DEBATE ON GMOs
SBI3C, STSE: Genetics: Specific Expectation D1.2.
Introduction
On Thursday October 27, the CBC news reported that AquaBounty Technologies-a U.S.-based company
with a plant in P.E.I., plans to sell its genetically modified salmon eggs to any approved fish farmer if the
company gets U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Ron Stotish, the company’s CEO, said they
had always intended to sell the genetically modified eggs to fish farmers willing to grow them in landbased facilities. AquaBounty has asked the FDA to approve the fish for commercial sale as food. If the
company is successful, the salmon would be the first genetically modified food animal on the market. He
also said, "We expect there will be people in the United States and Canada once the product is approved
that will be interested in growing that fish". This has alarmed environmentalists and they along with the
public are up in arms.Extensive tests have been carried out on GMOs and none of these have ever proven
that there is any risk to public health. Is this enough to put the public's mind at rest, though? Some
persons have no problem with GMOs but others fervently believe that there are dire consequences just
lurking around the corner.
What do you think?
Instructions:
Please, evaluate the above and prepare arguments in support of and in opposition to GMOs. You will
argue on the motion: Genetically Modified Organisms: A profitable way to produce food
Take into consideration the following: definitions, science and history of GMOs, health impact, Health
Canada position and regulations, FDA regulations, ethical and environmental issues, and your informed
suggestions/solutions. You will chose to debate one side of the argument. However be prepared to
counter argue the other team and answer any questions posed by them. Ensure you also prepare questions
for them.
You have two weeks to prepare. Ensure you choose reliable sources all of which must be properly
referenced. You are responsible for task assignments within your teams.
Debate Process
1. Each team will have three students. The debate will consist of four rounds as follows:
Round 1
Time: 2mins
Opening Statement –
proposition then
opposition
The Captain defines the
Motion and briefly
summarizes why their
team is arguing for or
against the Motion.
Round 2
Time: 15mins
Main Arguments –
proposition then
opposition
Team members present
their main arguments
either for or against the
Motion.
Round 3
Time:8mins
Cross-Examination –
opposition asks
proposition questions
first
The teams now have a
chance to question each
other.
Round 4
Time:3mins
Closing Statement –
opposition then proposition
The teams sum up their
arguments, what they have
achieved in the debate and
they appeal to the audience,
explaining why they should
believe as they do.
2. The judges (3 students) will be provided with rubric for assessment. Grading: 40% of final
grading will come from peer judges and 60% from teacher
Assessment Rubric
Categories
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
limited K/U
2
2
2
demonstrates some
K/U
4
4
4
demonstrates
considerable K/U
6
6
6
demonstrates thorough
K/U
8
8
8
analysis of ethical issues
and assesses impact of
GMOs on
-health
-environment
limited effectiveness
of analysis and
assessment
2
2
some effectiveness
of analysis and
assessment
4
4
considerable
effectiveness of
analysis and
assessment
6
6
thorough
effectiveness of
analysis and
assessment
8
8
Examples
1
2
3
4
Critique of other team’s
analysis and assessment
(question and answer)
3
5
7
9
Solutions/suggestions
of limited practicality
5
Solutions
/suggestions of
practicality
10
Solutions/suggestions
of limited practicality
15
Solutions/suggestions
of limited practicality
20
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
2
3
4
Knowledge/Understanding
demonstrates K/U of
-definition of terms,
-science of GMOs
-history of GMOs
T/I
Making Connections
makes informed, practical
suggestions/solutions to
Health Canada/FDA
Communication
Expression and organization
of ideas and information
Use of terminologies &
vocabulary
Persuasion of audience with
arguments
TOTAL points possible
1
86