The video by Hank Green, from SciShow, discusses the topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their impact on the world. Green acknowledges that some studies cited in previous videos were found to be flawed, leading to a reevaluation of their stance on GMOs.
Green argues that GMOs are not inherently bad and are not harmful to human health. He explains that humans have been genetically modifying organisms since the invention of agriculture, and that genetic engineering is necessary for the continued success of the human experiment on Earth. He compares genetic engineering to the advent of nitrogen-fixing, which allowed for more fertile fields and saved millions from starvation.
Green also points out that GMOs are already widely used in the United States, with around 95% of sugar beets, 88% of corn, and 94% of soybeans grown in the U.S. containing traits engineered into them. He mentions a specific example of a strain of rice developed to combat vitamin A deficiency in children.
Green explains that the term "genetically modified organism" is somewhat misleading, as people have been genetically modifying organisms since the invention of agriculture. He describes the process of genetic engineering, where genes from one species are extracted and then fused into the genome of a different species. This process, called transgenesis, is the most common way of creating genetically engineered organisms.
Green discusses the history of genetic engineering, from the mutation breeding methods of the 1970s to the pioneering of transgenics in 1983. He explains how the GMO industry took hold in 1994 with the approval of the flavor-saving tomato, a genetically engineered crop sold to consumers.
Green also delves into the process of creating transgenic crops, explaining how the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, glyphosate, is used to kill plants. To combat this, Monsanto developed crops that were resistant to glyphosate, allowing farmers to spray the herbicide over their entire crop without killing it.
Green discusses the process of backcrossing, where the new genetic material is introduced into existing traditional strains of the crop. He mentions that this process can take as long as 15 years and is extremely expensive.
Green concludes by stating that while there are some scientific concerns about GMOs, there has been zero indication that genetically modified food poses a danger to human health. He emphasizes the need to explore every possible avenue to increase crop yields and decrease the amount of herbicide, pesticide, energy, and water needed to produce a crop.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Scientists in South Korea have managed to sustain a nuclear fusion reaction running at temperatures in excess of 100 million°C for 30 seconds for the first time and have finally been able to achieve a net energy gain when carrying out a nuclear fusion experiment.
2. The core of the Sun has a temperature of 15 million degrees kelvins, which is nearly seven times lower than the temperature achieved by the Korean experiment.
3. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism that produces one or two proteins that were chosen specifically by humans using genetic engineering techniques.
4. Genetic engineering is a tool that can be used for good or evil, so it must be studied and controlled and understood by the public.
5. The first genetically engineered crop sold to consumers was the flavor savor tomato, which was altered so that it took longer to ripen, giving it a longer shelf life.
6. Most GMOs are commodity crops like corn and soybeans that have been modified to resist herbicides or insects, using genes from bacteria or other organisms.
7. Genetic engineering can be done using gene guns, which shoot DNA-coated gold particles into plant cells, or using agro bacterium, which transfers its plasmid DNA into plant cells.
8. Genetically engineered crops have to undergo back crossbreeding to introduce the new genetic material into existing traditional strains of the crop.
9. Genetically engineered crops can have economic and ecological effects, such as patent issues, cross-pollination, and impacts on insects and soil.
10. There has been no evidence that genetically modified food poses a danger to human health, but there have been some poorly-designed studies and misleading papers that claimed otherwise.
I hope this helps. Do you have any questions or feedback for me? 😊