Genetically Modified foods started appearing in European supermarkets around 1997. Today, roughly 60% of the food on the shelves in supermarkets today contains genetically modified ingredients. I am as yet unsure about the health risks genetic modification poses to human beings when applied in food. The fact that various researchers have published conflicting results on this issue ever since its first application does not help my indecision.

It is because of this that I decided to find out for myself firsthand some more about genetic modification as it applies to food. I conducted an experiment on mice to test whether they show a preference to either genetically modified or natural foods when provided with a choice of foods, and whether they show adverse effects when fed exclusively genetically modified foods, and if so what kind of effects.

Using 30 mice and 6 different products, I found that mice seem to prefer natural foods to their genetically enhanced equivalents, and that when comparing 15 mice fed on genetically modified foods they grow more slowly, behave more neurotically, and are less active when in their cages than mice fed on non-genetically modified foods. Each result may be attributable to a factor other than the food being genetically modified, but considering they all point the same way I think they do form reason for concern. Therefore I find the results compelling enough to do my best to avoid consuming genetically modified food in the future.

As such I feel that despite my experiment not being 100% scientifically valid, due to the inherent uncertainty in working with living material and having tested a limited amount of organisms, I have achieved something of value. My results were enough to convince me that genetically modified food might pose health risks to humans, and I will therefore avoid GM ingredients wherever possible. After all, why take the risk if one has the choice? What have we got to lose?

Abstract i

Introduction 1

Hypothesis 2

Planning 2

The Realization – Preference 4

The Realization – Effects 6

Conclusion 8

Bibliography of Sources 10

Acknowledgements 12

Balance of Mice Foods During Preference Tests I

Balance of Mice Foods During Effects Tests II

Mice Weights Before Effects Tests III

Mice Weights During Effects Tests IV

Photographs of Setup VI

Approximate Word Count (excluding Appendices): 3900

Home Talk2000