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Mrs P's GCSE Biology > Paper 2: Topic 7 Ecology - Food production > Flashcards

Paper 2: Topic 7 Ecology - Food production Flashcards

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1
Q

Define food security

A

Food security is having enough food to feed a population

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2
Q

State 6 biological factors which are threatening food security

A
  1. The increasing birth rate has threatened food security in some countries
  2. Changing diets in developed countries means scarce food
  3. Resources are transported around the world
  4. New pests and pathogens that affect farming environmental changes that affect food production, such as widespread famine occurring in some countries if rains fail
  5. The cost of agricultural inputs
  6. Conflicts that have arisen in some parts of the world which affect the availability of water or food.
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3
Q

State 6 possible causes for famine

A
  1. Droughts
  2. Crop failure
  3. Increasing costs of farming
  4. New pathogens and pets
  5. Armed conflict
  6. Natural disasters
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4
Q

State 4 reasons why there are greater demands on our food supplies now compared to the past

A
  1. Growing Human population (increasing birth rate and longer lifespans)
  2. Changing diets
  3. New pests and pathogens affecting farming
  4. Environmental changes e.g. warmer winters, less rain
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5
Q

State 3 methods that Governments are trying to improve food security

A
  1. Increasing productivity
  2. Preventing over-fishing
  3. Supporting biotechnology to develop food production methods
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6
Q

State the cause of the reduction of fish stocks in the UK

A

Over-fishing

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7
Q

Give 4 reasons why over-fishing is of concern to Governments

A
  1. It reduces the fish population
  2. So there is less fish to feed the Human population
  3. It also has an effect on food chains
  4. Some species of fish are at risk of becoming extinct e.g. North West Atlantic cod
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8
Q

State 4 ways fish stocks can be maintained and conserved

A
  1. Setting and enforcement of fishing quotas
  2. Specifying minimum and maximum mesh sizes (nets with larger mesh size so the younger fish can escape and continue to grow and reproduce)
  3. Restriction on fishing times e.g. limit the number of days or have closed seasons (when the fish are breeding)
  4. Setting up no-take zones
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9
Q

State 3 ways food production can be made more efficient in farming

A
  1. Restrict the movement of the animals
  2. Keep them in a temperature-controlled environment
  3. Feed the animals high protein diets
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10
Q

Explain why restricting animal movement increases food productivity

A
  • If the animals are caged or not allowed to move freely then they will use less energy for movement
  • This will mean more energy is available to generate biomass
  • So the animals will grow larger and /or produce more milk or eggs etc
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11
Q

Explain why keeping animals in a temperature-controlled environment increases food productivity

A
  • If the animals are kept at an optimal temperature then they will use less energy for maintaining their body temperature
  • This will mean more energy is available to generate biomass
  • So the animals will grow larger and /or produce more milk or eggs etc
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12
Q

Explain why feeding animals a high protein diet increases food productivity

A
  • This will mean more amino acids are available to generate biomass
  • So the animals will grow larger and /or produce more milk or eggs etc
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13
Q

Define intensive farming

A

Agriculture (both arable and pastoral) on a large scale

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14
Q

State 5 negative impacts that intensive farming may have on ecosystems

A
  1. Use of large scale machinery cause air pollution
  2. Use of chemical fertilisers can lead to eutrophication
  3. Use of pesticides can disrupt food chains and decrease biodiversity
  4. Use of antibiotics in animal livestock can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria
  5. Use of large scale machinery can lead to removal of hedgerows and destruction of habitats
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15
Q

Give 5 differences between organic farming (OF) and intensive farming (IF)

A
  1. OF uses natural fertilisers e.g. manure vs IF which uses chemical fertilisers
  2. OF uses natural pesticides e.g. ladybirds to eat aphids vs IF which uses chemical pesticides
  3. OF uses crop rotation vs IF which uses large scale monocultures
  4. OF allows fields to lie fallow to replenish nutrients vs IF constantly uses all land and applies more chemical fertilisers each season
  5. OF keeps free range stock vs IF uses cages and barns to restrict the movement of livestock
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16
Q

