■ What is genetically modified food?

Transgene refers to extracting a gene from one organism by biotechnology and then implanting it into another organism. For example, scientists believe that a gene in arctic fish has antifreeze effect, so they extract it and implant it into tomatoes to make a new variety of cold-resistant tomatoes. The food made from this raw material is called genetically modified food.

■ 17 All kinds of foods or products must be marked whether they are genetically modified.

At present, there are five categories 17 kinds of foods or products that require labeling whether they are genetically modified or not. These are: 1. Soybean seeds, soybeans, soybean flour, soybean oil and soybean meal; 2. Corn seeds, corn, corn oil and corn flour; 3. Rapeseed, rapeseed, rapeseed oil and rapeseed meal; Fourth, cotton seeds; Five, tomato seeds, fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce.

In recent years, genetically modified food has attracted people's attention because of its unique quality and characteristics. Some people are ecstatic about the technological progress made in agricultural science, calling it "food in the new century". At the same time, some people are afraid of its safety and stay away from it. Whether the transgenic technology brings happiness or misfortune to mankind, I'm afraid the initiative is not in our own hands. With the development and progress of genetic engineering, the increase of genetically modified crops and the emergence of a large number of genetically modified foods in the market, some negative effects have begun to appear. People are thinking deeply about how far gene transplantation and transformation can go. How safe is it? At the same time, people keep accusing and questioning.

Governments also attach great importance to this. The National Academy of Sciences has investigated the safety of genetically modified foods. European Union countries held a meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg, at which it was unanimously agreed to suspend the cultivation and circulation of genetically modified crops before formulating new regulations. Brazil, a big soybean producer, recently announced that it will temporarily stop producing genetically modified soybeans until the impact of genetically modified crops on the environment is determined.

It should be noted that from a global perspective, genetically modified foods are not introduced to the market at will. The research and development of bioengineering in China is carried out on the basis of protecting people's health and resources and environment. The management and monitoring of genetically modified products have laws to follow and rules to follow. 1993 issued by the former state science and technology commission (measures for the safety management of genetic engineering), 1996 issued by the Ministry of agriculture "implementation measures for the safety management of agricultural biological genetic engineering". The Ministry of Agriculture accepts two batches of genetic engineering safety evaluation every year, and so far, it has accepted 193 items, and only 6 items have been approved for commercial production. Under this management system, genetically modified products that have passed safety assessment and testing are safe.

The safety of genetically modified crops and food depends on whether there is a set of international standards and related rules. There are no rules, Fiona Fang. Only by correctly guiding the development and application of genetically modified agricultural products and standardizing the detection methods can we ensure the edible safety of genetically modified agricultural products and the safety of the ecological environment.

Genetically modified is a new biotechnology, and no country will shrink back in the field of genetically modified food. With the formulation and improvement of international rules, genetically modified food will surely appear in the fields of 2 1 century with a brand-new attitude.

However, all this is not far away from us. If you want the future, you must start from now.

Pay attention to life and genetic modification.

Overview of survey items

1. 1. Project name and objectives

Project name: survey project on public awareness of genetically modified foods.

Project objective: To obtain the public's understanding of genetically modified food through sampling survey, and provide an objective and accurate data base for the better development of genetically modified food.

1.2. Project time

Start time: August 2009 1

End time: August 30, 2009

1.3. Project team members

Questionnaire design: Shang

Survey sample selection: rural residents, urban residents and netizens.

User interviews and questionnaire distribution: Zhang Ruizhi, Dou Hao, Fang Rong

Questionnaire collection and results statistics: Shen Xudong, Deng Yunxiang

Data analysis and report: Xu Guangxin, Chang Qun

1.4. Investigation methods

The survey was mainly conducted in rural areas, urban residents and the Internet around us. When selecting the survey object, the methods of key sampling and random sampling are adopted; When designing the questionnaire, the design method of combining objective questions with subjective questions is emphasized.

1.4. 1.

The people who participated in this survey are mainly ordinary citizens and netizens in Yangzhou.

According to the principle of giving consideration to different genders, different occupations and different age groups, samples are randomly selected from citizens.

1.4.2. Questionnaire design

The design of the questionnaire mainly includes four aspects:

Basic information survey of users: including basic information such as users' age and occupation.

Investigation on users' cognition of genetically modified products.

A survey of users' attitudes towards genetically modified foods.

1.4.3. Questionnaire distribution and recovery

The questionnaire distribution and collection methods used in this survey include:

Questionnaires were distributed and collected through door-to-door interviews.

