By Brad Haire
University of Georgia
Paul Ruddle II spent more than 600 hours to find out something
nobody else knew for sure. The Georgia high school student says
it was worth every minute.
The National FFA Organization recognized Ruddle, 17, as the top
agricultural science student in the country at the
organization’s national convention in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 29.
He also received the FFA National Emerging Agriculture
Technologies Proficiency Award.
Ruddle is a senior at Lowndes County High School in Valdosta,
Ga., about 150 miles south of Macon, Ga.
Ruddle won the award based on his research on transgenic plant
crops. A transgenic plant has had the gene, or genes, of another
animal or plant artificially inserted into it. It is also known
as a genetically modified plant.
His interest in the field started in the seventh grade when he
gave a speech on GM plants.
But he wanted to know more on the actual advantages and
disadvantages of GM crops. Specifically, he wanted to know if
the rates of photosynthesis differed between GM plants and non-
GM plants. Photosynthesis is the process in which plants convert
sunlight energy into fuel for them.
He figured the photosynthetic rates of GM crops didn’t differ
from those of non-GM crops. But he couldn’t find any studies to
help prove his theory.
“I tried to find and read literature on this,” he said. “But I
couldn’t find much research.”
Over the next five years he conducted experiments on genetically
modified and nongenetically modified soybeans, corn and cotton.
He conducted the research and used analysis equipment at the
Lowndes High School greenhouses and at the horticulture lab of
John Ruter on the Tifton, Ga., campus of the University of
Georgia.
From his own research, he concludes that the photosynthetic
rates of the two types of soybeans and cotton don’t differ that
much. But the GM corn, after 21 days of growth, did have a
higher rate than the non-GM corn.
Ruddle plans to build a career in biological research. He first
plans to attend a research university. He hasn’t decided
where.
Ruddle is the son of Paul and Carmen Ruddle of Valdosta. His FFA
advisors are James Corbett, Andy Harrison, Ulysses Marable and
Claudea Paul.
The National FFA Organization was founded as the Future Farmers
of America in 1928. It has 476,732 student members with 7,223
local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands.
