Kerry Bresnahan

   This is a good start on the first writing assignment.  
   You have done a good job, for the most part, on the 
   "they say" part.  

   I have made a number of suggestions for rewording
   or rewriting things directly on a printout of the 
   paper.  Ask me what I meant if the markings are not
   clear.  A number of the markings are just related
   to the fact that the "GMOs are not Frankenfoods" 
   article has two coauthors.  You should mention them
   both.

   Comments:

   1.  I think Tom Laskawy's point is that even if 
   GMO crops were initially promising or successful, they 
   have not *sustained* that promise over the long term, 
   as shown by the statistics about crop yields he cites.
   This is mainly due to increased resistance to 
   pesticides and herbicides that develops naturally
   through evolution.  In effect, the genomes of the 
   pests are changing in response to our genetic 
   modification of the crops.  Some people compare
   the situation to an arms race where neither side
   can ever gain a decisive advantage.

   2.  The neonicotinoids are actually a whole group 
   of chemically related pesticides.  All of them 
   are thought to be harmful to bees.