Question

Cotton is one crop that is often damaged by a pest insect species. A research program is planned to genetically modify the plants to keep insect damage to a minimum. The aim of the research is to make the plants release a protein that can kill the insects. Why might people be opposed to this research program?(1 point) Responses The insect species will soon spread to other areas. The insect species will soon spread to other areas. The modified plants will cause a waste of natural resources. The modified plants will cause a waste of natural resources. The insects may be the natural food of several species of birds. The insects may be the natural food of several species of birds. The sales of pesticides will decrease where the modified plants are grown.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

The potential negative impacts of genetically modifying plants to release a protein that kills insects may include:

1. Environmental concerns: Some people may be opposed to the idea of genetically modifying plants as it may have unintended consequences on the environment. For example, the modified plants could potentially harm non-target insects or disrupt the ecosystem in unforeseen ways.

2. Ethical concerns: Some people may have ethical concerns about genetically modifying plants in order to kill insects. They may believe that it is unethical to manipulate the genetic makeup of plants in this way.

3. Health concerns: There may be concerns about the potential effects of consuming genetically modified crops that have been engineered to produce insecticidal proteins. Some people may worry about the long-term health implications of consuming these modified plants.

4. Economic concerns: Farmers who rely on pesticides to control insect damage may be opposed to this research program, as it could potentially reduce the demand for pesticides and impact their livelihoods.

Overall, opposition to this research program may stem from concerns about the potential environmental, ethical, health, and economic impacts of genetically modifying plants to release insecticidal proteins.