GM_Crops_Flashcards

Question 1

Topic

Answer 1

Content

Question 2

GM CROPS

Answer 2

Genetically modified crops (GMCs, GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques.

Question 3

Examples of GM crops

Answer 3

Resistance to pests, diseases, environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, herbicide resistance, improved nutrient profile.

Question 4

Scientific Consensus

Answer 4

There is scientific consensus that GM crops pose no greater risk to human health than conventional food, but GM foods must be tested on a case-by-case basis.

Question 5

Public Perception

Answer 5

The public is less likely than scientists to perceive GM foods as safe.

Question 6

Legal and Regulatory Status

Answer 6

The legal and regulatory status of GM crops varies by country; some ban or restrict them, while others regulate or permit them. Opponents have raised environmental, safety, and accessibility concerns.

Question 7

First GM Crop in China

Answer 7

China introduced virus-resistant tobacco in 1992.

Question 8

First GM Crop in U.S.

Answer 8

FlavrSavr tomato (1994), approved for its longer shelf life in the U.S.

Question 9

First GM Crop in Europe

Answer 9

In 1994, the EU approved herbicide-resistant tobacco, making it the first GM crop in Europe.

Question 10

Bt Potato

Answer 10

Bt Potato (1995), approved as the first pesticide-producing crop in the U.S.

Question 11

Other Approved Crops (1995)

Answer 11

In 1995, canola with modified oil, Bt maize, cotton, soybeans, squash, and tomatoes were approved in the U.S. 35 approvals were granted for 8 crops and 1 flower crop by mid-1996.

Question 12

Types of Modifications

Answer 12

Genetic modifications in plants are transgenic, cisgenic, subgenic, or intragenic.

Question 13

Transgenic

Answer 13

Transgenic plants have genes from other species, either within the same kingdom (plant to plant) or across kingdoms (bacteria to plant).

Question 14

Cisgenic

Answer 14

Cisgenic crops use genes from the same species or crossbreedable pool. They are governed by the same laws as transgenic crops.

Question 15

Subgenic

Answer 15

Subgenic crops involve splicing to remove unnecessary genes instead of adding foreign genes. In 2014, wheat resistant to powdery mildew was created by deleting genes that repress defenses.

Question 16

Intragenic

Answer 16

Intragenic modification inserts gene sequences from crops in the same gene pool, with gene regulation by promoters and terminators from within the same pool.

Question 17

GM CROP SCENARIO

Answer 17

In 2015, 18 million farmers planted biotech crops in 28 countries

Question 18

Small Farmers Contribution

Answer 18

Over 54% or about 97.1 million hectares were planted by small and resource-poor farmers from developing countries

Question 19

Brazil Hectarage Growth

Answer 19

The highest increase in any country, in absolute hectarage growth, was Brazil with 2 million hectares

Question 20

Global Distribution

Answer 20

Biotech crops were grown commercially on all six continents of the world

Question 21

Mega-Countries in 2015

Answer 21

Of the 28 countries planting biotech crops in 2015, 19 countries planted 50,000 hectares or more to biotech crops, including USA, Brazil, India, China, etc.

Question 22

Soybean Biotech

Answer 22

In 2015, 83% (92.1 million hectares) of the 111 million hectares of soybean planted globally were biotech

Question 23

Biotech Cotton

Answer 23

Biotech cotton was planted on 24 million hectares, which is 78% of the global cotton

Question 24

Biotech Maize

Answer 24

Of the 185 million hectares of global maize planted in 2015, 29% or 53.6 million hectares were biotech maize

Question 25

Herbicide Tolerant Canola

Answer 25

Herbicide tolerant biotech canola was planted in 8.5 million hectares or 24% of the 36 million hectares globally

Question 26

GM Crops in India

Answer 26

India has the fourth-largest area planted under genetically modified (GM) crops; the entire GM crop area in India consists of Bt cotton

Question 27

Bt Cotton in India

Answer 27

Nearly 96% of India’s cotton area is now covered by Bt hybrids; Bt technology helped India treble its cotton output from 13 million bales to 40 million

Question 28

Bt Brinjal

Answer 28

Bt brinjal is a GMO developed by inserting a crystal protein gene (Cry1Ac) from Bacillus thuringiensis to resist insects like the Brinjal Fruit Borer

Question 29

Public Reaction to Bt Brinjal

Answer 29

There was a public outcry and a moratorium imposed by the Indian government on Bt brinjal development