Benefits of using Genetic Technology + Effects of Genetic Technologies in biodiversity

Question 1

In Agriculture, using transgenic organisms, it is possible to produce crops and animal that are..

Answer 1

• better suited to specific environments (like high salinity or drought)
• pest or disease resistant

Question 2

Still in Agriculture, how can transgenic organisms affect harvest and productivity?

Answer 2

they reduce post-harvest losses and increase the productivity of (marginalised) land

Question 3

In agriculture, there are genenetically modified plants with…?

Answer 3

enhanced nutrient levels. Like rice produced with a higher protein ro iron content

Question 4

The nutritional value + energy density of crops be increased by increasing the content of what?

Answer 4

lipids

Question 5

A higher lipid content in plants can also be useful in the production of…?

Answer 5

• animal feed
• fuel
• oil, -in industrial applications

Question 6

What is one of the first genetically modified animals to be approved for human consumption?

Answer 6

the GM Atlantic salmon, modified to grow faster + larger than normal by
incorporating DNA from Chinook salmon. available on the open
market and approved in the USA.

Question 7

In medicine, the study of human genes by analysing DNA and gene functioning could help to ____ treatments?

Answer 7

could help
individualise treatments

Question 8

Right now, in medicine, the study of human genomes is being used in…?

Answer 8

• oncology
• pharmacology
• the treatment of rare and undiagnosed diseases
• diagnosed infectious diseases

Question 9

Pharmaceutical products can be developed artificially and more efficiently using what method instead of naturally?

Answer 9

genetic engineering, especially recombinant DNA technology

Question 10

In medicine, what’s an example of a pharmaceutical product that is produced differently because of recombinant DNA technology?

Answer 10

Insulin. Before 1982, insulin for diabetic people had to be taken from pigs and cows. Not human insulin is produced with recombinant DNA technology (plasmids again), and it is better tolerated by diabetics + it’s produced faster and more efficiently

Question 11

MABs stand for what?

Answer 11

monoclonal antibodies

Question 12

What industry are MABs used in?

Answer 12

medicine

Question 13

What area in medicine are MABs particularly used in?

Answer 13

cancer research

Question 14

How are MABs used in cancer research?

Answer 14

because they artificially clone antibody-producing cells that target specific antigens, they can assist the natural immune system to produce specific antibodies
that target cancer cells

Question 15

MABs can be grown in two ways:

Answer 15

(1) in vitro
(2) in the stomach lining of mice

Question 16

What is the role of MABs in cancer research?

Answer 16

to recognise specific types of protein markers on cancer cells. They also can:
- activate the immune system
- block the immune system
- stop cancer cells from dividing
- assist in the delivery of drugs and radiation therapy

Question 17

MABs are antigen-specific, which means they are…?

Answer 17

produced for specific forms of cancer

Question 18

Industrially, genetically modified plants could be used to produce _________ chemicals to replace the _____________ chemicals/products that are currently used?

Answer 18

environmentally friendly chemicals that can replace the
non-renewable products (like fuels, plastics and paints).

Question 19

In industry, what is the benefit of using Recombinant DNA to produce an enzyme?

Answer 19

• the recombinant DNA can be quickly cloned to produce large quantities of th enzyme, and the enzyme will targeted at a specific substrate
• recombinant DNA enzymes are purer than those produced traditionally that might have additional chemical substance

Question 19

Enzymes that are widely used in the food industry (dairy and brewing especially) can be produced with what genetic technology?

Answer 19

recombinant DNA techniques

Question 20

In industry, what technology is being developed to absorb heavy metals like mercury, from contaminated site?
Also why would this be good?

Answer 20

genetically engineered plants and bacteria (E.coli). They could help in the reversing or fixing damage to mine sites and other heavily polluted areas, reducing harm to local ecosystems

Question 21

What three areas does geentic technology benefit in?

Answer 21

(MIA)
Medicine
Industry
Agriculture

Question 22

Which genetic technologies especially benefit agriculture?

Answer 22

• artificial pollination
• transgenics

Question 23

How do genetic technologies benefit agriculture?

Answer 23

• create crops and livestock that exhibit favourable traits (higher yields, higher nutritional value, better temperament in livestock)
• creation of organisms which do not require use of insectides or herbicides, decreasing the impact on the government
• increased food security as a solution to global poverty and food shortages

Question 24

What genetic technology is especially useful in medicine?

Answer 24

• gene cloning
• CRISPR

Question 25

How do genetic technologies benefit medicine?

Answer 25

• personalised medicine leading to pre-emptive diagnosis of disorders for better treatments
• treatment of genetic diseases leading to potential cures, rather than merely addressing symptoms
• improved diagnostic tools
• cheaper, faster tools, which can be used in remote locations, increasing access to healthcare
• improved creation of important biological molecules for treatment of diseases (like insulin for diabetes)

Question 26

What genetic technologies are used especially in industry?

Answer 26

• gene cloning
• transgenesis

Question 27

How do genetic technologies benefit industry?

Answer 27

• increased speed of chemical reactions leading to more efficient industrial processes
• creation of organisms which produce industrially significant products (e.g biofuels, biomaterials, energy)

Question 28

What is the effect of transgenics on biodiversity (short term)?

Answer 28

Transgenics can alter the path of evolution by artificially
combining the qualities of organisms that were once separate species. Short term, this will increase biodiversity by introducing new gene combinations into the population and new genes into individuals

Question 29

What is the effect of transgenics on biodiversity (long term)?

Answer 29

Transgenics artificially
combining the characteristics of organisms that were once separate species.
- In the long term, biodiversity will be reduced if these
organisms with desirable characteristics are reproduced and bred, especially using reproductive technologies such
as cloning and selective breeding.
- biodiversity could also be affected if wild varieties of plants and animals cross breed with genetically engineered ones

Question 30

What is a disadvantage of genetic technologies?

Answer 30

genetic technologies such as cloning has the potential to reduce genetic diversity in the long term and therefore increase the risk of populations beign wiped out in response to disease or a sudden environmental change

Question 31

At what point of influencing evolution does it become a risk to human survivial?

Answer 31

As soon as species start to go extinct because of human interference, because then the ecosystem loses the balance of a wide diversity of species that it has

Question 32

The survivial of genetically engineered organisms depends on how well they what..?

Answer 32

how well they compete with wild species in nature

Question 33

What is the effect of the genes of genetically engineered organisms being favourable in their population?

Answer 33

1) the frequency of theses genes in the gene pool will increase
(2) BUT they may out-compete natural species and result in the extinction of those species

Question 34

What would be an issue with preparing genetically modifiying organisms for epidemins by giving them disease resistant genes?

Answer 34

it would just be too costly and time consuming

Question 35

Why are stocks of genetically varied cattle being maintained, and gamete materials of animals and germplasm (genetic material to be passed on) of plants being stored?

Answer 35

to overcome the threat of reduced biodiversity, so that a variety of genomes are available if needed in the future