What Is the Decomposition Rate of Organic Versus Genetically Modified Tomatoes

Introduction

For my biology internal assessment, I will be assessing the rate of decomposition between naturally grown and genetically modified tomatoes of the genus species Solanum lycopersicum. I have chosen to do this in order to determine whether the lifespan of a genetically modified fruit is worth the unknown consequences of the unnatural hormones being consumed. This subject specifically pertains to me as living in Florida has exposed me to many surrounding tomato farms. I will be taking safety measures through the means of gloves and a face mask to avoid any contact with unknown growths and fumes.

Background

In today’s day and age, good is all the rage- whether it is good for consumption and/or the environment surrounding it. Genetically modified crops that formulate their own nitrogen would drastically decrease energy consumption on conventional farms by eliminating the natural gas used in synthesizing ammonium nitrate and the fuel burned in trucks that deliver fertilizer to farms. Such technology could reduce the current organic practice of planting legume cover crops, of which continuously are trampled to ensure nitrogen stays within the soil.

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These measures could reduce an organic farmer’s fuel bill by as much as 50 percent.

According to the World Health Organization, two to three million people undergo eyesight failure and even death each year due to a vitamin A deficiency. In order to combat this issue, Swiss scientist Dr. Ingo Potrykus genetically modified Golden Rice in 1998. In this rice is beta-Carotene which boosts the one’s immunity and overall good health.

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However, businesses were determined to contain this discovery of non-commercial GMO product with the excuse of environmental and health risks despite the fact that organic consumables have resulted in millions of deaths.

Anti-GMO activists seek to ban the use of modified organisms altogether. Although the research into the science of it has been successful, the skeptics have not changed their view on that of modified crops posing a threat to people and the environment. These activists hope to take a step forward by collectively confronting local governments. However, politicians are not educated in the field of science and may not handle the situation properly. The idea that GMOs are harmful to human and animal health has no supporting evidence in science that is known of so far. These precautions have been examined globally and denied of harmful consumption; this includes the European Union, the World Health Organization, and the National Academies of Science.

While GMOs are regulated daily, organic producers are hardly checked over. There have been no recorded deaths stemming from genetically modified crops, yet hundreds of thousands of citizens contract illnesses and eventually die annually due to unsanitary conditions (such as the manure used in place of fertilizer) and diseases prone from uncontrolled genetic history in the organism. Organically grown crops may have a rough history, yet GMOs in their entirety still remain unknown to this date. Only time will tell the potential effects that may or may not be there, whether they are long-term or short-term. It is up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to take the chance of what is not yet discovered.

Hypothesis

I hypothesize that the organic organisms (tomatoes) will decompose more quickly than the genetically modified tomatoes. I also predict that the more intense the lighting, the more quickly the tomatoes lose their water weight. I will be using the measurement scale of grams to weigh this.I believe this because of the fact that one trait of modified crops is so that they possess a longer shelf-Life. My background evidence suggests that organic organisms have more negative qualities than they do positive, unlike the GMOs. The characteristics of the modified crops are tested to be fit under certain conditions while the natural ones are unpredictable.

Variables

My independent variable for this assessment is the light for the tomatoes. My dependent variable is the rate of decay on different light settings (being off, low, medium, high, and full). I selected these settings to put the organisms to the test of what they can or cannot withstand, and the rate of how they hold up under certain exposures. I will obtain this by the means of a lamp and blinded shelter. Overall, I will be running every setting for two weeks with five tomatoes each. My dependent variable is the weight of each tomato between daily intervals for two weeks. I will use a scale to determine this. Some controlled variables in this experiment will be the containers they are placed in and the scale; as well as temperature and light when testing different settings. It is important to keep these factors the same in order to get truly accurate results when calculating.

