Starring GMO! as GOD? OMG!

Introduction

A: Background Information
        As the United States population grows, so should the production of foods, which puts an immense about of pressure on the farmers planting the foods we need on the daily basis. Using biotechnology, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) containing genetically modified (GM) crops, are being used on majority of the foods. This process has been used for many years, however recently companies have been involving science more and more to improve their products, since now it has got all the way down the plants genes. GMOs are used to create herbicide or bug resistant plants to make more successful crops. Farmers believe that GM crops are actually better for the population since it causes less use of pesticides and are able to grow on unfarmable land. However, many people object to the use of GM crop plants since they are concerned with allergic reactions due to the cross-breading of other species into these GM crops which they may be allergic to. GMOs can be identified by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which identifies specific proteins produced by GM plants. However, ELISA can only test fresh produce, not processed foods. The second kind of test which can be used to identify GMOs is using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is what we will be using in this lab. This test identifies the sequences of DNA that have been inserted into the GM plant. Both of these tests work well to identify GMOs. However, whether one is in favor of GM crops, or against them, everyone can agree that more studies need to be done to better improve GMOs' futures.

B: Objective & Purpose
        The objective of this experiment is to test typical products, such as fruits and vegetables, which we consume on a daily basis, and see if they are genetically modified (GM products) or not. Often times people pay more to buy organic products to make sure they are not genetically modified foods and safe for their families. But is it worth it? Are normal products really genetically modified? In this lab we will find out just that. This is an application which often happens in the real world as well, such as when they need to test foods for being organic and correctly labeled or not. Unfortunately, GM foods do not have to be marked in the United States, however some companies still go out of their way to make sure the protects which we consume are as safe as can be.

C: Procedures
          The first step in this lab is to choose a product which you would like to test to see if it is genetically modified (GM). Go to the teacher to find your two screw-cap tubes and label one "non-GMO", the cornmeal you will receive as test to see if its GMO or not, and the other "test". You must weigh out one gram of both the test product and the non-GMO cornmeal and put it into the two mortar. In addition, the test product must contain some skin of the fruit or vegetable. Afterward, with a plastic pipet, add five ml of distilled water to each mortar and grind for at least two minutes to form a slurry and smooth enough to pipet. Pipet 50 ul from each mortar (using the 20-200 pipet tool) into your corresponding tubes and recap screw-tops tightly. Shake or flick the tubes and place in a 95 degree water bath for five minutes. After removing the tubes from the water bath, place the tubes in a centrifuge for another five minutes at maximum speed. Once you are done, store the tubes in a refrigerator until the day two.
         
D: Controls, Variables & Prediction
          In this lab, the variable is the test product that is brought in and the cornmeal which is being tested for GMO. Those are our only variable, however there are four controls in this lab; two control which is a non-GMO control DNA and two which is a GMO positive control DNA. Since our fruit did not specify that it was organic, my prediction is that the orange, which was our test product, is going to be GMO positive, and so will the cornmeal.


Observations: 

Discussion:
A: Analyze and Explain Data
          The data which my lab table received for this lab was that both of our products (the corn meal and orange) were GM foods. We figured this out by looking at the results of our PCR to see that the GM control lined up to be the same band as the orange and cornmeal instead (as seen in our observation pictures above). We needed no other information to prove that our product was indeed a GMO crop.

B: Possible Sources of Error
        Possible sources of error in this lab could have been if in the beginning, the test product brought in was not grounded up in the mortar well enough to get the cells out, or not timing the water bath or centrifuge well. Those are the most important parts of this lab since the accuracy will predict how well the rest of the lab will go. The last step is also very important; setting up the gel electrophoresis. Often times, people do not pipet into the electrophoresis correctly, so when it is done the results are not shown well. It is important to do that step correctly without any mistakes to get the right results.