NS 1300 Emergence of Modern Science

Malthus and Genetically Modified Soybeans

NS 1300 Emergence of Modern Science

Malthus and Genetically Modified Soybeans

Fall 2010

Dr. Hoge

Fall 2010

Dr. Hoge

You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

• "The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man".

The Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus (13 February 1766 – 23 December 1834)

• "The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man".

The Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus (13 February 1766 – 23 December 1834)

Agriculture in the 20th CenturyAgriculture in the 20th Century

• Mechanization• Dust Bowl

• Mechanization• Dust Bowl

• Green Revolution• Silent Spring

• Green Revolution• Silent Spring

• Organic Farming• GMOs

• Organic Farming• GMOs

Industrial Revolution = Agricultural RevolutionIndustrial Revolution = Agricultural Revolution

• At the turn of the 20th century the introduction of the internal combustion engine set the stage for dramatic changes. Right at the center of that stage was the tractor. It's not just a figure of speech to say that tractors drove the mechanization revolution. Tractors pulled plows. They hauled loads and livestock. Perhaps most importantly, tractors towed and powered the new planters, cultivators, reapers, pickers, threshers, combine harvesters, mowers, and balers. (from Wikipedia)

• At the turn of the 20th century the introduction of the internal combustion engine set the stage for dramatic changes. Right at the center of that stage was the tractor. It's not just a figure of speech to say that tractors drove the mechanization revolution. Tractors pulled plows. They hauled loads and livestock. Perhaps most importantly, tractors towed and powered the new planters, cultivators, reapers, pickers, threshers, combine harvesters, mowers, and balers. (from Wikipedia)

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl• During the drought of the 1930s, with no

natural anchors to keep the soil in place, it dried, turned to dust, and blew away eastward and southward in large dark clouds. At times the clouds blackened the sky reaching all the way to East Coast cities such as New York and Washington, D.C. Much of the soil ended up deposited in the Atlantic Ocean, carried by prevailing winds which were in part created by the dry and bare soil conditions itself. The Dust Bowl affected 100,000,000 acres (400,000 km2), centered on the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, and adjacent parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas.

(from Wikipedia)

• During the drought of the 1930s, with no natural anchors to keep the soil in place, it dried, turned to dust, and blew away eastward and southward in large dark clouds. At times the clouds blackened the sky reaching all the way to East Coast cities such as New York and Washington, D.C. Much of the soil ended up deposited in the Atlantic Ocean, carried by prevailing winds which were in part created by the dry and bare soil conditions itself. The Dust Bowl affected 100,000,000 acres (400,000 km2), centered on the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, and adjacent parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas.

(from Wikipedia)

The Green RevolutionThe Green Revolution• The projects within the Green Revolution

spread technologies that had already existed, but had not been widely used outside industrialized nations. These technologies included:

– pesticides– irrigation projects – synthetic nitrogen fertilizer – improved crop varieties

(from Wikipedia)

• The projects within the Green Revolution spread technologies that had already existed, but had not been widely used outside industrialized nations. These technologies included:

– pesticides– irrigation projects – synthetic nitrogen fertilizer – improved crop varieties

(from Wikipedia)

Silent SpringSilent Spring• Silent Spring is a book written by Rachel

Carson and published in September 1962. The book is widely credited with helping launch the environmental movement.

• The book documented detrimental effects of pesticides on the environment, particularly on birds. Carson said that DDT had been found to cause thinner egg shells and result in reproductive problems and death. She also accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting industry claims uncritically. (from Wikipedia)

• Silent Spring is a book written by Rachel Carson and published in September 1962. The book is widely credited with helping launch the environmental movement.

• The book documented detrimental effects of pesticides on the environment, particularly on birds. Carson said that DDT had been found to cause thinner egg shells and result in reproductive problems and death. She also accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting industry claims uncritically. (from Wikipedia)

Modern AgricultureModern Agriculture

• Agribusiness– Hormones– Antibiotics– New pesticides– Modern irrigation

• Genetically Modified Organisms• Organic Farming

• Agribusiness– Hormones– Antibiotics– New pesticides– Modern irrigation

• Genetically Modified Organisms• Organic Farming

Food Properties Modifications % Modified in U.S.

Soybeans Resistant to herbicides Gene taken from bacteria inserted into soybean.

89%

Corn Resistant to herbicides, Insect resistance, Vitamin-enriched. Produces its own bio-insecticide

New genes added/transferred into plant genome. Gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis added to the plant.

60%

Cotton Pest-resistant cotton Bt crystal protein gene added/transferred into genome.

83%

Tomatoes Retarding fruit softening after harvesting

A reverse copy of the gene responsible for the production of PG enzyme added into genome.

Taken off the market due to commercial failure.

Potatoes Produces waxy potato starch The gene for granule bound starch synthase is switched off.

Will be produced solely under contract farming conditions and not made available on the general market.

Sugar Resistance to certain pesticides, high sucrose content

New genes added/transferred into plant genome.

Rice Genetically modified to contain high amounts of Vitamin A (beta-carotene)

Three new genes implanted: two from daffodils and the third from a bacterium.

QuizQuiz•1. T or F: Robert Malthus predicted widespread starvation due to population growth during the industrial revolution.

•2. T or F: The dust bowl occurred in the 1950s.

•3. T or F: Pesticides are one factor that enabled the Green Revolution.

•4. T or F: Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring in 1962.

•5. T or F: 89% of soybeans in the U.S. have been genetically modified.

•1. T or F: Robert Malthus predicted widespread starvation due to population growth during the industrial revolution.

•2. T or F: The dust bowl occurred in the 1950s.

•3. T or F: Pesticides are one factor that enabled the Green Revolution.

•4. T or F: Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring in 1962.

•5. T or F: 89% of soybeans in the U.S. have been genetically modified.

Test QuestionsTest Questions• Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring in 1962 to bring attention to the affect of pesticides

on the environment.

• GMO stands for genetically modified organism. These include crops and livestock which are increasingly available in the marketplace.

• Chains of carbon atoms form hydrocarbons and other organic molecules.

• Functional groups make organic molecules behave in specific and unique ways.

• Carbohydrates include both simple and complex molecules. Lipids include fats and oils. Proteins are chains of amino acids.

• DNA records the information needed for your cells to form proteins.

• mRNA transcribes the DNA sequence then tRNA and rRNA translate this information into the primary protein structure.

• Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring in 1962 to bring attention to the affect of pesticides on the environment.

• GMO stands for genetically modified organism. These include crops and livestock which are increasingly available in the marketplace.

• Chains of carbon atoms form hydrocarbons and other organic molecules.

• Functional groups make organic molecules behave in specific and unique ways.

• Carbohydrates include both simple and complex molecules. Lipids include fats and oils. Proteins are chains of amino acids.

• DNA records the information needed for your cells to form proteins.

• mRNA transcribes the DNA sequence then tRNA and rRNA translate this information into the primary protein structure.