BIO220 TOPIC 4 DISCUSSION QUESTION 2 PDF

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BIO 220 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, WEEK 4, DISCUSSION QUESTION 2, ANSWERED. PROFESSOR OTT....

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Superweeds are plants having a high resistance to different herbicides. How do superweeds grow? Do GMOs influence the growth of superweeds? Why or why not? The so-called 'superweeds' result from accidental crosses between neighboring crops that have been genetically modified to resist different herbicides. Farmers are often forced to resort to older stronger herbicides to remove them. Superweed or “Herbicide resistance is the inherited ability of a plant to survive and reproduce following exposure to a dose of herbicide normally lethal to the wild type. In a plant, resistance may be naturally occurring or induced by such techniques as genetic engineering or selection of variants produced by tissue culture or mutagenesis.” (Weed Technology, 1998, pg. 789). I would have to say that no, they are not influencing the growth of the ‘superweed’ on purpose. They just made a product that is causing this to grow more. This doesn’t mean that this was meant to happen. No one forces farmers to use the chemicals they feel causes the weed to spread. It has been said that round up is the cause for Superweeds growth. The USDA, backed up by researchers, emphasizes that genetically modified organisms as such are not the source of "superweeds." Instead, they blame "weed management tactics chosen by farmers" who have in large numbers adopted genetically modified seeds alongside glyphosate marketed by Monsanto and its competitors. According to the Weed Science Society of America (2019), superweeds grow when the resistance to many herbicides. In my opinion, I think that GMOs do not have an influence on the growth of weeds. “Superweeds” started before GMOs were around, so if that is the case, how are GMOs the cause of them? However, GMOs have a product that influences the weeds to grow out more. WSSA (2019), says

that the advantages for the farmers are lower costs and a reduction in a chemical use. Scientists say “The only way to assuredly prevent herbicide resistance from evolving is never to apply the herbicide; but if we are going to use a herbicide, the best way to minimize herbicide resistant weed evolution may be to increase herbicide use. Since herbicide rotations are ineffective on their own, the most practical way to maintain the value of current herbicides is to mix them with other effective herbicides” (WSSA, 2019). Blessings, Danielle Weed Technology. (1998). Weed Technology 12(4) pg. 789. Weed Science Society of America. (2019). What are “Superweeds”? Retrieved from http://wssa.net/2015/04/weed-scientists-offer-new-definition-for-superweed/

Dupont, V. (2021). US ‘superweeds’ epidemic shines spotlight on GMOs. Phys.org. Retrieved from https://phys.org/news/2014-01-superweeds-epidemic-spotlight-gmos.html...