Distribute and collect questionnaires through street interviews.

E-mail distribution and questionnaire collection

Issue and retrieve questionnaires through online surveys.

1.5. Overview of project achievements

In this user survey project, 200 user questionnaires were distributed, and 159 questionnaires were recovered, of which 148 were valid.

The project has achieved two main results:

Valuable statistical data are obtained: based on the statistics and analysis of valid questionnaires, the data of civic awareness and basic attitudes are obtained, and the data samples are true and effective.

It provides valuable investigation conclusions for the further development of transgenic technology: based on the basic data, we have drawn some investigation conclusions, which can be used as reference for transgenic development enterprises and provide more accurate and reasonable data for those in need.

2. Data analysis (the following are the results of the online questionnaire used, and others are attached)

1. What about you?

2. Do you know the channel of genetically modified food?

3. If you don't know much about genetically modified food, what do you think?

Do you know the kinds of genetically modified foods on the market?

5. Can you eat genetically modified food?

6. Which do you think has higher nutritional value, genetically modified food or ordinary food?

7. What's your attitude towards GM food entering the market?

8. Have you seen the relevant signs of packaging of genetically modified food?

9. When you buy food, do you pay attention to the genetically modified logo on the food packaging?

10. Do you think the price of genetically modified food will be higher than that of normal food?

1 1. Have you ever worried about the safety of genetically modified food?

12. Do you think the advantages of genetically modified food outweigh the disadvantages or the disadvantages outweigh the advantages?

13. What do you think are the advantages of genetically modified food?

15. Who is your identity?

3. Other surveys

(1) transgenic crops

After investigation, it is found that there are not many genetically modified crops mainly existing and sold in the market at present, cotton is the most common, rape and soybean are both available. And cotton, especially insect-resistant cotton, has become more common because it is not as good as cotton and does not involve the possible safety problems caused by eating.

(2) Transgenic animals

Due to the complicated engineering operation of genetically modified animals and unclear market prospect, genetically modified animals have not really formed a market.

Transgenic insect-resistant cotton varieties

Genetically modified animals are scarce in the market.

Introduction of transgenic animals and plants:

Using transgenic technology, exogenous genes such as auxin gene, prolific gene, ovulatory hormone gene, high-yield milk gene, lean meat gene, keratin gene, anti-parasite gene and antiviral gene are introduced into animal sperm, egg cells or fertilized eggs, so that animals with short growth cycle, large litter size, high milk yield, good meat quality and processing performance and disease resistance can be cultivated.

It is safer to cultivate virus-free plants. This should be analyzed from the principle of both. Culture virus-free plants: the newly grown plant buds are not infected by plant viruses. Because virus infection takes time, and the buds of plants with vigorous division grow very fast, faster than virus infection, so the bud tissue in vitro is virus-free. Virus-free plants cultivated by plant tissue culture can bear large fruits. Some sweet potatoes can grow to 100 kilograms, and watermelons can grow to more than 50 kilograms. Virus-resistant transgenic plants: transfer genes that can kill viruses into plants, so that plants can kill invading viruses themselves. However, this kind of gene artificially transferred into plants cannot guarantee whether it is safe for people and animals, so countries such as Europe prohibit the sale of genetically modified plant products in this area.

4. Social attitude towards genetically modified products

■ Market survey: the inventory of "non-GM" products and "GM" products in supermarkets and convenience stores.

We investigated commercial retail enterprises including large supermarkets, medium-sized supermarkets and some convenience stores, and found that it is not difficult to buy "non-genetically modified" products in Yangzhou market.

In supermarkets such as Century Lianhua, Carrefour, Wal-Mart and RT Mart, the team members conducted field surveys.

In supermarkets such as Carrefour and Wal-Mart, 16 brand soybean oil products, including Furukawa, Arowana, Firebird and Fulinmen, and various blended oils containing soybean ingredients are all marked with "GMO". However, "non-genetically modified" edible oil appears in a more natural and healthy posture. The price is also relatively high.

■ Consumers' awareness of "genetically modified" is less than 50%. Non-genetically modified foods are preferred.

We interviewed several consumers at random. Older consumers find that they are not too concerned about whether it is "genetically modified" soybean oil, but they are very sensitive to the price of the product.

In "3? On the eve of "15" Consumer Rights Protection Day, Greenpeace released a survey report, pointing out that Chinese consumers' awareness and rejection of genetically modified foods are on the rise, and 57% of the respondents prefer to choose foods without genetically modified ingredients.