No Light Weights Days 1-3 Days 4-6 Days 7-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-15

  • Organic Trial 1 174g 165g 127g 52g 21g
  • Organic Trial 2 173g 163g 125g 53g 20g
  • Organic Trail 3 175g 164g 128g 50g 22g
  • Organic Trial 4 176g 165g 127g 51g 22g
  • Organic Trial 5 173g 162g 124g 49g 21g
  • GMO Trial 1 182g 170g 133g 54g 23g
  • GMO Trial 2 180g 167g 131g 56g 24g
  • GMO Trial 3 183g 172g 137g 55g 23g
  • GMO Trial 4 179g 164g 129g 60g 25g
  • GMO Trial 5 181g 163g 134g 55g 23g

Low Light Weights Days 1-3 Days 4-6 Days 7-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-15

  • Organic Trial 1 173g 164g 121g 50g 19g
  • Organic Trial 2 174g 165g 122g 51g 20g
  • Organic Trail 3 176g 166g 124g 53g 21g
  • Organic Trial 4 172g 161g 119g 49g 18g
  • Organic Trial 5 170g 159g 117g 47g 17g
  • GMO Trial 1 183g 169g 126g 56g 24g
  • GMO Trial 2 181g 168g 125g 55g 22g
  • GMO Trial 3 185g 170g 128g 56g 22g
  • GMO Trial 4 184g 171g 129g 59g 24g
  • GMO Trial 5 180g 161g 118g 48g 20g

Med. Light Weights Days 1-3 Days 4-6 Days 7-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-15

  • Organic Trial 1 175g 162g 117g 49g 17g
  • Organic Trial 2 173g 163g 118g 50g 19g
  • Organic Trail 3 174g 164g 119g 51g 17g
  • Organic Trial 4 172g 159g 114g 47g 15g
  • Organic Trial 5 172g 157g 112g 46g 16g
  • GMO Trial 1 184g 168g 120g 54g 17g
  • GMO Trial 2 182g 165g 119g 53g 18g
  • GMO Trial 3 185g 169g 120g 55g 19g
  • GMO Trial 4 182g 164g 119g 53g 20g
  • GMO Trial 5 181g 162g 117g 49g 18g

High Light Weights Days 1-3 Days 4-6 Days 7-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-15

  • Organic Trial 1 174g 160g 114g 45g 16g
  • Organic Trial 2 173g 161g 116g 47g 17g
  • Organic Trail 3 172g 163g 117g 48g 16g
  • Organic Trial 4 175g 160g 109g 42g 15g
  • Organic Trial 5 176g 163g 116g 47g 18g
  • GMO Trial 1 182g 168g 117g 49g 17g
  • GMO Trial 2 184g 164g 118g 50g 18g
  • GMO Trial 3 183g 166g 115g 47g 18g
  • GMO Trial 4 184g 165g 116g 48g 19g
  • GMO Trial 5 182g 164g 117g 49g 18g

Full Light Weights Days 1-3 Days 4-6 Days 7-9 Days 10-12 Days 13-15

  • Organic Trial 1 172g 158g 108g 41g 14g
  • Organic Trial 2 174g 162g 110g 43g 16g
  • Organic Trail 3 173g 159g 105g 40g 15g
  • Organic Trial 4 176g 163g 107g 41g 15g
  • Organic Trial 5 175g 161g 109g 44g 17g
  • GMO Trial 1 181g 168g 111g 45g 18g
  • GMO Trial 2 183g 164g 109g 43g 17g
  • GMO Trial 3 182g 166g 110g 45g 17g
  • GMO Trial 4 180g 165g 110g 44g 16g
  • GMO Trial 5 181g 164g 109g 43g 15g

Conclusion

After analyzing my results, I have come to the conclusion that my hypothesis is correct. However, there wasn’t as drastic a distance in the rate between the two differently grown organisms as I expected. Both the organic and GMOs had a larger decrease in weight when under a stronger light source, as well as an even stronger/quicker decrease during the last days. Because of these results, it is up to the individual to speculate if they deem GMO’s being worth the “longer” shelf life. Of course, one would also have to consider the fact that GMO’s are safer from carrying diseases. If I were to run through this lab again, I would like to test the decomposition characteristics through different environments and weather conditions as well as light.

Updated: Nov 01, 2022
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What Is the Decomposition Rate of Organic Versus Genetically Modified Tomatoes. (2022, Jun 06). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/what-is-the-decomposition-rate-of-organic-versus-genetically-modified-tomatoes-essay

What Is the Decomposition Rate of Organic Versus Genetically Modified Tomatoes essay
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