Biology SL Lab Report - Genetically Modified Crops and Health

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BIOLOGY SL

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS AND HEALTH

Tessa Reed

4mm

In today's society, the goal of many scientists is to try to figure out as much as possible about genetically modified organisms and their influence on humans, animals and plants. Very often, scientists genetically modify the food humans eat, in order for it to live in a certain area where it usually couldn't, to protect it from diseases or simply for it to taste or look better. A good example for this is the usage of artificial genes on rice plants, which protect it from viruses, increase their grain size or generate flavors and nutrients.

As we all know, rice is the most important food for most of the human population. The aim of the upcoming experiment is to test how artificial substances affect the growth and development of rice plants and, later, the effect of their fruit on the many humans that eat them.

For my experiment to go through, I will need to travel to India. India is one of the cradles of rice cultivation and, also, the second most populated country in the world. Half of the population is fed by rice daily. Favorable locations for rice cultivation are moist and damp places near rivers. Because of this, the delta of the Cauvery river in south-east India is a good location for planting seedlings of rice plants. The rice in this area is perennial, meaning it lives long and is capable of re-growing without reseeding, year long. In a paddy field I will plant 500 seedlings. Through previous research, I have learned that it takes 3 months for a rice plant to reach maturity and be ready for its harvest. My experiment will last a year and two months, meaning I will have 4 harvests. On half of the crops (250) my team and I will be spraying a genetically modified rice cultivator (LL62), four times per season. The other half of the rice plant crops will not be genetically modified in any way, only monitored (plowed, fertilized and smoothed). After three months my team will harvest, by hand, the first 500 rice plants. The genetically modified rice will be compared to the one that was not modified. Apart from my team, 100 people will be included in the experiment as well. The rice will be fed to them every day for 1 year and 3 months. Half of the people (50) will be eating the rice that is genetically modified. The other half (50) will be eating the rice that was not artificially grown. After the given time period, my team and I will measure our results to see the influence of the genetically modified rice on the humans that ate it, in contrast to the results of the humans that ate “regular” rice. Their body weight, blood sugar level and blood pressure will be measured and the results will then be compared.

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Variables:

Dependent variables: 
The dependent variables are the measured body weight, blood sugar level and blood pressure of the humans that participated in the experiment. These results depend upon the rice grains that they eat and their influence on the human bodies.

Independent variable:
The independent variable is the food (rice) that will be given to the humans. 50% (meaning 50 people) will be eating the rice that was genetically modified and the other 50% will be fed with rice grown without the addition of LL62.

Control variables:
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Environment – The environment in which the rice is planted in should ...

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