Ideas on Genetic Engineering

Roger Hull, JIC and Jane Dye, Avenue Middle School

The first meeting between a scientist and children at Avenue Middle school was quite thought-provoking. Dr Roger Hull of the John Innes Centre introduced the idea of genetic engineering to a group of Year 7 (11-year-old) pupils.

One pupil’s impression:

‘Dr Hull told us that everyone has about 100,000 genes inside them and that the product of each gene is a protein. He said that scientists can put one or two genes into a potato seed to make different types of potato. They also do this to animals, taking egg cells from inside their bodies, putting in some different genes and than putting the cells back in.’

Later on the children were asked for some of their own ideas for genetic engineering:

‘What would the world be like with square tomatoes? Who knows? Well I’ll tell you who knows, genetic engineers. Well, I was asked to investigate and invent something that genetic engineers could do. So I immediately thought of square tomatoes. Just think how much easier it would be to fit them into packaging.’ Kate Lingley (yr. 7)

‘A great gene invention would be mixed fruit genes so for example a kiwi gene would be put into a strawberry and create a new exotic fruit. There could be a banana gene mixed with an apple gene. For the safety of fruit pickers the fruits would grow on small trees. This invention would not interfere with nature because it would be adding on. The regular fruits would stay, but there would also be exotic fruits.’ Elizabeth Nicholls (yr. 7)

The children then went on to discuss various moral issues raised by the work of genetic engineers.

When given the opportunity later in the day to report to their classes on this session the children were keen to pass on both their newly acquired knowledge and their now strongly held opinions.

Their appreciation of the complexity of the problems created by modern advances had certainly increased. They had also become aware that science is not the straightforward subject they had previously believed with not every discovery being universally welcomed.