Category: research

How Young Individuals Perceive GMO Foods: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of U.S. and Chinese High School Students

by

Z.Li

Keywords: Young Individuals, GMO Foods, Cross-Cultural Analysis, U.S. and Chinese High School Students

Abstract

GMO products have received considerable attention in recent years because of their ability to reduce pest damage and increase yields. However, the use of GMOs to produce food products is a controversial topic because of their of various safety issues. The study investigates high school students’ attitudes toward GMO foods and considers whether their cultural background and gender influence those attitudes. In addition, the study determines the key factors influencing their perception of GMO foods, including their safety, price, taste, and environmental impact. A total of 63 high school students (26 in the U.S. and 37 in China) were surveyed. According to the results, the students generally had negative attitudes toward GMO foods. U.S. students were slightly more likely to prefer GMO foods than Chinese students, but there was no significant difference. Male students were more likely to have favorable attitudes toward GMO foods than female students, and there was a significant difference. Finally, the respondents considered the safety of GMO foods the most important factor, followed by the environmental impact, reasonable prices, and taste, in that order. Both U.S. and Chinese students and male and female students were most likely to report safety as the most important factor. The results are expected to facilitate policymaking and practical marketing efforts.

Summary
Allelopathy is the inhibition of growth of one species of plants by chemicals produced by another, typically competing, species. The chemical compounds released in this phenomenon have the potential to be used as natural weed control agents. In this study, we tested kudzu (Pueraria montana) to determine its allelopathic potential for weed control and suppression. The aqueous extracts of different kudzu organs (leaf, stem, and root) were assessed for allelopathic properties on the seeds of several competing species: white clover, dandelion, bermudagrass, and ryegrass. Remarkably, both the kudzu leaf and root extracts significantly changed the majority of the measured germination indices, comprising total germination and the speed of germination. The total germination of white clover seeds was 25% less than the control in both the kudzu leaf and root extract bioassays, while speed of germination was reduced by 77% and 72%, respectively. Likewise, dandelion seeds demonstrated 53% and 73% reduced speed of germination when treated with kudzu leaf extract and root extract, respectively. Both leaf extract and root extract also reduced total germination in ryegrass and bermudagrass seeds by a minimum of 25%. These results suggest that the kudzu leaves and roots can be considered to be allelopathic and show potential as a weed control agent.

Shreya Mathur, Dr. Sunil Mathur

Click here for PDF file: December2013(1)

Summary
Escherichia coli DegS is an integral inner membrane protein that breaks down incorrectly assembled proteins and helps regulate the σ ᴱ stress response pathway. When degS is deleted, approximately 200-fold more outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are produced. As OMVs contain sections of the outer membrane and proteins from the periplasm, they may play a role in the virulence of E. coli. To test whether degS or OMVs play a role in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) virulence, we characterized a degS mutant. We found that the degS deletion did not affect the morphology of the bacterium, but did result in decreased virulence in vivo and in vitro. When we tested our mutant in a murine model of cystitis, mice infected with degS::cat bacteria had a 100-fold decrease in bacterial titers in the bladder at 24 hours post-infection. In vitro binding and invasion assays showed no difference in the ability to bind to host cells, but a significant decrease in the ability of mutant bacteria to invade cells. Together, these data suggest that degS deletion decreases the virulence of E. coli and that an increase in OMV production may be a detriment to virulence. Future studies can separate the role of degS and OMV production in UPEC virulence.

India C. Bradley and Elizabeth S. Danka