K I D S   P A G E

Home Page

Printable version Printable version

Animated Duck Animated Gorilla Animated Seal

Information For Action www.informaction.org

G E N E T I C
E N G I N E E R I N G

What is genetic engineering?

It is when Scientists change the way a living thing has been made by changing a ‘gene?inside it. All living things have heaps of genes.

Does this change the way things look?

Yes. It can change the way plants and animals look and behave.

What sort of things do Scientists genetically engineer?

Mainly crops like:

Why do people try to change the way living things are?

Can these changes cause harm as well?

Yes.

Example:

‘Super weeds? which are the cross between crops that have been changed and the others which are just their neighbours, have to be killed with strong herbicides. This causes a lot of pollution

Example:

Pollen can be carried from the changed crops to the unchanged ones, by wind or insects. This can cause the crops that have not been changed to get used to bacteria.

What can you do to help?

Ask your parents to buy food that is safe for you to eat.

Remember?.

Change can be good, but not if it causes harm to anyone or the environment!