University Honors

Outside of academia, there is a negative stigma around genetic engineering. In the media,it is often used as a point of conflict (i.e a genetically engineered virus that causes a zombieapocalypse, or the creation of inhuman “super soldiers”). Outside of the entertainment industry,there is rhetoric against genetic engineering, specifically in the use of “GMO.” Many people willnot buy a product that is labeled as a GMO, even when the genetic modification may improve itfor consumption (i.e Golden rice is more nutritious than its organic counterpart because it isgenetically modified to contain vitamin A precursor beta-carotene). There is very little positiverepresentation for genetic engineering in the media. This project seeks to increase positiveexposure of children (ages 12-15) to genetic engineering via a narrative and informationalwebtoon.