RESEARCH PAPER
Readiness of adolescents to use genetically modified organisms according to their knowledge and emotional attitude towards GMOs
 
More details
Hide details
1
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
 
2
Institute of Rural Health in Lublin, Poland
 
3
University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017;24(2):194-200
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Agriculture based on genetically modified organisms plays an increasingly important role in feeding the world population, which is evidenced by a considerable growth in the size of land under genetically modified crops (GM). Uncertainty and controversy around GM products are mainly due to the lack of accurate and reliable information, and lack of knowledge concerning the essence of genetic modifications, and the effect of GM food on the human organism, and consequently, a negative emotional attitude towards what is unknown.

Objective:
The objective of the presented study was to discover to what extent knowledge and the emotional attitude of adolescents towards genetically modified organisms is related with acceptance of growing genetically modified plants or breeding GM animals on own farm or allotment garden, and the purchase and consumption of GM food, as well as the use of GMOs in medicine.

Material and Methods:
The study was conducted by the method of a diagnostic survey using a questionnaire designed by the author, which covered a group of 500 adolescents completing secondary school on the level of maturity examination. The collected material was subjected to statistical analysis. Research hypotheses were verified using chi-square test (χ 2 ), t-Student test, and stepwise regression analysis.

Results:
Stepwise regression analysis showed that the readiness of adolescents to use genetically modified organisms as food or for the production of pharmaceuticals, the production of GM plants or animals on own farm, depends on an emotional-evaluative attitude towards GMOs, and the level of knowledge concerning the essence of genetic modifications.

REFERENCES (25)
1.
Daniel G. Gibson, Gwynedd A. Benders, Cynthia Andrews-Pfannkoch, Evgeniya A. Denisova i inni. Complete Chemical Synthesis, Assembly, and Cloning of a Mycoplasma genitalium Genome. „Science”. 2008; 319 (5867): 1215–1220.
 
2.
Stanowisko Komitetu Biotechnologii przy Prezydium PAN w sprawie GMO (Attitude of Biotechnology Committee at Presidium of Polish Academy of Sciences in the matter of GMO) http://www.up.wroc.pl/p/oglosz... (access: 2013.09.20).
 
3.
Convention of Biological Diversity (with annexes). Concluded at Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992. United Nations Treaty. http://www.cbd.int/doc/legal/c... (access: 2013.09.20).
 
4.
Abram WL, Crawley MJ. Report: Safety aspects of genetically modified foods of plant origin – FAO/WHO, Geneva, czerwiec 2000.
 
5.
Ahmed FE. Detection of genetically modified organisms in foods. Trends Biotechnol. 2002; 20: 215–223.
 
6.
Auer CA. Tracking genes from seed to supermarket: techniques and trends. Trend Plant Sci., 2003, 12: 591–597.
 
7.
Korbin M. Uprawy GM, konwencjonalne i ekologiczne – problem koegzystencji. (GM crops, conventional and ecological – problem of coexistance) Biotechnologia, 2006; 3(74): 7–15.
 
8.
Twardowska A. Żywność genetycznie zmodyfikowana i jej odbiór społeczny. (Genetically modified food and its social reception) Przem. Spoż., 2003; 10: 7–11.
 
9.
 
10.
Cook AJ, Kerr GN, Moore K. Attitudes and intentions towards purchasing GM food. Journal of Economic Psychology, 23, 5, October, 2002; 557–572.
 
11.
Crawley MJ, Brown SL, Hails RS i wsp. Transgenic crops in natural habitats. Nature, 2001; 409: 682–683.
 
12.
Dąbrowski ZT, Twardowski T. GMO – Wprowadzenie. (GMO –Introduction) Kosmos: Problemy Nauk Biologicznych 2007; 56; (3–4): 209–211.
 
13.
Dąbrowski ZT. Doskonalenie metodyki oceny ryzyka uwolnienia GMO do środowiska i monitoringu: wybrane projekty badawcze UE. (Mastering methods of assessment of risk of releasing GMO into the natural environment and monitoring: selected research problems) Kosmos: Problemy Nauk Biologicznych 2007; 56, (3–4): 265–273.
 
14.
Bonatowska K. Kontrowersje wokół GMO. (Controversy around GMO) Ekopartner. 2001; 11 (121): 38–39.
 
15.
Mickiewicz A, Twardowski T, Figlerowicz M. GMO – zyski i straty. (GMO – profits and loss) Biotechnologia, 2006; 3(74): 145–152.
 
16.
Tańska I. Problemy z GMO. (Problems with GMO) Bezpieczeństwo i Higiena Żywności, 2006; 37: 18–21.
 
17.
Strelau J. Psychologia. GWP, 2006; Gdańsk.
 
18.
Heritage J. The fate of transgens in human gut. Nature Biotechnology, 2004; 22: 170–172.
 
19.
 
20.
James C. Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/ GM Crops. ISAAA.www.isaaa.org.
 
21.
Jaworska A, Kapuścińska J. Opinie konsumentów, handlowców oraz odbiór społeczny w Polsce, krajach UE oraz na świecie na temat żywności modyfikowanej genetycznie. (Opinions by consumers, tradesmen and social receipt in Poland, in the EU countries and worldwide countries on genetically modified food) Wiedza Techniczna, 2010; 1: 63–64.
 
22.
PBS DGA. www.pbsdga.pl (access: 2013.09.20).
 
23.
Jurkiewicz A. Opinie młodzieży kończącej szkoły średnie na temat genetycznych modyfikacji organizmów i żywności modyfikowanej genetycznie. (niepublikowana rozprawa doktorska), (Opinions of adolescents completing secondary schools concerning genetic modification of organisms and genetically modified food – dissertation for doctor’s degree) IMW, 2012, Biblioteka IMW.
 
24.
Cynk K. Etyczne i społeczne konsekwencje osiągnięć nowoczesnej biotechnologii. (Ethical and social consequences of achievements of modern biotechnology) Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, Rzeszów, 2013; 98–99.
 
25.
Filiminow J, Berger S. Genetyka pod społeczną kontrolą, (Genetics under social control) Bezpieczeństwo i Higiena żywności, 2004; 3, 5: 36–37.
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top