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Team:SDU-Denmark/Tour53
From 2014.igem.org
Video
In the attempt to make a novel outreach approach, we have made a video adventure – a digital role play,
where the viewer is faced with a set of choices. The viewer will then shape the video adventure through
these choices. Depending on the viewers choice, the adventure will lead down different paths.
The end product of our project design – the Edible coli – would imply us to encourage people to eat
genetically modified bacteria. On this matter, we expect some challenge, since people tend to fear
bacteria and oppose genetic modification, and thus synthetic biology. It is a myth that all bacteria are
bad (microBEnet: Microbial Myths: Common misconceptions about microbes (w/ some extra focus on
those in the built environment), 2011. http://microbe.net/simple-guides/microbial-myths-common-
misconceptions-about-microbes-in-the-built-environment/), and it is a myth that genetic engineering is a
radical technology (Marris, C.: Public views on GMOs: deconstructing the myths. EMBO reports, 2001. Vol. 2
p. 545-548. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1083956/). In addition to this, a Eurobarometer
survey on ”Europeans and Biotechnology” shows that out of the 25,000 european citizens it interviewed
in 25 EU member states in 2005, 41% of the participants thought that ordinary tomatoes do not contain
genes, while genetically modified tomatoes do (Gaskell, G., et al.: Europeans and Biotechnology in 2005:
Patterns and Trends. Final report on Eurobarometer 64.3, 2006. P. 57. http://ec.europa.eu/research/
biosociety/pdf/eb_64_3_final_report_second_edition_july_06.pdf). In conjunction with the skepticism
about GM foods (also investigated in the survey), this survey result indicates that people believe genes to
be unwanted. Enlightenment might be needed on the subject.
The video is a method to prevent this anticpated opposition to the Edible coli by killing these myths and
teaching the audience about bacteria, DNA and GMO in a fun and participatory way.
The story is set in a burger joint, where a boy tries to order a cheeseburger from bruger mama, but from
here on out, you make his decisions. Try it yourself.
(For the real experience, try the Youtube version)
