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Mitch Romano

In the article I read, it talked about how 2/3 of Americans want to have GMO's labeled and the other 1/3 of Americans don’t really care. GMO's are any organism in which the genetic material DNA has been altered (modified) in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination. Many people can get sick from GMO's and that is why many Americans want GMO's to be labeled.

According to encyclepedia.kids.net, proponents of genetic modification argue that it allows great advances in agriculture (for instance, making plants more tolerant of certain diseases or of water shortages, increasing their nutrient value, or decreasing their cost of production), as well as allowing other beneficial creations such as the petroleum-eating bacteria. However, opponents generally argue that the ultimate results of releasing genetically modified organisms are not predictable and may have unexpected and irreversible effects on the environment; since genetically modified organisms, like conventional organisms, are patentable under some laws (such as the U.S. law), GMO crops can theoretically harm agriculture itself, by leaving independent farmers unable to purchase seed each year. In conclusion, GMO's should be labeled to protect the humans eating the food, not the food itself.

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1. Cryogenically - with highhhhhh or low temperatures

2. Propagation - the cultivation or growth of an organism, object, or idea

3. Tuber - the stem of a potato

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Link:

(Newslea.com) "Potato company engineers spuds that are resistant to late blight disease".

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Citation
https://newsela.com/read/mars-potatoes/id/15772/

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Mitch Romano

GMO'S

2/3 of Americans want to have GMO's labeled

The other 1/3 of Americans don’t really care

Many people can get sick from GMO's

This is why I believe GMO's should be labeled

Protect the humans eating the food, not the food itself.

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Mitch Romano
Glyphosate - Road-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant

Genetically Modified - A crop containing genetic material that has been artificially altered so as to produce a desired characteristic

Pesticide - A substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals.

Atrazine - A herbicide of the triazane class

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Mitch Romano
https://newsela.com/read/foodlabel-procon/id/12799/

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Mitch Romano

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https://newsela.com/read/mars-potatoes/id/15773/

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Picture:

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BOOM

The blast of a rocket fills the atmosphere with bubbles of excitement

A mix of emotions sinks into the air with thoughts like the layers of a collage

We've done this before

But this time it's different

The place that rocket is going is unlike any

other

That rocket is

going

to

MARS

Stocked with equipment, people, anticipation,

food

Without it, how are we to survive

Deep into the storage vat lies

pounds of potatoes

Special potatoes, layered with codes

genotypes

DNA

mutations

The winning combo of mistakes that makes them unlike

any

other

Brought to you by

G.M.O.s

With a promise created in a lab

These modified, coded, specialized potatoes

hold the key to our colonization

the secret to our success

On Earth and otherwise

Look out world,

Here

We

Come

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Picture

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Summary:

A new type of GMO could prevent potatoes from getting the potato blight, which once killed many potatoes in Ireland causing an epidemic. For example, "Companies officials say the new types of potatoes will help save crops and also cut the use of pesticide spray up to 45 percent". Another example is, "The U.S Department of Agriculture will allow farmers to plant two types of potatoes that are genetically engineered to resist late blight". Finally, "Cole said the new varieties of potatoes could be kept in cold storage longer". These pieces of evidence show the advancements potato farmers are making in order to have longer lasting potatoes. This is fascinating because it shows that farmers have the ability to prevent a whole lines of diseases in potatoes, and for me that is really cool.

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Vocab:

Potato blight-- a disease found in potatoes that ultimately kills them.

Re-engineered-- an object that is modified from its original state, usually in a lab.

Toxic-- something that has the ability, if used, to kill or hurt people.

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Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Genetically Modified- containing genetic material that has been artificially altered so as to produce a desired characteristic.

Atrazine- a synthetic compound used as an agricultural herbicide.

Toxic- relating to or caused by poison.

Potato blight- a destructive fungal disease of potatoes resulting in dry brown rot of the tubers.

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Summary:

Potatoes, due to their resilience, are a helpful crop to grow on Mars and to end problems on Earth.  For example, when referring to a group of scientists, Newsela says, "Valdivia-Silva and his team aim to replicate Mars-like conditions on Earth.  They are using a dome to create the same atmosphere and soil, which consists of sands from the Pampas de la Joya Desert," (Newsela).  Additionally, "The resilience of the humble spud combined with its huge number of species, genotypes and varieties means it can be grown from sea level to 4,700 meters (15,080 feet) above sea level.  It can resist drought, extreme heat and cold, salinity and UV radiation.  It is also one of the healthiest foods, as it is packed with vitamin C, zinc, iron, proteins and carbohydrates" (Newsela).  A final example of this is, "The potato is second to none as a food crop.  It grows fast and produces more energy than any other crop.  If it can grow on Mars, it can grow in the harshest conditions planet Earth can throw at it" (Newsela).  These details support the central idea because they show that due to potatoes' proven resilience, they will be resistant to conditions on Mars and able to help end hunger on Earth.

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Summary
In the article I read NASA was trying to find out how to plant potatoes on Mars. Potatoes are the only vegetable that is able to be grown on mars, it can go through drought, freezing temperatures and can survive at 4,700 meters above sea level. Another advantage is that potatoes grow underground so they don’t have to grow through the harsh climate that mars has. Potatoes might need GMO for Mars because they need to survive for a while and scientists don’t know if it is possible. "The potato has colonized every ecosystem on our planet, it is the obvious choice" (Collyns, 2016). Potatoes may be the reason we can travel to Mars.

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Poem:

There's nothing wrong with GMO's right?

I mean they stopped the potato blight.

They make our chips so delicious,

That no one gets suspicious.

Why check the price,

When you get some advice,

Don’t eat something that can kill you,

Rather eat organic,

Take off your shoes and relax,

Because even though it may be the least expensive on the rack,

GMO's aren't healthy and that’s a fact.

So next time you have a snack,

Go ahead and check the back.