■ Manufacturer's statement: The oil yield of genetically modified soybeans is high, and the domestic soybean output cannot meet the demand, which promotes the prevalence of "genetically modified" soybean oil.

On the Internet, the producer of "Lu Hua" said that the main reason for choosing genetically modified soybeans as raw materials was that the domestic soybean supply was far below the market demand, so they had to buy soybeans from abroad. Arowana, Huifu and other grain and oil manufacturers also agree that the shortage of domestic soybeans is the fundamental reason for using foreign genetically modified soybeans. Mr. Wu of Kerry Grain and Oil even pointed out: "The domestic oil consumption is large, and the annual per capita oil consumption in some big cities reaches 13kg. Domestic soybean production is simply in short supply, and northeast soybean oil production is small, which is not suitable as a raw material for oil production. "

An industry insider who asked not to be named pointed out that because China does not restrict the use of "genetically modified" raw materials, manufacturers choose "genetically modified" raw materials for production, mainly because of cost considerations. At present, imported soybeans 100% are genetically modified soybeans, and the oil yield is between 20%-2 1%, while the oil yield of domestic soybeans is only 17%, but the price is more expensive than imported soybeans, so most manufacturers will use imported soybeans as raw materials. It is estimated that 5 liters of non-GM soybean oil per barrel is 2-3 yuan more expensive than GM soybean oil. Because most consumers in China are still sensitive to prices and don't know much about "genetically modified" products, most large manufacturers are unwilling to raise costs and produce "non-genetically modified" products.

■ Government Supervision: Yangzhou Agriculture Bureau-Producing genetically modified soybean oil is an enterprise behavior.

The office of Yangzhou Agriculture Bureau said that the main responsibility of government departments at present is to supervise the labeling of genetically modified products in accordance with state regulations. For enterprises that are not marked as required, the competent agricultural department may punish them, make corrections within a time limit, confiscate their illegally sold products and impose a fine.

Viewpoint PK: Is genetically modified food safe?

■ Positive view: Genetically modified food has passed the safety evaluation of the national quality inspection department.

Zhu Benzhong, deputy director of the Food Biotechnology Laboratory of China Agricultural University, said: "Although there is no scientific and technological method to directly determine whether genetically modified products are harmful to human body, genetically modified soybeans have passed the safety evaluation of the national quality inspection department and should be safe." Huang Kunlun, a professor at China Agricultural University, said: "All genetically modified foods sold in the market have been tested by relevant national quality inspection departments and their safety has been evaluated. At present, China and the United States, which have eaten genetically modified soybeans for 8 years, have not produced obvious adverse symptoms among consumers. There is no need to resist genetically modified soybeans. Moreover, transgenic technology plays an obvious role in the development of agriculture, and can give agricultural products processing characteristics such as increasing production and preventing insects, with bright prospects. "

■ Objection: Although it is not found that genetically modified food is harmful to human health, it does not mean that it is safe.

Jesson Wang of the Biosafety Office of the State Environmental Protection Administration said in an interview: "Although genetically modified food has not been found harmful to human health so far, it cannot be said that it is safe. It may take some time to reflect its harm. For example, the tetracycline we used in the past was very good at that time, and tetracycline teeth appeared after a period of use; It was later found that streptomycin can cause deafness. Genetically modified foods may also have this problem, but it cannot be said absolutely. Maybe there is something wrong with this food, but there is nothing wrong with that food. Once something goes wrong, it is very troublesome, because its heredity can affect generations. We must attach great importance to the potential risks that may arise. " . From June 5th to February, 2004, Greenpeace staff randomly purchased 28 kinds of food from Beijing and Guangzhou, and entrusted international authoritative organizations for testing. It is found that two kinds of foods contain genetically modified ingredients from genetically modified soybeans, namely Lezhi Sandwich Biscuits under Kraft Food Co., Ltd. and Jinbao Golden Corn Soup produced by Jinbaotang Company. Both manufacturers promised to adopt non-GMO policies in their European markets.

■ Attitudes of countries towards genetically modified foods

Although EU 15 countries allow the use of some genetically modified ingredients in food, almost all new genetically modified foods are banned when EU laws are tightened.

Sri Lanka has banned the import of all genetically modified foods since May 1 2006.

Norway is the country with the strictest supervision on genetically modified food in the world. The government prohibits the import of several genetically modified crops and products containing antibiotic resistance marker genes, and the government also implements a genetically modified labeling system.

