4.12B **Biology Only** - Advantages and Disadvantages of GM Organisms Flashcards
What are genetically modified crops engineered for?
They are engineered to be resistant to insects and to herbicides.
What is a benefit of genetically modified crops?
This will result in increased yields as less crops will die.
What is gene therapy?
It involves transferring normal genes into patients to produce the correct proteins.
What is a perceived benefit of genetic engineering in medicine?
It can be very useful to mass produce certain hormones in microorganisms.
What is a perceived risk of genetically modified crops?
GM crops might affect wild flowers and insects.
What could happen if GM crop genes spread to wild plants?
It could lead to infertility in other species and affect the entire environment.
How can genetic engineering improve agricultural yields?
By improving growth rates and introducing modifications for different conditions.
What is a concern regarding GM crops and human health?
People worry that we do not completely understand their effects on human health.
What can be produced in areas where vitamins are difficult to obtain?
Crops with extra vitamins.
What is a potential consequence of genetic engineering in agriculture?
It could lead to genetic engineering in humans and designer babies.
How can greater yields from GM crops help society?
They can help solve world hunger, which is increasing due to population growth.
What selection pressure do GM crops pose?
They could lead to increased resistance in other species, creating super weeds and pests.
What does Bacillus thuringiensis do?
It produces toxins that kill insect larvae.
How do we increase insect resistance in crops?
By using genes from Bacillus thuringiensis.
What is the process of inserting genes into crops?
Genes are cut out using restriction enzymes and re-inserted using ligase.
What happens to insects that eat Bt crops?
They will die due to the toxin produced by the crop.
What are the benefits of Bt crops?
Less of the crop gets eaten by insects, increasing yield and profits.
What are concerns regarding the use of Bt crops?
We don’t know if the toxin has any effect on human health.
What is a consequence of killing insects with Bt crops?
It results in a loss of biodiversity, affecting the entire ecosystem.
