are scientists trying to change in each food
product and why. I have done the first one for you.
GMO food or product
Bananas

Engineered trait(s)
Scientists want to insert edible vaccines into bananas
because their skins provide edible barriers against
contamination. This would help poor nations that
cannot typically get vaccines.

Name______________________

Arguments for and against Genetically Modified Organisms.

Now, use the internet to research 5 reasons why people are for GMOs (in other
words, what are the benefits of GMOs) and 5 reasons why people are against
GMOs (what are the risks of GMOs). Write down your research below and
include the website you used to find your information.
Pros of GMOs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Website Used ________________________________________________________________
Cons of GMOs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Name______________________
Website Used ___________________________________________________________________