GMOs and Population Growth

• How much has the world population increased in the last 200 years?

  1 billion ➔ 8 billion people
• How has the average person's food consumption changed over time?

  People eat more food than in the past
• Why has food become more resource-intensive to produce?

  Due to increased meat and dairy consumption
• What factors have contributed to the increase in global food production?

  • Clearing of forests for agriculture
  • Application of fertilizers and pesticides
  • Selective breeding
  • Genetic modification
• What does 'GMO' stand for?

  Genetically Modified Organism
• What is the purpose of pesticides?

  To kill insects and pests
• What type of organism produces the Bt toxin naturally?

  Bacteria
• What type of organism has been genetically modified to produce the Bt toxin protein?

  Plant
• What is 'Golden Rice' modified to produce?

  A chemical converted to vitamin A
• Why is 'Golden Rice' important in certain regions?

  It helps prevent vitamin A deficiency diseases
• What are some traits that can be improved by genetic modification?

  • Drought resistance
  • Increased yield
  • Herbicide tolerance
  • Virus resistance
  • Production of specific proteins
  • Flood resistance
• What is the purpose of the Bt toxin in genetically modified crops?

  To kill insect pests
• How does genetic modification help in crop production?

  By increasing resistance to pests and diseases
• How does selective breeding differ from genetic modification?

  Selective breeding involves natural selection, while GM modifies genes directly