Manipulation of plant and animal reproduction in agriculture Flashcards
Define agriculture
cultivation of breeding of animals and plants food, biofuel resources etc, to sustain and enhance human life
What is artificial insemination?
The process by which semen is taken out of a desired male organism is transferred artificially to female organisms such as cows and sheep.
Identify a disadvantage and advantage of artificial insemination
Advantage - efficient for breeding large numbers of females, transport of semen is easier than transporting an organism.
Disadvantage - cannot guarantee desirable traits + reduce variation
What is artificial pollination?
Artificial pollination is the process by which a selected plant with desirable traits is artificially transferred to the female stigma of another plant.
Identify a disadvantage and advantage of artificial pollination
Advantage - useful way of natural breeding which also introduced breeding
Disadvantage - cannot guarantee favourable trait + reduction of variation
What is cloning?
Cloning
The process by which genetically identical copies of an organism are made without sexual reproduction.
Identify a disadvantage and advantage of cloning
Advantage:
Cloned plants have identical requirements and grow in similar ways to produce similar yields at the same time
Guaranteed to express desired trait (unlike earlier methods)
Disadvantages: Offspring genetically identical disease susceptibility Cloning is expensive with limited advantages over reproductive techniques Cloning of animals has raised ethical questions about the cloning of humans. The health and life expectancy of cloned animals is questionable.
What is transgenesis or transgenic species
Transgenesis is the process by which a gene is removed and inserted into the genome of another species.
Identify a disadvantage and advantage of transgenesis
Advantage:
Guaranteed to have desired trait
Increase yield and nutritional value
Reduced use of harmful chemicals
Disadvantage: Lack of genetics variation and more susceptible to selective pressure Risk of GMO escaping into the wild population.
Give an example of a transgenic species
An eg of a transgenic organism is the Atlantic salmon or aquAdvantage salmon
What is the impact of this modification of the GMO salmon?
Growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon and a gene from the eel-like ocean pout which ‘switches on’ the growth hormone. This allows the organism to grow all year round unlike other salmon.
