“The Farmer’s Dilemma”—an Interrupted Case Study for Learning Bacterial Genetics in the Context of the Impact of Microbes on the Organic Food Industry and Biotechnology†

Dear Billy, I just reviewed your account, and I must say, things are not looking good. Because you've been a patron at this bank for so long, and we've been friends all our lives, the guys here have agreed to give you one more year to come up with the money before we will be forced to foreclose on your property. I suggest you try something different this year. Good luck; I wish you the best. Give my love to Thelma and the kids. Sincerely, George Billy reads the letter for the fifth time, but still stands in the kitchen in disbelief and no closer to a solution. He knew that in the last few years corn borer infestations had been particularly severe, but he wasn't sure what to do about it. It has become apparent that he can no longer ignore the issue. He knows many farmers that use chemical pesticides. But they are afraid to hug their kids when they come in from the field. He also knows some farmers who have been planting genetically modified corn. He wonders if this is the way to go to combat the dreaded corn borer. Thelma and I need to talk about this. He calls in Thelma to discuss their situation: Thelma: "Yes dear?" Billy: "George sent me this today." (Billy gives her the letter.) Thelma: "We have had it rough the last few years. I figured that this would be coming soon. Those corn borers have been a real problem. I can't understand why the Bt spray is not doing a better job." Billy: "I know. I had hoped that the spray would work for us. But it really is not doing the job. Maybe we should try chemical pesticides just this year. I know that you are against them Thelma, but if we are going to stay in farming, we need a solution. " Thelma: "Billy, we have been through this before. I just will not switch to chemicals. I like our organic market. It has been our family tradition to sell organically grown corn. I cannot imagine spraying our corn with chemicals. It would be bad for us, and for the environment. Did you see Newsweek last week? The organic market is really hot right now. And I am sure that chemical pesticides are going to cost us more money. There must be another option." Billy: "Yeah, I …