Describe the effect organic and intensive farming have on biodiversity

A
  • OF conserves and protects biodiversity
  • IF reduces biodiversity
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17
Q

Define the term herbicide

A

a substance that is toxic to plants, used to destroy unwanted vegetation

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18
Q

Define the term insecticide

A

a substance that is toxic to insects

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19
Q

Define the term pesticide

A

a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals

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20
Q

Name a food source produced by Biotechnology

A

Mycoprotein

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21
Q

State the organism that is used to produce mycoprotein

A

Fusarium venenatum

22
Q

State what type of organism is used to produce mycoprotein

A

Fungus

23
Q

State 4 nutritional benefits of mycoprotein

A
  1. Good source of protein (for vegetarians)
  2. Good source of fibre
  3. Low in fat
  4. No cholesterol
24
Q

State 3 features of mycoprotein that mean it has been successful as a meat- substitute

A
  • It has a similar texture to meat
  • It can be produced all year round (unlike meat)
  • It has faster growth than animal protein
25
Q

State 4 reasons why some people are not in favour of using mycoprotein as a meat-substitute

A
  1. Some people do not like the taste
  2. It is grown on waste materials such as paper and whey which some people object to
  3. It must be purified to prevent contamination (but so does meat!)
  4. Care needs to be taken to prevent microbial contamination (as with meat!)
26
Q

Explain why mycoprotein is not a GM food

A
  • It is produced naturally by the fungus
  • It has not been genetically engineered or produced
27
Q

State the 3 raw ingredients required to make mycoprotein

A
  1. Glucose syrup
  2. Oxygen
  3. Ammonia
28
Q

Explain why a source of glucose syrup is needed to produce mycoprotein

A

It is a source of carbon and energy

29
Q

State the source of the glucose syrup

A
  • Wheat or maize starch
  • i.e. waste plant material
30
Q

Explain why a source of oxygen is needed to produce mycoprotein

A
  • Oxygen is required by the fungus for aerobic respiration
  • So that it can release energy for growth
31
Q

Explain why a source of ammonia is needed to produce mycoprotein

A
  • It is needed as a nitrogen source so that the fungus can produce:
    • Nucleotides to make DNA for new cells
    • Amino acids to make proteins for growth
32
Q

How is mycoprotein normally mass produced?

A

In large scale fermenters

33
Q

State what type of conditions must be present for mycoprotein production

A

Aerobic

34
Q

Explain the importance of a water cooling jacket around a fermenter

A
  • To maintain the temperature at the optimal temperature for microbial growth

Remember: respiration is an exothermic reaction so it transfers heat to the environment and will cause the internal temperature of the fermenter to increase

35
Q

Explain the importance of a filter in the air inlet to a fermenter

A

This is an aseptic precaution to prevent any unwanted micro-organisms entering the fermenter that could be pathogenic or outcompete the Fusarium for nutrients and decrease productivity

36
Q

Explain the importance of a steam inlet in a fermenter

A

This is an aseptic precaution to sterilise the fermenter and prevent the contamination by unwanted micro-organisms

37
Q

Explain the importance of a nutrient inlet to a fermenter

A

To supply the glucose syrup

38
Q

Explain the importance of a stirring paddle in a fermenter

A
  • To mix the Fusarium with the oxygen and glucose syrup
  • And to distribute heat evenly throughout the mixture
39
Q

Explain the importance of a pH probe in a fermenter

A
  • To monitor the pH to ensure the conditions are optimal for Fusarium growth
  • The pH can then be adjusted accordingly
40
Q

Explain the importance of a temperature probe in a fermenter

A
  • To monitor the temperature to ensure the conditions are optimal for Fusarium growth
  • The temperature can then be adjusted accordingly
  • If the temperature is too low productivity will decrease as the Fusarium will grow and reproduce very slowly
  • If it is too hot the enzymes in the Fusarium will denature and the fungus will die
41
Q

