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 Presentation Summary
Lac Courte Oreilles Casino and Convention Center
Oct 3-4, 2002
Science Background of Biotechnology
Tom Zinnen
Biotechnology Outreach Specialist
University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension
Food is essential for life and fundamental to culture. All our food comes from things that are alive: plants, animals or microbes. Humans domesticate plants, animals and microbes into crops, livestock and cultures. Humans can improve these by using two major approaches: by modifying the environment of crops and livestock, or by modifying their genes. Plant breeders have a dozen methods to manipulate the genes and genomes of plants. Among these is recombinant DNA technology: making a copy of a gene from one organism and moving the copy of the gene into another organism. With recombinant DNA technology, the gene pool becomes a gene ocean: all living things on Earth are potential sources of genes for use by a plant breeder. Recombinant DNA technology is one of the most powerful tools ever developed by humans. Plant breeders can use it to develop crops that resist pests, increase nutritional content, improve flavor, and make pharmaceuticals. In assessing the risks of recombinant DNA technology, panels of scientists organized by the National Academy of Sciences have repeatedly concluded that there is no evidence that gene splicing is riskier than other methods of genetic modification. Biotechnology applied to food is controversial not only because of concerns voiced about its safety, but also because to some people biotechnology challenges our ideas on what is right and wrong. At the same time, biotechnology is an opportunity for Extension programming to help people explore science as a way of probing the unknown and to use science in making personal choices and public policies.
From The University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension
Sponsored by a grant from USDA/CSREES/IFAFS
Copyright © 2003 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. /Extension
Last updated September 26, 2002
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