Microbio case study

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Appendix 1: "The Farmer's Dilemma."

Introductory Story:

Dear Billy,

I just reviewed your account, and I must say, things are not looking good. Because you've been a

patron at this bank for so long, and we've been friends all our lives, the guys here have agreed to

give you one more year to come up with the money before we will be forced to foreclose on your

property. I suggest you try something different this year. Good luck; I wish you the best. Give

my love to Thelma and the kids.

Sincerely,

George

Billy reads the letter for the fifth time, but still stands in the kitchen in disbelief and no closer to a solution.

He knew that in the last few years corn borer infestations had been particularly severe, but he wasn't sure

what to do about it. It has become apparent that he can no longer ignore the issue. He knows many

farmers that use chemical pesticides. But they are afraid to hug their kids when they come in from the

field. He also knows some farmers who have been planting genetically modified corn. He wonders if this

is the way to go to combat the dreaded corn borer. Thelma and I need to talk about this.

He calls in Thelma to discuss their situation:

Thelma: "Yes dear?"

Billy: "George sent me this today." (Billy gives her the letter.)

Thelma: "We have had it rough the last few years. I figured that this would be coming soon. Those corn

borers have been a real problem. I can't understand why the Bt spray is not doing a better job."

Billy: "I know. I had hoped that the spray would work for us. But it really is not doing the job. Maybe we

should try chemical pesticides just this year. I know that you are against them Thelma, but if we are going

to stay in farming, we need a solution.”

Thelma: "Billy, we have been through this before. I just will not switch to chemicals. I like our organic

market. It has been our family tradition to sell organically grown corn. I cannot imagine spraying our corn

with chemicals. It would be bad for us, and for the environment. Did you see Newsweek last week? The

organic market is really hot right now. And I am sure that chemical pesticides are going to cost us more

money. There must be another option."

Billy: "Yeah, I did see that Newsweek article. The issue with the apple on the front. It came out end of

September. But I also talked to the seed sales person. If we want to stay away from chemical pesticides,

he suggested that we try Bt corn. The corn is protected by the same Bt product that we know is safe. But

the corn makes the Bt toxin. We will not have to worry about spraying the Bt on just right, or the fact that

it always washes off or is degraded in the sun. I really think this is a way to go."

Thelma: "Billy you know as well as I do that Bt corn is genetically modified. That is what the seed sales

guy means when he says that the corn will make the toxin. The corn has been changed. In the lab! And

the corn can't be certified as organic. Billy, I just don't know about this."

Billy: "Listen. I know that we cannot label the corn as organic. But think about it. We can save our corn

from those darn bugs and not spray with pesticides. I just don't see why this is really all that different from

using Bt spray. I really don't understand why the organic growers don't support using it. It is still Bt toxin.

The only difference is that the toxin is made by the corn, instead of being sprayed on the corn."

Thelma: "Billy, do you realize that you are getting all of your information from the guy who is trying to

sell you the Bt corn seeds? How much does it cost? And I hear that there are extra fees in addition to the

seed price. And how do we know that the toxin is no different than what is used in the spray? Is Bt corn

really safe to eat? Is it safe for the environment? And what about the uproar in Europe about GMO's?

There is really so much to think about. I am just not sure about Bt corn."

Their young daughter screeches through the kitchen. "E.T.!! E. T. call home!"

Thelma: "No, no sweetie. Daddy and I are talking about corn, “Bt” corn. Please go outside and play."

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"Bill, did Jack Lawson plant Bt corn last year? His wife mentioned that they had great yield. But they are

worried about the market for the corn."

<Knock, Knock>

Thelma: "Oh, that must be Garth. Ginny made some pies this morning and wanted to send one over."

Garth: "Hi there, neighbors! Fresh raspberry pie! Hmmm, looks like I am interrupting a family meeting?"

Billy: "We are just trying to sort out our corn borer problem. Our yield has been low and we have the

bankers sending us notes!"

Garth: "Yeah. Well, the weather has been bad and the bugs nasty. What are you thinking about? I know

that I gave up on farming, but it really wasn't in me to keep going. For you it is different. This place has

been in your family for generations. The Power Family Farm is a mainstay around here.

Billy: "We were just discussing Bt corn. Do you know anything about it?"

Garth: "I've heard about it, but I don't think it is such a good idea. It involves genetic engineering doesn't

it? Why don't you just switch to chemical pesticides if the infestation is bad this year?"

Thelma: "You know how we feel about that. Our family has a tradition of organic farming. I don't want to

switch to chemicals now. "

Garth: “But switching to genetically modified corn? Isn't that risky? Aren't there still lots of questions

about the safety of that stuff? What if there is cross-pollination into surrounding fields? I think I even read

something about the creation of ‘superweeds.’"

Thelma: "Billy I am worried. I remember people in town last year talking about a girl that had a reaction

after eating a genetically modified food. Do you really think that this corn is safe? And will we have a

market for this corn if we plant it?"

Billy: "Well, all I know is this year must be different."

Garth: "Billy, I have heard other farmers discussing this in town. Why don't we have a meeting and see

what kind of information there is about the corn?

Thelma: "Good idea. And better yet, let's see if we can get someone other than the seed sales person to

give us some answers!"

Should Billy and Thelma plant Bt corn?

Thelma and Billy did meet with other local farmers. Many had questions about Bt corn and transgenic

plants. One of the retired farmers, Mr. Rawley, has been working as a substitute teacher at the local high

school and has many questions about the biology involved in making transgenic plants. The farmers called

the local university agricultural extension service and asked for some unbiased help with their questions.

That’s where you come into the story. You are going to respond to the questions from the farmers and from

Mr. Rawley. The goal is to use knowledge of basic genetics, biotechnology and genetic engineering to

construct clear responses to help the farmers to understand what Bt corn is and to make a decision about

whether planting Bt corn would serve their purposes.

Farmer’s Dilemma

Part 1

1a. Mr. Rawley has no faith in the production of transgenic plants. He is convinced that this technology

cannot work. "How can you get a plant to make a bacterial protein? Bacterial DNA is different from

eukaryotic DNA. For example, look at these pictures from my biology text book," he says as he puts up

a transparency on the overhead projector. "Obviously the bacterial DNA is different from the eukaryotic

DNA. Oh my labels seem to have gotten smudged!" Smudged indeed! Unaccustomed to public

speaking (in front of adults), Mr. Rawley is perspiring profusely, and his sweaty palms smeared the

labels on his diagrams.

Which figure A or B, is of bacterial DNA?

Which figure, A or B, is of eukaryotic DNA?

Explain your answer.