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GES Center Publications

GES Center Publications

By: Genetic Engineering and Society Center
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 The GES Center Publications podcast brings you clear, accessible overviews of articles by NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society faculty and students. Each episode is generated with Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to highlight key findings and insights on the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Show notes include full citations, abstracts, author information, and links for deeper reading—or you can browse the entire collection at go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubs. Looking for more ways to engage? Don’t miss our companion show, GES Center Lectures, featuring live recordings from our Colloquium series at go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast.Copyright 2025 Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S1E6 - Fighter Jet Wings: Bt Seed Blends and the Rise of Super-Migrator Pests

    S1E6 - Fighter Jet Wings: Bt Seed Blends and the Rise of Super-Migrator Pests
    Nov 19 2025
    Fighter Jet Wings: Bt Seed Blends and the Rise of Super-Migrator Pests This episode of the GES Publications podcast provides an AI-generated overview of the article below, highlighting key findings and insights into the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Episodes are created using Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to summarize faculty and student publications from NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. Download episode transcript Citation Mikac, K. M., Dominguez Davila, J. H., Powley, M. J., Barclay, S., Pezzini, D., & Reisig, D. D. Helicoverpa zea selected on Bt corn have wing shapes better suited to long distance flight. Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaf117. PDF. Graphic. https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/publications/ Authors Katarina M. Mikac, Jose H. Dominguez Davila, Meagan J. Powley, Sarah Barclay, Daniela Pezzini, and Dominic D. Reisig Abstract Evolution of resistance within insects to pest control has resulted in changes to the organism’s morphotype, including changes in wing shape. Both geometric morphometric and finite element method (FEM) were used to examine wing changes in Helicoverpa zea sampled from 4 different Bt corn treatments in North and South Carolina, United States. The 4 treatments were pure-stand non-Bt corn (treatment 1); pure-stand Bt corn with 2 toxins (Cry1Ab and Cry1F; treatment 2); pure-stand Bt corn with 3 toxins (Cry1Ab, Cry1F, and Vip3A; treatment 3); and seed blended Bt corn with 80% containing 3 toxins (Cry1AB, Cry1F, and Vip3A) and 20% having no toxins (treatment 5). Geometric morphometric analyses revealed significant wing shape differences in both female and male moths were driven by moderately selected moths (treatments 2 and 5). Male and female moths, especially from treatment 5, had longer and more slender forewing shape conducive for longer distance flight. FEM modeling of the flight potential in both male and female H. zea revealed that the highest wing elastic deformation values for wind speed, indicating the most impact on wing structure, occurred for treatment 2> treatment 1> treatment 3> treatment 5. Wing elastic deformation was significantly more pronounced in female than male moths. In conclusion, we found that one generation of selection on Bt corn in the field could induce H. zea wing phenotypes more conducive for potential long-distance dispersal and should be further investigated by directly testing the impact on migratory flight. Our study contributes to the growing body of evidence that selection of H. zea on Bt crops may influence adult dispersal behavior. Significance This study shows that seed-blend refuges—designed to simplify refuge compliance—can rapidly select for Helicoverpa zea with longer, narrower, and more aerodynamic wings. These wing shapes resist deformation under wind stress, suggesting greater potential for long-distance flight and dispersal of resistance alleles. By revealing how seed blends may inadvertently favor more adaptable and Bt-resistant moths, this work highlights the need to integrate movement ecology and biomechanics into resistance monitoring and management. Keywords geometric morphometrics, finite element method, forewing shape, flight, Vip3A Genetic Engineering and Society Center Explore More Browse the full GES publication library: go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubs Learn about the GES Center: go.ncsu.edu/ges For live recordings from our Colloquium series, subscribe to our companion podcast, GES Center Lectures : go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology. Produced by Patti Mulligan, Communications Director, GES Center, NC State Find out more at https://ges-publications.pinecast.co
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    15 mins
  • S1E5 - Lessons from Phosphorus: Stakeholders, Sustainability & Wicked Problems

