(a)     Define the term genetically modified (GM) food.

(b)     Discuss the benefits and concerns of using GM foods.

(a)     food derived/produced from a GM organism;

(b)     Benefits [3 max]:

crops:

enhanced taste/quality/appearance;

reduced maturation time;

increase in nutrients/yield;

improved resistance to disease/pests/herbicides;

enrichment of rice with vitamin A;

animals:

increased resistance;

increased productivity/feed efficiency;

better yield of milk/egg;

improved animal health;

environment:

“friendly” bio-herbicides/bio-insecticides;

conservation of soil/water/energy;

improved natural waste management;

Concerns [1 max]:

increased allergies;

risk of changing composition of balanced diet;

risk of GM genes (e.g. herbicide resistance) escaping to inappropriate areas of agriculture;

Many candidates were able to define the term genetically modified food well in (a). In (b) many of the candidates’ responses were very good, but there were cases with rather vague and journalistic answers.