Level 3 - Source on Genetically Modified Crops

• 1. What is agricultural biotechnology?
  • 1.1 How is agricultural biotechnology defined?
  • 1.2 How have agricultural technologies evolved over time?
• 2. How can biotechnology be applied to agriculture?
  • 2.1 What are genes?
  • 2.2 What can be learnt from studying the genetic makeup of a species?
  • 2.3 What are molecular markers and how are they used?
  • 2.4 How can laboratory techniques help in growing and selecting plants?
  • 2.5 How can genetic engineering transfer characteristics from one species to another?
  • 2.6 What characteristics can be transferred to plants?
• 3. Does conventional plant breeding have effects on health and the environment?
• 4. Are genetically modified plant foods safe to eat?
  • 4.1 Could genetically modified plant foods have health effects?
  • 4.2 How should genetically modified food safety be assessed?
  • 4.3 How should genetically modified foods be labelled in the market place?
• 5. What effects could genetically modified crops have on the environment?
  • 5.1 What direct effects could genetically modified plants have on the environment?
  • 5.2 What indirect effects could genetically modified plants have on the environment?
  • 5.3 How should these environmental effects be assessed?
• 6. What are the implications of GM-technologies for animals?
  • 6.1 What are possible effects of genetically modified animal feed?
  • 6.2 What are possible effects of genetically modified animals?
• 7. Are GMOs regulated by international agreements?
  • 7.1 How is international agricultural trade regulated?
  • 7.2 Do international conventions address environmental effects of GMOs?
• 8. Conclusions
  • 8.1 Conclusions on agricultural biotechnology
  • 8.2 Conclusions on environment and health effects