Agriculture - Plant Genes

Question 1

Where can plant transformation be applied?

Answer 1

Addition of new genes from other organisms/plants
Expression of existing genes can be modified
Genes can be delted
Increase of yield

Question 2

Transgenisis

Answer 2

This is the insertion of a foregin gene into an organisms genome, with germ-line transmission of the gene following.

Question 3

What agronomic traits can be changed?

Answer 3

Herbicde Tolerance
Pest/Disease resistance
Resistance to Abiotic Stress

Question 4

What qualities of agriculture are looking to be enhanced?

Answer 4

Processing
Shelf-life
Reduced anti-nutriens
Nutrional quality
Reduction of oils

Question 5

Why are herbicdes important?

Answer 5

Killing of weeds growing in crops, as weeds compete for nutriens and water, reducing yield

Question 6

Mechanism of action of Glyphosate…

Answer 6

Targets the 5-enoppyrivylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, preventing aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, disallowing metabolite/protein productio.

Question 7

Biochemical envrionmental affects of Glyphosate…

Answer 7

Curvs energy pathways in soil microbes and plants, reducing microbial richness and increasing fungi

Question 8

Environmental affects of Glyphosate…

Answer 8

Organ failure of non-mammalian species, inhibting acetylcholinesterase, as well as APA derivatives affecting RBC in humans and chromosomal aberrations in fish.

Question 9

How can glyphosate be degraded envrionmentally?

Answer 9

UV light application, photocatalysis reducing to CO2, water and inorganic ions

Question 10

Resistance to Glyphosate…

Answer 10

Alternatives of 5E3PS found in bacteria.

Question 11

Pros of herbicide tolerance…

Answer 11

Increased crop productivity, encouraging no-till agriculture and GHG emissions

Question 12

Cons of herbicde tolerance…

Answer 12

Increased glyphosate selects for super-weeds, or reduction in biodiveristy.

Question 13

Example of insect resistance genes…

Answer 13

B.thuringiensis produces crystal(Cry) proteins during sporulation

Question 14

When was Cry proteins first used?

Answer 14

1938

Question 15

Mechanism of action of Cry proteins…

Answer 15

Bind receptors in the guts of target insects, being non-toxic to other animals.

Question 16

How is Cry proteins activated?

Answer 16

Larvae consume toxin, crystals solubilised then activated by proteloytic cleavage in mid-guit, binding receptors, triggering cell death.

Question 17

Cry proteins using against different groups of insects…

Answer 17

Maize uses cry1AB for MON810 conffering resistance against European stem borer

Question 18

Pros of Insect resistance?

Answer 18

Increase of yield, reducing envrionmental impact, improve farmer health and food quality, reducing Alfatoxins

Question 19

Cons of insect resistance?

Answer 19

Selection pressure of resistant pests, potential effects on pollinators.

Question 20

Social downside of herbicide and insect resistance?

Answer 20

Primarily benefical to the farmers and chemical companies, not those consuming the food.

Question 21

Example of improving nutritional quality?

Answer 21

Golden rice with increased Vitamin A levels

Question 22

Symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 22

Xerophthalmia, death susceptibility(125million children suffer from VAD, 1-2.5million children die.

Question 23

Where is golden rice gene sourced?

Answer 23

B-carotene biosynthesis pathways in daffodils introduced into transgenic rice.

Question 24

Con of golden rice?

Answer 24

Reinforces dependence on rice in diet, better to increase diversity of diet.

Question 25

Nutrional quality changes in potatoes?

Answer 25

Asparaigine when cooked at high temperatures can be converted to carcinogenic acrylamide, removed by genetic engineering.

Question 26

Biopharming

Answer 26

This is the production of edible vaccines by putting antigens into food products.

Question 27

Example of pro of biopharming?

Answer 27

Hepatitis B antigen vaccination for whole of China could be grown on a 40-acre plot.