kelsey's english blog

Research Journal Asignment #10

2009-11-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

RJA #10a: Thesis statement

The use of genetic modification in crops takes away from the overall biodiversity of our food and is also detrimental to our economy because of the monopoly that large seed companies have over farmers.

RJA #10b: Argument

Genetic Engineering

2009-11-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

Genetic Engineering

RJA #8c: Multimedia

2009-10-19T18:18:00.001-07:00

Resource used: Blinkx
Keywords: Genetic Enginering
Search strategies: Search Math
Date of search:10 19 2009
Number of hits:8,000
Relevance: 5

RJA #8a: Websites:

2009-10-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

Resource searched: Deepdyve
Keywords: Environmental consequences of Genetic Engineering
Search strategies: search math
Date of search: 10 19 2009
Number of hits:1,991,790
Relevance of Hits: 4

RJA #7c: Field Research Plan:

2009-10-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

For my field research I am planing on interviewing a professor in the sustainable agriculture department at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. some questions I might ask are :

What is your definition of GE?
What are the dangers of GE?
What are the potential benefits of GE?
Could you explain in detail the process of how new genetic information is implanted in a cell?
what is the future of GE?

RJA #7b: Internet Research Tool Test

2009-10-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

resource used: Middlespot
Keywords Used: Genetic Engineering, Genetic Modification, DNA,
Search Strategies: Search math
Date of search: 10 15 2009
Number of hits: 1417984
Relevance: 4

RJA #7a: Internet Research Tools

2009-10-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

The research tool I have used most commonly so far is google, simply because it is easy to access. Since this research project I've been introduced to Delicious, which I have found useful to find different web sites and save my searches in one spot. Also using their tags I can find the most popular websites according to my topic as opposed to the sites that have the highest buying power. Debateipedia has been useful in writing an argumentative paper because it shows both sides of the argument. Unfortunately there are not many different debates on GE in debatepedia

RJA #5b: Books

2009-10-05T09:27:00.001-07:00

Book 1:

Author: Michael Pollan
Title and Subtitle: The Omnivore's Dilemma, a natural history of four meals
Place of Publication: New York, New York
Publisher: The Penguin Group
Date of Publication: 2006

RJA #5A: Refrence Articiles

2009-10-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

Article 1:

Author: not found
Title: Genetic Engineering
Place of Publication: not found
Publisher: Citizendium
Date of Publication: 9 June 2009
Page numbers: all
Date Accessed: 5 October 20009

Search 1:

Resource: Debateipedia
Keywords: Genetic Engineering
Search strategies: search math
Date: 5 October 2009
Number of Hits: 1
Relevance of Hits: 3

Search 2:

Resource: Citizendium
Keywords: Genetic Engineering
Search Strategies: search math
Date: 5 October 2009
Number of Hits: 1
Relevance of Hits: 5

RJA #4

2009-09-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

RJA #4a: Keywords: Should we keep using GM even if we don't know the long term effects? For the forest log I could change we, keep, using, don't, know, and effects

We: everyone, people, Americans, America, farmers, scientists,

Keep: still, stand by, go along with

Using: uses, use, work with

Don't: can't, won't, haven't

Know: perceive, foresee, understand

Effects: consequences, issues, repercussions, ramifications

The Log Part:Science, biology, engineering, blueprints, modification, genetics

RJA #4b: Search Strings:

Search Engine Math:"Genetic Modif*"+ "long term"+ effect

"Genetic Engineer*" + "long term" + effect

"Genetic Modif* + "long term" + consequence*

"Genetic Engineer*" + "long term" + consequence*

"Genetic Modif*"+ "long term"+ issue*

"Genetic Engineer*" + "long term" + issue*

etc. etc. etc..

Boolean: "Genetic* Engineer*" OR "Genetic Modif*" AND ("long term" NEAR effect*)

RJA #3

2009-09-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

RJA #3a: Exploring Research Topic: At the beginning of this week I was finding equal amounts of information to support both sides. It wasn't until my Health and Wellness class on Wednesday night that I watched a video focusing mainly on genetic engineering. It opposed genetic engineering (we'll just call it GM from here on out) and shot down every argument for GM I had been able to find while researching the web.

Argument for GM 1: we have done enough testing with this process for it to be safe enough for people to eat and grow. what the video said: GM has to use bacteria and other complex processes to weaken the cell wall and let new DNA information to become a part of the cell. Anything using these processes need to be tested heavily before being let out into nature where the already GM seeds can share genes with non GM seeds. When they do genetic testing for vaccines for example, these tests are kept very tightly contained in a lab and can not be let out until they are tested thoroughly. It is not as easy to do this with GM seeds. this is just one example of what the video talked about

RJA #3b: Narrowing Research Topic: I believe I need to narrow my topic. So far I am just looking at GM as a whole, I need to narrow it down and look at more specific aspects of the topic such as the economical standpoint, the environmental standpoint, the medical standpoint, etc.

RJA #3c: Developing Research Question: Who will GM hurt and in what way? What is the future of GM? Should we keep using GM even if we don't know the long term effects? Where/Who will GM impact the most?

RJA #2

2009-08-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

RJA #2a: Possible Topics:

How are genetically engineered crops affecting our agriculture, economy, and nutrition?
Is a vegan or vegetarian diet really all that healthy?
Should the USDA be more heavily involved in the inspection of food packaging plants and slaughter houses?
Is the organic food industry healping or hurting America's environment and economy

RJA #2b: Research Topic

I chose topic number one because for one, it fit the guidelines, but mainly I don't know much about genetic engineering. After doing a bit of research online the it grew on me. Also, unlike the other topics, I haven't formed an opinion on this topic yet.
Everything I know about this topic is from hearsay. I know that companies can "copyright" their own genes, such as those in corn used for ethanol, and can sell this corn to farmers, thus making a monopoly for the company by using that specific gene. I also know that this is a relatively new way of farming which is leading to some mixed feelings depending on who you talk to. Some feel that genetically modified plants have not been tested throughly enough and we should test their effects on the environment for a longer period of time. Others believe that we have done all the testing we can on the subject, it is a wonderful scientific accomplishment and we really have been genetically engineering our plants for hundreds of years through natural selection.
I would like to learn what exactly the people who dislike genetic engineering are afraid of as well as what kinds of testing has been done on genetic engineering to make it safe. There are probably many other things I will like to learn in the future but I don't know enough about the topic yet to know what it is that I will like to know. I'll keep you posted.

Here are some of the websites on my Delicious account I have come across while researching

RJA #1: areas of academic intrest

2009-08-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

1: Baking: the chemistry of how ingredients interact with each other to make a cake that is the perfect height or the cookie that has the perfect combination of crunch and chewiness. Combine this with the art you put on a wedding cake or into a chocolate showpiece and you've got yourself my favorite form of creative science.

2: Nutrition: also a science but the science of how food interacts with the body. In a country of over stuffing and indulgences it can be a challenge to find a "niche" of how to get food to work for you. I know it seems like a weird concept but it's sort of a hobby of mine to get to see how the slightest change in diet can effect so much of how I feel and act.

3: Food: as I'm sure you've guessed by now I have this small obsession with something we see every day, food. my idea of fun on a Friday night is going out with some friends and trying out some new restaurant and ordering their weirdest sounding thing on the menu. Sometimes it's a bit of a stretch with the things we find but it still opens out eyes to new flavor combinations and textures.