Science 3. graduate teacher candidates determination of the opinions of genetically modified organisms

The benefits of GMO organisms, the possible risks, the developments in GMOs in the world and in our country are closely related with science teachers. Due to this, it was tried to determine the knowledge levels of science teachers about genetically modified organisms and the risk perceptions about GMOs. The method of research is quantitative research method and the research was supported with qualitative data. After obtaining and analyzing quantitative data, interview questions were formed to obtain qualitative data. The study was carried out with 23 (18 girls; 5 boys) prospective teachers who studying at Aksaray University Faculty of Education Elementary Science Education. The interviews were realised with 10 (7 girls; 3 boys) teacher candidates in the same group. In order to collect data, Scale of Perceptions on 'Risk of GMO Foods' which consisting of 26 items, 'GMO Nutrients Information Test' which consist of 8 question and Semi-structured interview form which developing by researcher and consisting of 10 questions was used. Determination of risk perception for GMO foods and frequency analysis was used to determine the level of GMO knowledge. Mann Whitney U test which is nonparametric tests, was used to determine the differences according to gender. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used for the significance of the difference between the scores. After analyzing the data obtained by the interview with the content analysis method 13 themes and 62 codes were formed thanks to the answers of the students. The students who participate in research 21.7% were male and 78.3% were female and according to gender perception scores of female students about the risks of GMO foods are higher than perception scores of male students about the risk of GMO foods. Most of the students who join to research study think that GMOs are risky. In the interviews, prospective teachers generally stated that they heard about the issue of GMO from the news. GMOs stated that they are used for the purpose of yielding products. To be able to define GMO product, hormone product and hybrid product by prospective teachers is important for prevent the misunderstandings of the future generations who raised by these prospective teachers.