Sarah Duffy
Research Topic: Genetically Modified Crops and Livestock
Bourassa, S., et al. "Effects of Crop Rotation and Genetically Modified Herbicide-Tolerant
Corn on Ground Beetle Diversity, Community Structure, and Activity Density."
Entomological Society of Canada142 (2): 143-159. 2010.
This article investigates the behavior and biological changes between beetles who
were fed genetically modified corn and those who were fed standard corn. The main
focus is on the pesticides and different chemicals sprayed on the crops to keep them
weed free. It is noted that even though some chemical sprays may prevent weeds, it
only makes the plant more vulnerable to potential diseases.
Food, Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Magnolia Pictures, 2008. Film.
Food, Inc. is a film that exposes recent changes in the food industry that can strongly
impact the health and well being of humans. This film explains how most of the meat
industry is controlled by a few number of producers, and how many animals,
specifically chicken, are fed unnaturally in order to produce a larger amount of meat.
Crops are genetically enhanced as well. Farmers will spray pesticides and other
dangerous chemicals on crops to effect their growth for mass production. All of
these factors pose risks on consumers, including harmful bacteria and infections
that can be found in food and the growing popularity and availability of unhealthy
food.
Sang, Helen "Genetically Modified Livestock And Poultry And Their Potential Effects On
Human Health And Nutrition." Trends in Food Science & Technology 14: 253-63.
This article focuses on chickens and other livestock that are fed genetically modified
food, and in the process become genetically modified themselves, as well as the
extreme impacts that has on humans and their health. Along with poultry, there is
information on generically modified cows and effects on their milk. Some of the
negative effects discussed in the article include disease resistance, feeding
inefficacy, and lack of product quality.
Search String
 Keywords: Chicken, genetically modified, food, health, impact
 Database: Agricola
 I thought Agricola was an extremely helpful database for my project. I used
the words “genetically modified” to get an article close to my topic, and I used
the words “health and impact” in hopes of finding either harmful or beneficial
effects. Lastly, I was interested in livestock so I chose to search the keyword
Chicken.
Tenbult, Petra, et al. "Acceptance of Genetically Modified Foods: The Relation Between
Technology and Evaluation." (July 2008): 129-136
This article discusses why consumers decide to buy some types of genetically
modified food and avoid other GMO products. There are may reasons for this,
including perceived healthiness, naturalness, necessity, availability, price, and
tastiness. When there is a technological or genetic change to a natural product, there
is a strong affect on evaluation and a larger acceptance of the technologically
adapted product.
Tobin, Allan J., and Vanessa S. Flores. "Genetically Modified (GM) Foods & Teaching Critical
Thinking." National Association of Biology Teachers, 2003. 65 (3): 180-184. 2003.
The authors of this article open by explaining what a genetically modified organism
is, why it is important to learn about them, and existing controversies surrounding
the subject. The bulk of this article provides observations of livestock or crops have
been genetically modified. One example explains how a group of scientists
genetically altered the growth of potatoes, what changed in the potatoes’ DNA, and
the harmful affects those potatoes had on rats that ate them. There is also
information about a similar observation done with genetically modified corn and its
effect on butterflies that ate them.
Search String
 Keywords: effect, impact, genetic, altered, crops
 Database: BioOne
 I chose to look up an article that focused less on how animals were
genetically modified and more about different types of crops, and how the
altering of food directly impacts the animal that eats it. I found this source
interesting because it went more into the science of GMOs rather than the
ethics.
Wohlers, Anton E. "Labeling of Genetically Modified Food." Association for Politics and the
Life Sciences, 2013. 32(1): 73-84
This article centers around the marketing of foods, and the legal and moral
obligation when labeling store bought foods that contain genetically modified
ingredients. Whole Foods, a popular American supermarket chain, promises to label
all genetically modified food products by the year 2018. This article also goes into
depth explaining why the production of GMOs has skyrocketed over the last few
decades as well as how harmful they can be for humans, animals, and the
environment.
Search String
 Keywords: genetically modified food, consuming
 Database: BioOne

I wanted to shift my focus from the raw data and effects of GMOs to the
question “why? “. It’s evident that the consumer controls the market by the
decisions they make and the products they chose to buy. There are so many
items sold in supermarkets that contain GMOs and are proven to be
unhealthy because of that. If that’s the case, then why do people still buy the
product? This article was very helpful in answering my questions.
Pollan, Michael, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, City: The Penguin
Press, 2006. Print
This source