Resources » Avoiding Konzo: Could a Deadly Disease be Prevented by Editing the Genome of the Cassava Plant?
A bowl of white cassava powder next to the raw root and some cut up pieces.
Mini-lesson

Description

In the past decade, scientists have developed new tools for editing the DNA of living organisms, and these tools can be applied to all living organisms including the food supply. In this case study we look at the cassava plant, an important food source for 800 million people worldwide, that some feel is a candidate for genetic modification. Taking on multiple perspectives on this question is the heart of the work students are asked to do in this lesson.

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Last reviewed February 2025.

Activities

Student worksheet