Part 1:

Between 1700 and 1840, there was an immense growth in the Irish population. Due to devolving economic relationships between Ireland and England, half of the Irish population were highly dependent on potatoes for substance (PPT: Potato blight and famine, slide 2). Potatoes are high yield crops that can be produced with little labor investment. Additionally, they hold substantial nutritional value and can be used in a multitude of ways (appetizer, dinner, and dessert), making it a staple food item in the Irish diet (PPT slide 3).

However, from 1845 to 1852, the Irish potato production was ravaged by blight (PPT slide 4). Accounting for a loss of 1/3 to ½ of all acreages in 1845, and ¾ of all potato crops in 1846, the potato blight resulted in mass starvation and disease. Considering 2/5 of the population were solely reliant on potato production, many experienced famine-induced ailments such as measles, diarrhea, TB and more. As a result, the famine wiped out 20-25% of Ireland’s population (PPT slides 4-5).

The potato blight, or phytophthora infestans, is a strain of P. infestans HERB-1 (PPT slides 26 and 31). The pathogen originated in Mexico, then migrated to North America and Europe (PPT slide 32). Doubt and panic prompted mass immigration (traditional route was the United States), which had profound social and political impacts (Sherman, pg. 30). First, Irish-Americans dominated key positions in railroading, mining, civil engineering, law enforcement, and politics. Second, there was an immense population of poor, unskilled Irish immigrants crowding the cities. Third, their social activism and unionization changed political party platforms (Sherman, pg 30-31).

Part 2:

Today, we are introduced to various threats. For example, climate changes increase risk to crop production through droughts and pests. With genome-editing technologies such as CRISPR, we show promise in addressing these challenges (Scheben and Edwards, pg. 1122). Our ability to modify genes of plants, animals, and so forth have brought out many benefits. For example, a benefit could be to boost crop production for the growing population. However, for every benefit, there is always a disadvantage. As of right now, the growth of genome-edited crops faces many sociopolitical challenges (i.e. government regulation, public acceptance, etc.) (Scheben and Edwards, pg. 1123). Though a scientific breakthrough, genome-editing may create harm, if used improperly (Jones).

Help Received: PPT: Potato blight and famine, Supplementary readings – Irish potato blight (Sherman), Genetically modified crops – Science article (Scheben and Edwards), Cadet Jones (structure and organization of information), Dictionary/Thesaurus