lec 14

Question 1

define genetic engineering

Answer 1

GE: the process of altering the genetic material of an organism via biotech

Question 2

how was rice altered to help children in the developing world?

Answer 2

rice had two genes inserted that made it create beta carotene, which becomes vitamin A in the liver. this helped to counter blindness and other diseases

Question 3

what was one of the first big GE crops?

Answer 3

corn in the late 90s for insect resistance, reducing pesticide needs

Question 4

canada’s diets were lacking in a certain area. how was this addressed?

Answer 4

canadian diets were lacking in DHA, so the gov put it in canola and brought it up

Question 5

approx what % of crops are GE in Canada?

Answer 5

75%

Question 6

what are the benefits of GE vs traditional breeding?

Answer 6

• GE is quicker (don’t need to wait for breeding)
• GE is more precise (can target single genes instead of hoping that mitosis picks the right chromosome)
• GE can take from any species, rather than only from species that are closely related

Question 7

what does it mean to be cisgenic vs transgenic?

Answer 7

cisgenic: closely related species
transgenic: not closely related species

refers to DNA transfers in GE

Question 8

what is the most common method of plant transformation?

Answer 8

using an agrobacterium medium, which can ‘infect’ plants w foreign DNA (all u gotta do is put some markers on the agro- and ur set babey!)

Question 9

what is the general process to confirm if the trait transferred over?

Answer 9

1. confirm that the gene is present + expressed
2. confirm that the protein works
3. confirm that the gene is stable over subsequent generations

Question 10

what is the importance of Bacillus thurigiensis

Answer 10

produces a protein that is toxic to insects –> if u can get it in a plant, its a natural pesticide

tried this with corn and it worked

Question 11

what is the bacteria that has genes that produce a natural pesticide?

Answer 11

bacillus thurigiensis

Question 12

how tightly regulated are GM crops? what are PNTs?

Answer 12

canadian food inspection agency (CFIA) and health canada ensure all GM products are safe - research is done for like 10 years to make sure its good

all plants with novel traits (PNT) are tightly regulated, and considered PNT when it is stable or it has the potential to affect the environ