    S1E5 - Lessons from Phosphorus: Stakeholders, Sustainability & Wicked Problems
    Nov 5 2025
    Engaging stakeholders in phosphorus sustainability: Challenges, lessons learned, and implications for addressing other wicked problems This episode of the GES Publications podcast provides an AI-generated overview of the article below, highlighting key findings and insights into the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Episodes are created using Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to summarize faculty and student publications from NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. DOWNLOAD EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Citation Grieger, K., Barry, N., Bourne, K., Deviney, A., Elser, J. J., Scholz, M., & Jones, J. L. (2025). Engaging stakeholders in phosphorus sustainability: Challenges, lessons learned, and implications for addressing other wicked problems. Elementa, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2024.00060. PDF. Graphic Authors Khara Grieger, Nourou Barry, Kim Bourne, Alison Deviney, James J. Elser, Matt Scholz, and Jacob L. Jones Abstract To address wicked problems, particularly in sustainability, interdisciplinary solutions that bridge science and society are essential. These solutions inevitably require the involvement of diverse stakeholders. However, the field of stakeholder engagement includes a wide range of approaches, and there is no universally agreed-upon set of standard practices for engagement, particularly in wicked problem contexts. This article addresses this gap by connecting scientific knowledge on stakeholder engagement with an exploration of its challenges, drawing from both the broader literature and the authors’ own experiences in sustainability contexts. In particular, this article first identifies and briefly reviews 6 key steps and best practices for stakeholder engagement, and then discusses challenges and lessons learned from engaging stakeholders in the context of phosphorus sustainability largely within U.S. contexts. Phosphorus sustainability is a valuable case study due to its vital role in supporting global agriculture and societal functioning, while also contributing to environmental challenges caused by excess runoff, among other issues. Reflecting on both best practices and our own experiences, we identify 3 key challenges to engaging stakeholders in phosphorus sustainability: (i) managing the inherent tensions between breadth and depth of engagement, (ii) difficulties in evaluating the collective impact of engagement, and (iii) building sufficient capacity in carrying out engagement. To address these limitations, we highlight lessons we have learned in our own engagement efforts and provide recommendations for future research on stakeholder engagement, particularly in the context of wicked sustainability problems. Significance This article by Grieger et al. (2025) shows how structured stakeholder engagement can advance phosphorus sustainability and other complex environmental challenges. Drawing on the STEPS Center’s work, it highlights best practices across engagement stages and identifies persistent hurdles like balancing breadth and depth, measuring impact, and building institutional support. The piece offers a practical framework for aligning science, policy, and communities in tackling “wicked” sustainability problems. Keywords Stakeholder engagement, phosphorus, sustainability, wicked problems Genetic Engineering and Society Center Explore More Browse the full GES publication library: go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubsLearn about the GES Center: go.ncsu.edu/gesFor live recordings from our Colloquium series, subscribe to our companion podcast, GES Center Lectures: go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology. Produced by Patti Mulligan, Communications Director, GES Center, NC State Find out more at https://ges-publications.pinecast.co
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    19 mins
  • S1E4 - Environmental Assessment & Regulatory Oversight of GE Crops

    S1E4 - Environmental Assessment & Regulatory Oversight of GE Crops
    Oct 27 2025
    Environmental assessment and regulatory oversight of genetically engineered crops in the United States This episode of the GES Publications podcast provides an AI-generated overview of the article below, highlighting key findings and insights into the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Episodes are created using Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to summarize faculty and student publications from NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. DOWNLOAD FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Citation Loschin, N., Kuzma, J., Barrangou, R., & Grieger, K. (2025). Environmental assessment and regulatory oversight of genetically engineered crops in the United States. Environmental Science & Policy, 173, 104237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104237. PDF. Graphic Authors Nick Loschin, Jennifer Kuzma, Rodolphe Barrangou, Khara Grieger Abstract Biotechnology advancements are rapidly shaping the future of food and agriculture with genetic engineering tools utilizing both classical transgenic methods and cutting-edge genome editing techniques such as CRISPR. These advancements have expanded the development of crops with novel traits, with a wide range of applications. At the same time, the regulatory system and assessment processes have struggled to keep pace with these rapid innovations and techniques. Notably, this can be an issue when investigating the potential environmental impacts in the development and production of these crops due to the complexity and temporal nature of potential risks. This study explores how environmental assessments for genetically engineered crops have been and are currently being conducted in the United States. This was done by outlining the regulatory framework and environmental assessment processes across federal agencies and then examining five case studies that reflect both incumbent and rising genetic engineering techniques. The robustness of the environmental assessment was evaluated for each case based on the submitted information and the depth of analysis conducted. Conclusions from this study gleaned three major recommendations: (1) the need for governance systems keeping pace with novel innovations, (2) an overall strengthening of environmental oversight for genetically engineered crops, and (3) the need for transparency throughout the assessment processes. This research aims to foster improved environmental assessment and governance practices for novel applications of genetic engineering in food and agriculture systems. Significance This study aimed to clarify and evaluate the environmental oversight process for GE crops in the U.S. by analyzing publicly available information and literature on governance and regulatory responsibilities, particularly those of the EPA and USDA. We examined five case studies to assess the robustness of environmental evaluations as GE crops moved through the U.S. regulatory system. Our analysis revealed three key takeaways about the governance of GE crops that should be considered to strengthen environmental assessment and oversight practices. First, regulatory frameworks must keep pace with advances in biotechnology. Second, environmental oversight of GE crops should be strengthened by expanding assessment parameters beyond traditional evaluations and strengthening environmental monitoring. Third, transparency and engagement in the oversight process must be strengthened. As GE technologies and applications continue to evolve and expand (e.g., sprayable RNAi and spray-on genome editing), and regulators decide what is needed in their oversight, this study offers insights into improving environmental assessment procedures. By illustrating both strengths and limitations in the current system, this research aims to foster more effective and adaptive regulatory practices for GE crops in a globally integrated food and agriculture supply chain. It may also be applicable to a global geopolitical context as countries across the world continue to adapt their regulations and oversight with novel biotechnology innovations. Keywords Biotechnology Regulation, Genetic Engineering, Genome Editing, Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Oversight, Biotechnology Governance, Emerging Technologies Genetic Engineering and Society Center Explore More Browse the full GES publication library: go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubsLearn about the GES Center: go.ncsu.edu/gesFor live recordings from our Colloquium series, subscribe to our companion podcast, GES Center Lectures: go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology. Produced by Patti Mulligan, Communications Director, GES Center, NC State Find out more at https://ges-publications.pinecast.co
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    17 mins
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