Volume 7, Issue 7, July – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Awareness of Grade 9 Students in Genetically

Modified Organisms (GMO) Food Products:
A Survey Study
Richelle C. Castro
Bulacan State University
City of Malolos, Bulacan

Abstract:- There are many modifications and advancing stock of human knowledge [4]. The field of Science
advancements that happen in different fields. Science is not is not an exemption to the effects of technological innovations
an exemption for it is always partnered with technology. because it is the theoretical factor of the technology which is
One of the recent innovations in the field of Genetics are the application of the concepts.
the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which are very
controversial for its positive and negative effects to the One of the domains of science is genetics. According to
health of the consumers, existence of stronger pests, and Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., genetics is the investigation of
economic effects. This study aims to collect the general heredity and genes in specific. Genetics composes one of the
awareness and perception of Grade 9 students of a state main pillars of biology and is connected with many other areas,
laboratory high school about the Genetically Modified including agriculture, medicine, plant biology, and
Organism (GMO) products. This paper displays that the biotechnology. Genetics, which is the study of heredity, is a
23 Grade 9 student participants from a state laboratory field also influenced by technology.
high school batch 2021-2022. The male is 30.43% of the
respondents’ sex and the female constitutes 69.57% of the Recently, there is much modernism that happens in the
participants. Moreover, the age range of the participants field of genetics. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are
is 13-16 years old. Qualitative research method was formed by inserting genetic material, which can be from
utilized through survey questionnaires via Google Forms. another species, into a plant so that the new genetic material
The study was conducted on December 22, 2021. In will induce the plant's ability to display a desirable trait. It
conclusion, there is a lack of awareness of the Genetically enhances the traditional genetic breeding that may produce a
Modified Organism (GMO) products in terms of Basic variety of food animals and plant crops produce for human
knowledge about GMOs, and GMO products effects on consumption. Moreover, the FAO (Food and Agriculture
human health. Organization of the United Nations) and the European
Commission define a GMO as a product “not occurring
Keywords:- GMO, awareness, survey, high school students naturally by mating and/or natural recombination”. GM foods
pertain to foods produced from genetically modified plants or
I. INTRODUCTION animals.

We live on an ever-changing planet Earth which is There are positive and negative feedbacks in this
affected by both the natural processes and the effect of human innovation. Studies show that GMO- opposers are more
interventions on their environment. It is our concern to observe focused on the issue by expressing emotions and blunting
and study our planet’s behavior [1]. Technology improves scientific evidence, while GMO-fanatics stress scientific
almost all aspects of our lives. Now, the existing Industry 4.0 evidence [5].
which is also known as the fourth industrial revolution can help
to fulfill the needs of humanity. This change has started with Some of the positive effects of genetic modification are
the applications of more advanced manufacturing and digital agronomic benefits, economic benefits, modification of the
information technologies [2]. Technology inevitably invades chemical composition in food, improvement in food
these three aspects: social, economic, and environmental processing, and products for therapeutic purposes.
aspects. In terms of communication, economics, education,
politics, and the agricultural sector can also be improved or Under the agronomic benefits is what happened between
degraded by technology [3]. 1996 to 2012. There was an increase of 370 million tons of food
crops. In the United States, one-seventh of the increased yield
The fast-paced modifications are also affecting the is credited to GM crops. Approximately, an addition of more
scientific realm. Advancing technology is the permissive than 300 million acres of conventional crops would have been
source of growth, but it is only a potential, not self-sufficient. needed to have an equal increase in yield as delivered by GM
If technology will be employed widely and efficiently, if its crops.
progress is to be stimulated by such use, institutional and
ideological adjustments must be made to take effect by the

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Volume 7, Issue 7, July – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Moreover, economic benefits from (GM) crops are also There is a need to educate consumers about the health
undeniable. Between 2006 and 2012, farm income had a global benefits and safety of GMO foods, the effective marketing of
increase from GM food of $116 billion which is almost triple GMO foods to the consumers' agricultural producers,
that of the previous 10 years. According to the estimations of distributors, and food retailers. This study uses a sample of
James and Brookes, 42% of the economic gain was from the Grade 9 Junior High School students' awareness about GMO
increased yield due to advanced genetics and resistance to pests foods in terms of characteristics commonly associated with
and weeds. While the remaining 58% was contributed to the organic food, namely healthy, safe, environmentally beneficial,
decreased costs of production including the reduced pesticide and ethical [8]. This research will determine the level of
and herbicide usage. awareness of the students about GMO foods.

