Lecture 21: Biotech and Modern Agriculture - 11/27 Flashcards

1
Q

What are the fixed locations on which genes are located called?

A

Locus (plural: loci)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Mutation breeding

A

Exposing seeds to chemicals or radiation to induce new genetic mutations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Somaclonal variation

A

Genetic changes that occur during in vitro tissue culture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the three things plant breeding requires?

A

Fertile plant parents
Availability of populations with beneficial traits
Many generations of back-crossing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Linkage drag

A

When genes that are linked to the gene of interest tag along during introgression

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Hybrid vigor

A

Some traits need to be heterozygous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Introgression

A

The transfer of genetic information from one species to another as a result of hybridization between them and repeated backcrossing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Biotechnology

A

Any process that involves the application of:

in vitro nucleic acid techniques (including recombinant DNA, for example)

fusion of cells (overcoming natural physiological reproductive barriers)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

“in vitro” meaning

A

A procedure performed outside of a living organism and in an artificial environment

For example, performing gene modification on a cell inside a test tube would be considered in vitro

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Genetic engineering

A

Allows for the modification of the plant’s genome by means other than conventional breeding, genetic mutations, or tissue culture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Transgenic organisms

A

Plants containing the DNA of another organism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How has the cost of DNA sequencing changed over the past 20 years?

A

It has decreased significantly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the three main methods used to introduce DNA fragments into a plant’s genome?

A

Chemically-mediated transfer
Physically-mediated transfer
Vectors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Protoplasts

A

Cells without a cell wall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Chemically-mediated transfer

A

Make protoplasts (cells w/o cell wall) by degrading cells’ cell walls with a mixture of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes

DNA uptake is enhanced by chemical treatments which reversibly stabilize the plasma membrane so it’s permeable to DNA

A whole plant is regenerated from that protoplast

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the three methods of physically-mediated transfer?

A

Biolistic transformation
Microinjection
Electroporation

17
Q

Biolistic transformation

A

Using a gene gun to shoot gold/tungsten particles coated with DNA fragments into a plant tissue

Cons: inefficient

18
Q

Microinjection

A

Transfer of a gene through a micropipette into the cytoplasm or nucleus of a plant protoplast

Cons: this method is slow, expensive, and highly skilled

19
Q

Electroporation

A

Using a pulse of electricity to temporarily create pores in the plant membrane, through which DNA can be introduced

Cons: can damage cells, resulting in death

20
Q

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer (vector)

A

Transferring a gene of interest without causing disease

Cons: not all plants are susceptible to agrobacterium infection, and not all agro-susceptible plants can be regenerated from a single cell

21
Q

What are the challenges of commercializing GM crops?

A

They take a lot of money and time to commercialize

22
Q

What new technology can be considered the future of plant biotechnology?

A

Using “molecular scissors” (CRISPR/Cas) that can create double-stranded breaks at precise locations