9.5 GMOs

Question 0

In 1977 - time consuming process was speeded up when it was discovered that a bacterium called :

Answer 0

Agrobacterium tumesfaciens could be used to introduce foreign genes into plant cells

Question 1

Humans have improved crop plants through:

Answer 1

Selective breeding for 1000s of years

Question 2

Using this bacterium produced:

Answer 2

Genetically modified crop plants

Question 3

Gene transfer has enabled scientists to produce:

Answer 3

Many different gm crops

Question 4

Many gm crops are modified to be :

Answer 4

Resistant to pests, disease or herbicides

Question 5

Gm crops include :

Answer 5

Commercially important crops

Question 6

The bacterial gene, Bt, allows crops to produce a toxin that kills insect pests but is harmless to:

Answer 6

Humans

Question 7

Crop plants can be engineered to:

Answer 7

Increase shelf-life 
Improve flavour 
Increase hardiness 
Increase nutrient content 
To be few from allergy causing chemicals

Question 8

Supporters:

Answer 8

Will provide solutions to global issues
Help protect the environment by minimising pesticide use
Could improve nutrition
Help alleviate world hunger

Question 9

Critics:

Answer 9

Fear that herbicide-resistant GM crops could become ‘superweeds’ or could accidentally breed with wild plants or other crops: genetically polluting the environment

Widespread insertion of insecticide genes will increase the rate of revolution of insecticide-resistant pests

Question 10

Fears that GM crops have:

Answer 10

Adverse health effects

Question 11

If GM crops are eaten by humans, there are worries that the antibiotic resistance marker genes that they contain may be taken up by bacteria living in the human gut, could produce:

Answer 11

Populations of human gut bacteria that are resistant to certain antibiotics

Question 12

The process of producing GM crops that have been engineered to produce drugs and vaccines is:

Answer 12

Pharming

Question 13

Use of GM crops will allow:

Answer 13

Cheap production of new medicine
May cross-breed with varieties of food crops and this could lead to contamination of food supplies and possible dangers to health

Question 14

All releases of GMOs into the environment are strictly regulated and require…

Answer 14

Consent

Question 15

Advice on whether a release should be given consent is provided by:

Answer 15

The advisory committee on releases to the environment (ACRE)

Question 16

An environmental impact assessment must be submitted. An EIA must be submitted and is a:

Answer 16

Detailed report on the environmental impact the project would have

Question 17

Purpose of the EIA is to:

Answer 17

Make sure the impact on the environment is considered fully

Question 18

GM animals with particular genes added or ‘knocked out’ are very important in:

Answer 18

Medical research

Question 19

Any animal whose genetic composition has been altered by the addition of DNA is said to be:

Answer 19

transgenic

Question 20

There are potentially many uses for GM animals but there are many:

Answer 20

Ethical concerns - incl the possible hazards associated with their release into the environment