Please join us on July 18, at 10:30 am to learn about GMO Plants presented by Mark Stayton, who trained as a biochemist and molecular biologist and began his career as a scientist in a start-up agricultural biotechnology company and then later served as a professor of molecular biology at the University of Wyoming.
A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) plant is one whose DNA has been altered using the methods of high-tech genetic engineering, usually in conjunction with classical plant breeding techniques. The goal is to improve the agronomic or nutritional characteristics of a crop. Foreign genes can be introduced, altered or deleted within a plant; changes that are difficult to achieve using standard genetic methods alone. More broadly, GMOs are used for a variety of purposes such as making drugs like human insulin and human blood clotting factors for hemophilia patients. Fish and petunias are available that have been engineered to glow-in-the-dark for ornamental purposes. Today, most new drugs are developed using, in part, GMO technologies even if the final drug is not itself a GMO. Most university biology laboratories use GMO organisms as tools for basic research: tools such as engineered strains of microbes, worms, fruit flies, mice, and others.
Key questions:
- How is it even possible to genetically engineer a living organism?
- How do the differences between plant and animal physiology affect genetic engineering?
- What is the history of GMO technology for plants and what’s the current status?
- How should we regulate GMO technologies?
All of our education programs start at 10:30 am, are approximately one hour long, and are free and open to the public. You can attend the live presentation in the North room of the Dreher 4-H Family Building on the Douglas County fairgrounds, or attend online by registering before the presentation here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
To see past and future education programs please go to 2026 Advanced Education. We look forward to seeing you in person or online.