State 4 reasons why bacteria are often used in genetic engineering

A
  1. They are easy to grow
  2. They reproduce every 20 minutes
  3. They have additional DNA in loops called plasmids
  4. Their DNA is easy to manipulate
42
Q

Define the term restriction enzyme

A

An enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotide bases

43
Q

Define the term plasmid

A

A small loop of additional DNA found in bacteria

44
Q

Define the term recombinant DNA (also called hybrid DNA)

A

A plasmid from a bacterium which has a gene (section of DNA) from another species inserted into it

45
Q

Summarise the key steps involved in genetic engineering using a bacterium

Hint: this is the same as asking the question – describe how GE can be used to produce Human insulin

A
  1. Identify the cells that have the gene for the desired protein e.g. pancreatic cells contain gene for insulin
  2. Cut the insulin gene out of the DNA using a restriction enzyme
  3. Remove a plasmid from a bacterium
  4. Cut the plasmid using the same restriction enzyme
  5. Both the gene and the cut ends of the plasmid will have the same sequence of nucleotide bases – these are called sticky ends
  6. Mix the gene and cut plasmid together
  7. Add the enzyme ligase
  8. The ligase will join the gene and the plasmid together to form hybrid/recombinant plasmid
  9. Insert the recombinant/hybrid plasmid into the bacterium
  10. The bacterium will now produce the insulin
  11. Harvest, purify and package the insulin
  12. Use the insulin to treat type I diabetics
46
Q

State 5 advantages of genetic engineering

Hint: This is the same as asking the question - State 5 uses for genetic engineering

A
  1. Bacteria can be used to produce medicines and hormones for use in Humans
  2. GE can be used to improve the growth rates of animals and plants (which can help provide food security)
  3. GE can help improve the food value of crops e.g. higher vitamin content
  4. GE can be used to reduce the fat content of meat
  5. GE can be used to produce plants that make their own insecticides and pesticides
47
Q

State 4 disadvantages of genetic engineering

A
  1. Insets may become resistant to pesticides if they eat pesticide-resistant plants
  2. The long-term effect on Human health from consuming GM foods is currently unknown
  3. Genes from genetically modified plants and animals may be transferred to other species and spread into wildlife
  4. People may want to manipulate the genes of their children in the future
48
Q

State the 4 key steps in genetically modifying a species

A
  1. Select the desired characteristic
  2. Identify and isolate the gene responsible for the desired characteristic
  3. Insert the gene into a different species
  4. Replicate the genetically modified organism
49
Q

Describe an example where genes can be transferred between different species to improve the nutritional value of a crop

A

Gene transferred = gene for Vitamin A production

Source of the vitamin A gene = Carrots

Gene transferred to = rice plant

Process:

  • Beta carotene gene is isolated from carrots
  • The beta carotene gene is transferred to rice plants
  • The rice changes colour to a yellow colour (“Golden rice”)
  • Rice from the genetically modified rice plants has a high Vitamin A content
50
Q

Describe the benefits of Golden Rice

A
  • It can be used to increase peoples intake of Vitamin A in countries prone to vitamin A deficiency
  • It can be used to prevent certain types of blindness
51
Q

Some people have concerns about Golden rice.

State 7 concerns that they may have.

A
  1. Fears the genetically modified rice plants will cross breed with other plants and contaminate wild rice
  2. GM golden rice may cause allergies and unknown side effects in people who eat it
  3. The vitamin A content is still quite low and not necessarily high enough to make a real difference
  4. The cost of the GM rice seed is very high making it prohibitive for poor countries to buy it
  5. Some people think it is wrong to scientifically produce new species
  6. Sometimes the soil quality is poor so even though countries may buy the GM seed they may not be able to grow the crops
  7. People fear that countries may become dependent on the companies that sell the GM seed which could mean they are at risk of extortion (i.e. companies keep putting the cost of the seed up)

Mrs P's GCSE Biology (26 decks)

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