Elena Shpak will present “The Truth About Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)” at this week’s Science Forum, to be held at noon Friday, February 17.
Shpak’s talk will be held in Thompson-Boling Arena Café, Rooms C-D. The 40-minute presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer discussion.
The Science Forum is free and open to the public. Attendees may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch at the café.
Consumers worldwide are continually being confronted with conflicting information regarding genetically engineered (GE) crops and the food that is produced from them. Claims about the benefits and risks associated with GE crops have caused confusing and hysteria-filled landscapes. The safety of GMOS has been a controversial topic since they hit the stores in 1994.
Shpak, associate professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, will discuss techniques used to generate GMOs, the reasons behind their creation, and their overall safety for human health and environment.
The Science Forum began in 1933 and is sponsored by UT’s Quest research magazine. The forum was designed to provide the public, students, and other researchers a chance to learn about scientific research void of jargon.