The modification of the chemical composition in food II. METHODS

includes some genetic modification that is specifically targeted
to enhance certain nutrient levels for the foods to have high The research instruments used were composed of 10
therapeutic and pro-health value. Some examples are vitamins multiple choice items composed of different aspects of
A, C, E, unsaturated fatty acids, and probiotics. Another awareness, safety, and the consumers’ likelihood to buy a
example is the “Golden Rice” which reduces malnutrition GMO food product from a local market. The respondents
effectively and economically. In the same way, researchers can voluntarily participated in answering the questionnaire on
also change the amino acid composition of proteins and the December 22, 2021. The 23 participants ranging in age from 13
carbohydrate content of foods. to 16 years old are composed of Grade 9 students in a state
university in Bulacan Batch 2021-2022. The primary focus of
Facilitate food processing can also be integrated with the paper is to have an overview of the awareness and
genetic modifications. In 1992, the “Flavr Savr” tomatoes were perception of the Grade 9 students about a trending and relevant
produced by the California company, Calgene. The genetic topic to science which is the Genetically Modified Organism
changes consist of the introduction of an antisense gene, which (GMO) Food Products.
conceals the enzyme polygalacturonase. It will result in
slowing down the ripening of tomatoes and allow longer shelf III. RESULTS
life. The composition in potatoes has also been changed by
gene editing. potatoes display greater stability of brightness
Gender Frequency Percentage
factors and a more attractive appearance using a cyclodextrin
glycosyltransferases gene from bacteria. Male 7 30.43%
Female 16 69.57%
On the other hand, this genetic modification may lead to Total 23 100%
adverse consequences. Also, the scientific community and Table 1:- Gender of the Participants
nonscientists do not agree with this technological intervention
for a variety of reasons. Since the mid-1990s, genetically Table 1 shows that the seven respondents are male while
modified organisms (GMOs) which have huge commercial the remaining 16 participants are female. Male composes
importance have been at the center of political controversy in 30.43% of the respondents and female constitutes 69.57% of
the European Union (EU). Moreover, the number of EU the participants.
member states with a negative stand about GMOs has grown
continuously [6]. In August 2013, anti-GMO (Genetically Age Frequency Percentage
Modified Organisms) activists besieged a research field of 13 1 4.345%
Golden Rice administered by the Philippine International Rice 14 16 69.57%
Research Institute (IRRI), and other sector partners. In July
15 5 21.74%
2011, an attack happened at an experimental farm of the
16 1 4.345%
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Total 23 100%
Organization (CSIRO), an Australian federal government
agency for scientific research. A group of protesters from Table 2:- Age Distribution of The Participants
Greenpeace, a non-government, environmental organization
tried to destroy the entire crop of genetically modified wheat in The table 2 exhibits the age distribution of the respondents to
the experimental farm. As an example, genetically altered the survey questionnaire.There are 16 students (60.57%) who
pesticide-resistant crops become the reason for the existence of are 14 years old. One learner is a 13-year-old participant,and
the “pesticide genes to pest species. It then resulted in the another is a 16-year-old participant who composes 4.345% of
development of pesticide-resistant superweeds and increased learners, each. The five students are 15 years old which
contamination of the environment with the pesticide chemicals composes 21.74% of the participants.
that have adverse effects on useful insects [7].
Here are the graphs which show the results from the 10
questions in the survey questionnaire.

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Volume 7, Issue 7, July – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
A. General Opinion about GMOs information but would like to gain more information about
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Genetically
Modified (GM) products. The 35% of the participants do not
have sufficient information about GMOs and GM products.
While the remaining 4% are constituted by the participants who
have enough information about GMOs and GM products.

Fig. 1:- Opinion Of Respondents About GMOs

Fig. 1 shows the distribution of answers of the

respondents about their general opinion about Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs). According to fig. 1, the majority
(52%) of the answers are neutral about GMOs. 26% of the
respondents is composed of the positive opinion about GMOs.
Then, negative opinion dominates in 4% of the participants Fig. 4:- Source Of Information Of Respondents
while 18% have not heard about GMOs.
Fig. 4 graph highlights the responses of the participants
relevant to their source of media where they mostly acquire
information about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
This pie graph clearly illustrates the distribution of the
responses regarding the media source where they get
information about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
The majority of the Grade 9 students who participated in this
study found information about GMOs from the internet. The
remaining 9% of the participants were able to garner
information about GMOs from the scientific literature. And the
4% of the respondents have gained additional knowledge about
Fig. 2:- Tendency Of Participants To Buy GMO Products
GMOs through watching T.V. while the other 4% of the
learners have not heard the term GMO before this study.
The Fig. 2 illustration exhibits the percentage distribution
of the responses regarding their likelihood to buy or purchase a
GMO item from a local grocery store. In fig. 2, it was shown
that the majority of the respondents are likely to buy GMO
products from a local grocery store. 31% of them are unlikely
to buy any GMO product from a local store while the remaining
4% of the respondents are very unlikely to purchase a GMO
containing product.

B. Information Acquisition about GMOs

Fig. 5 Participants’ Priority Information About GMOs

Fig. 5 graph analyzes the participants’ answers regarding

the question: “In your opinion, what kind of information about
GMOs would be the most important?” Based on the graph in
Fig. 5, most of the grade 9 participants are valuing the
information about the impact of GMOs on human health. The
other 22% are much interested in the information about GMO
plants in agriculture e.g., GM plants that are grown in the
Fig 3:- Awareness Of Respondents About GMOs Philippines. Moreover, 13% or three participants were engaged
with the idea of the information about up-to-date scientific
Fig. 3 has a pie graph which displays the distribution of achievements in creating and applying GMOs in various areas,
the awareness of the respondents to the Genetically Modified e.g. protection of the environment. The 4% of the participants
Organism (GMO) and Genetically Modified (GM) products. want to know more about GMO usage in medicine and
The majority of the respondents (61%) know a little pharmacy.