Since April, 20065438 1 day, all genetically modified foods in Japan have been required to undergo safety inspection, and a mandatory labeling system has been implemented for foods with more than 5% genetically modified ingredients.

South Korea has implemented a mandatory labeling system for genetically modified foods since March 1 2006. When selling food, proof documents are required to show the genetically modified ingredients. Any company that is found to have wrong information on the label will be sentenced to three years' imprisonment, and those who are not marked will be fined100000 won.

5. Results of the survey

From this survey, we can draw the following conclusions:

① Transgenic technology can improve the nutritional value of agricultural products and produce food more quickly and efficiently.

(2) Using transgenic method to change the genetic information of organisms and assemble new genes, so that the future crops have the characteristics of high nutrition, storage resistance, pest resistance and herbicide resistance.

③ The disadvantages of transgenic crops are: the relatively wild species of transgenic crops become weeds or super weeds; Genetic crops may produce new viral diseases; The harm of genetic crops to non-target organisms and poor biodiversity; Effects of genetic crops on ecosystems and ecological processes; He has some unpredictable risks.

People don't know much about the concept of genetically modified food, and it's the first time they've heard of it, but people are full of curiosity about this new thing. They want to try it, and most people don't deny its safety. Everyone has never heard of the genetically modified logo, and shopping usually doesn't notice this problem. Most people think that genetically modified foods are cheaper and have more benefits. In fact, the price of genetically modified food is lower, but there is always a process to accept new things. The whole society holds a wait-and-see attitude towards genetically modified foods.

⑤ The development of transgene has a very broad prospect in planting, breeding and food industry. At present, the main problem is how to ensure technical safety and solve social recognition.

6. Conclusion

The topic of this research study is "paying attention to genetic modification in life". The significance of this topic is to make students understand that the so-called transgene is to use modern molecular biotechnology to transfer the genes of some organisms to other species, transform the genetic material of organisms, and make them change to the goals people need in terms of traits, nutritional quality and consumption quality. That is, one or more foreign genes are transferred into organisms (animals, plants, microorganisms, etc.). ) By means of genetic engineering, the corresponding product (peptide or protein) can be effectively expressed, so that the organism can be used as food or food processed from it. In fact, the basic principle of transgene is not difficult to understand, which is similar to conventional cross breeding. Hybridization is to transfer the whole gene chain (chromosome), and gene transfer is to select the most useful short gene transfer. Therefore, transgene has higher selectivity than hybridization. Our group came up with this topic through discussion. Our group conducted field interviews in schools and some public places, including students, teachers and the masses. The general public doesn't know much about genetically modified food, but they are worried about its safety. We should strengthen the correct guidance on the understanding of genetically modified food, so that people can eat safely and use it healthily.

In the future, similar research needs to be improved in the following aspects:

The survey group should be more extensive, this time relatively limited to students.

Data collection should be more comprehensive and timely. More emphasis should be placed on the cooperation and coordination of this group.

This project has accumulated experience for our future research and study, and the team members have been well trained.

So this is a very effective study. The planning activities of this research-based learning project have enabled the students to learn a lot, and the research report has been finished.

Timetable:

Research field: biology

Research period: July 2009-13 to August 30, 2009.

Research topic: Pay attention to the transgene in life.

Reason for raising the topic: Since its appearance, transgenic technology has rapidly developed from a new technology to a world-famous industry. During this period, its practicality and safety have been controversial. There is no accurate answer so far. However, this industry is also a very practical industry, and its social survival needs full attention, and its prospects need people's attention. Moreover, we should be more familiar with genetic modification in life.

Research purposes: To understand the popularity of transgene in society and people's understanding and cognition of it; Find out the disputes and reasons caused by genetically modified product technology; Understand the current development level and performance of the industry. Finally, combined with the above results, the development prospect of transgenic products is comprehensively analyzed and speculated.

Research content: Overview of transgenic technology. What do people think of genetically modified food?

Project research plan:

(1) Obtain information through surfing the Internet, borrowing materials from the library, questionnaire survey, random inquiry, etc.

(2) Investigate supermarkets and interview citizens.

(3) Team members organize and analyze the materials together.

(4) Finish the thesis.

Form of achievement: text, investigation and inquiry volume

Team member: Shang Changrui Zhi Xu Guangxin Dou Dengrong Yun Xiang

Class level: Class 6, Grade 2007