Technological Implications in Agriculture After reviewing the resources provided, select one specific aspect of ag technology (mechanical, biological, chemical, informational) and describe one benefit and one disadvantage of that technology in 2-3 sentences. Today the spotlight shines brightly on genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology. All organisms contain a blueprint of molecules in their cells called DNA, which determines development and growth. Genetic engineering manipulates DNA to change hereditary traits or produce biological products. Unlike conventional breeding, which is limited by barriers between species, genetic engineering allows DNA exchange even across kingdoms. Genetic engineers cut up DNA strands and transfer genes from one organism to another across the barriers between species and even between microorganisms and crops. The resulting GMO might be a plant that produces a natural pesticide for insect control; it might be P.E. Waggoner / Technology in Society 26 (2004) 123-136 127 herbicide tolerant and so enable more environmentally friendly weed control. These pest-control characteristies have dominated practical GMOs thus far. Farmers have adopted GMOs at amazing rates. GM soybeans that tolerate herbicides have expanded from 2% of US acreage in 1996 to fully 74% in 2002 . Insecticide-producing GM cotton expanded to 70% and corn to 32% of US acreage in 2002 . The global area of GM crops of all species increased an average 60% per year from 1996 to 2002 , attaining 59 million ha in 2002, which can be visualized as one-fourth of the global area of corn plus cotton plus soybeans [11,12]. Farmers are adopting GMOs as fast as lowa farmers took up hybrid eorn six decades ago [131