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Volume 7, Issue 7, July – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
C. Basic knowledge about GMOs Fig. 8 pie graph showcases the perception of the grade 9
level students about the safety of the consumers of GMO food
products. Of all the participants, 12 learners of 65% of the
participants agreed that Genetically Modified (GM) products
have an impact on human health. The remaining 22% do not
know if there is any health impact from GMOs. While 13%of
the respondents believe that there are no impacts to the health
when GMOs were consumed.

Fig. 6:- Differentiation of GM Plants from Normal Ones

Fig. 6 pie graph calculates the participants’ responses regarding

the question: “In your opinion, do Genetically Modified (GM)
plants differ from traditional ones?” According to Fig. 6, there
is 57% percent of the participants agreed the GM plants are
bigger than traditional ones. Out of 23 participants, 7 agreed
that GM plants are not attacked by pests. The remaining 13%
believe that there is no difference between GM plants and
natural ones.
Fig. 9:- GMOs Effect To Genes

Fig. 9 illustration presents the distribution of the

responses about the effect of the consumption of Genetically
Modified (GM) foods on the consumer’s genes. Fig. 9
showcases the opinion of the students regarding the possibility
of the alteration of the genes after consuming Genetically
Modified (GM) foods. The majority of the participants
responded that they do not know if there are possibilities of
gene alteration after consuming GM foods. The 44% of the
participants do not agree with the statement of possible gene
Fig. 7:- Genes of GMOs alteration due to GM food consumption while the remaining
4% of the learners ticked the true answer showing that they
Fig. 7 reveals a basic knowledge of the participants about agree with the statement.
the difference between non-genetically modified soybeans that
do not contain genes and genetically modified soybeans. The
results from fig. 7 show that 57% of the respondents do not
know the difference between non-genetically modified
soybeans that do not contain genes and genetically modified
soybeans. 30% of the participants have agreed that there is a
difference between these two soybeans. While 13% of the
participants disagreed with the statement about the difference
between the two soybeans.

D. Basic GMO products effect to human health

Fig. 10:- Safeness Of GM Foods

Fig. 10 chart represents the responses about the safety and

risk from GM foods usage. Based on Fig. 10, there are 48% of
the respondents chose neither as their response to the question:
How safe or risky are GM foods to human health? 22% of the
participants do not know the answer. According to the
remaining 17% of the respondents, GM foods are very safe
while 13% of the participants believe that GM foods are very
risky to human health.
Fig. 8:- Effect Of GMOs To Human Health

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Volume 7, Issue 7, July – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
IV. DISCUSSION [5]. Pillaud, V., Cavazza, N., & Butera, F. (2013). The social
value of being ambivalent: Self-presentational concerns
A. Conclusion in the expression of attitudinal ambivalence. Personality
As a conclusion, this research shows that the 23 Grade 9 and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(9), 1139-1151.
student participants from a state university high school Batch [6]. Ansell, C., Maxwell, R., & Sicurelli, D. (2006).
2021-2022 have a lack of awareness of the Genetically Protesting food: NGOs and political mobilization in
Modified Organism (GMO) products in terms of Basic Europe. What’s the beef, 97-122.
knowledge about GMOs, and GMO products effects on human [7]. Dar, S. A., Wani, A. B., & Kandoo, A. A. (2017). Genetic
health. The male is 30.43% of the respondents’ sex and the engineering and insect resistance. Journal of Entomology
female constitutes 69.57% of the participants. Moreover, the and Zoology Studies, 5(3), 1175-1184.
age range of the participants is 13-16 years old. [8]. Linnhoff, S., Volovich, E., Russell, H., & Smith, M.
(2017). An examination of millennials’ attitudes toward
B. Recommendations genetically modified organism (GMO) foods: Is it
The future studies will provide additional information Franken-food or super-food?. International Journal of
which may determine the level of awareness of the students Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 13(4),
about the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) products. 371-390.
Interventions and teaching methodologists must also be applied
to enhance the awareness of the students regarding these GMO
products. These are some of the recommendations:
1. The replication studies are needed to evaluate how the
learners perceive the Genetically Modified Organism
(GMO) products.
2. More random samples and different kinds of sampling
techniques should be executed to gather more data about
this topic.
3. Further studies should focus on the integration of the topic
of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) products in
Science subjects.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author would like to thank the Bulacan State

University Graduate School for giving an opportunity to write
this paper. Special thanks to Sir Edwin R. Tadiosa for guiding
the researcher in crafting this study. Also, to all the participants,
sections 9-Banzon and 9-Campos, the author wants to express
sincere gratitude for their cooperation.

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