5b-Selective breeding Flashcards
What is selective breeding?
Selective breeding (artificial selection) is the process of breeding plants and animals with desirable characteristics to produce offspring with those traits.
How does selective breeding work?
Choose individuals with the desired traits.
Breed them together.
Select the best offspring with the desired traits.
Repeat the process over several generations to reinforce the traits.
What are examples of selective breeding in animals?
Animals: Breeding cows for increased milk production, chickens for more meat, and dogs for specific temperaments.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding?
Advantages:
Improves crop yield and animal productivity.
Produces organisms with desirable traits.
Disadvantages:
Reduces genetic variation, making populations more susceptible to diseases.
Can lead to inherited health problems (e.g., hip dysplasia in dogs).
What is genetic modification?
Genetic modification (GM) involves altering an organism’s DNA by inserting a gene from another species to give it new characteristics.
How does genetic modification work?
Identify the desired gene in the donor organism.
Use enzymes to cut out the gene.
Insert the gene into the DNA of the recipient organism using a vector (e.g., a plasmid or virus).
Allow the modified cells to grow and develop.
What are examples of genetic modification?
Plants: GM crops like Bt corn produce toxins that kill insect pests.
Animals: GM salmon grow faster than non-modified salmon.
Bacteria: GM bacteria produce insulin for treating diabetes.
What are the advantages of genetic modification?
Advantages:
Increases crop yield and pest resistance.
Reduces the need for chemical pesticides.
Can produce medicines like insulin.
What is the method for investigating selective breeding in plants?
Cross-pollinate plants with desired traits (e.g., high yield or disease resistance).
Grow the seeds and select the best plants.
Repeat for several generations to reinforce traits.
What are the results of investigating selective breeding in plants?
Positive Result: Offspring show increased yield and resistance.
Negative Result: Inbreeding may reduce genetic variation and increase susceptibility to disease.
What are examples of selective breeding in plants
Plants: Breeding wheat for higher yield, disease resistance, and drought tolerance.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of genetic modification?
Disadvantages:
Possible unknown long-term effects on health and ecosystems.
Risk of modified genes spreading to wild populations.
Ethical concerns about altering natural organisms.
