Practise evaluating GM food production using crop, fish and salmon contexts, including yield, nutrition, ecosystems and simple rate data.
Golden rice is an example of a genetically modified plant.
Golden rice has been given a gene to make a substance called carotene.
This gene was taken from daffodil plants.
Carotene is converted into vitamin A after being consumed by humans. Non-genetically modified rice does not usually contain carotene.
Vitamin A deficiency is common in some countries.
Explain why growing golden rice may benefit people in these countries.
An answer that makes reference to two of the following:
- less night blindness / fewer eye problems / better vision / eq
- rice is a common food / part of many diets / common crop / cheap (for consumers) to buy / eq
- cheap to grow / easy to grow / easy to get large yields / eq
- less health care needed / less damage to economy / eq
Reject scurvy / rickets / anaemia
Accept rice is a staple food
Accept (often) part of daily diet
Suggest why some people may not agree with growing genetically modified crops such as golden rice.
An answer that makes reference to two of the following:
- (may grow in wild and) affect food chains / food webs / ecosystems / eq
- may compete with other species (in wild) / eq
- may interbreed with wild plants / genes may transfer into wild plants / eq
- people may think they are a risk to health / eq
- may be better to give people a more balanced diet / should use natural sources of carotene / eq
Ignore ethical issues / playing God
Accept competition with other species
Accept may alter genes present in wild species
Accept worried about side effects