Quiz 1 Intro Flashcards
What is the best definition of biotechnology?
The use of technology to improve organisms or their products for the benefit of man
What was a major regulatory concern with FlavRSavR tomato?
Agrobacterium tumefaciens which normally cause disease in plants was used to introduce the transgene
Using a gene found in bacteria, many agricultural crops in the US have been genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide, RoundUp. What is a major concern with plants genetically engineered to be RoundUp resistant?
The RoundUp resistance gene can be passed on to difficult to control weeds.
What was the main concern with the engineering of Bt toxin gene in crop plants?
The Bt toxin may kill beneficial insects
Vaccines against many diseases have been successfully produced in plants. Hepatitis B vaccine, to protect against hepatitis B virus, has been successfully produced in banana. What disorder does the Hepatitis virus cause?
Liver damage
The AquaAdvantage salmon was genetically engineered to be much faster growing than the native salmon counterpart. What is the main concern why FDA took 19 years to approve its commercialization?
It may lead to the extinction of native salmon species
What is one reason as to why earlier gene therapy clinical trials in humans had to be stopped by the Food and Drug Administration?
A clinical trial participant died from hyperimmune response to the virus vector
What is the main difference of modern from classical biotechnology?
Modern involves recombinant DNA technology while classical does not
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for protection against coronavirus (SARS-COV2) consist of mRNA transcribed from recombinant DNA. Therefore, it would be classified under which stage of biotechnology?
Modern
Which is not a major concern with xenotransplantation, or the use of animal organs in humans?
Some animals will reject the presence of human organs
What is a concern about genetically engineered plants?
The newly introduced gene may code for an allergenic protein
What does not apply to vaccines
Vaccines have contributed significantly to increasing the incidence of many infectious diseases
What is true of endotoxins?
Not a main concern if the drug contaminant is a Gram positive bacteria
The Genzyme plant in Massachusetts produces biotherapeutic enzyme replacement for people with Gauchers disease. The plant was shut down by the FDA at one point causing a drug shortage concern for many patients. What was the reason for the shut down?
The cell cultures that churn out the therapeutic protein got contaminated with a virus
The first genetically modified microorganism that was granted a patent was:
For use in cleaning up oil spills
