Topic 4 - Advantages And Disadvantages Of GM Organisms Flashcards
What are genetically modified crops engineered to be resistant to?
Insects and herbicides
What is the result of genetically modified crops being resistant to insects and herbicides?
Increased yields as less crops will die
What is gene therapy?
Transferring normal genes into patients to produce correct proteins
What are two perceived benefits of genetic engineering in medicine?
- Mass production of hormones
- Potential to cure inherited disorders
What is a potential risk of genetically modified crops on wild flowers?
They might affect insects and lead to environmental changes
What could happen if GM crops spread their infertile genes to wild plants?
Infertility in other species, affecting the environment
What is a consequence of using herbicides and pesticides in agriculture?
Reduction of biodiversity
Name one way genetic engineering can improve agricultural yields.
- Improving growth rates
- Allowing crops to grow in different conditions
- Introducing modifications for self-pesticide production
What can crops with extra vitamins help with?
Producing vitamins in areas where they are difficult to obtain
What is a concern regarding the effects of GM crops on health?
Lack of complete understanding of effects on human health
How can greater yields from GM crops help society?
Help solve world hunger due to population growth
What ethical concern arises from genetic engineering in agriculture?
Potential for genetic engineering in humans and designer babies
What selection pressure do GM crops pose?
Increased resistance in other species, creating super weeds and pests
Fill in the blank: Genetic modification in medicine may be possible to use to cure _______.
Inherited disorders
What is Bacillus thuringiensis?
A bacteria that produces toxins that kill insect larvae
Bacillus thuringiensis is commonly used in agricultural biotechnology.
How do Bt crops increase insect resistance?
By using genes from Bacillus thuringiensis that produce toxins
These genes are inserted into the crops through genetic engineering.
What process is used to cut out genes from Bacillus thuringiensis?
Restriction enzymes
Restriction enzymes are tools in molecular biology that cut DNA at specific sequences.
What is ligase used for in the creation of Bt crops?
To re-insert cut genes into the crop’s DNA
Ligase is an enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA strands.
What is the effect of Bt crops on insect populations?
They kill insects that consume the crop
This leads to reduced crop damage and increased yields.
What are the potential benefits of Bt crops?
Increased crop yield and profits
Higher yields can lead to better economic outcomes for farmers.
What concerns exist regarding the use of Bt crops?
Unknown effects on human health and loss of biodiversity
The long-term impacts on ecosystems and human health are still being studied.
True or False: The toxin produced by Bt crops is harmless to humans.
False
The safety of the toxin for human health is still uncertain.
Fill in the blank: Bt crops can lead to a loss of _______ in the ecosystem.
biodiversity
The reduction in insect populations can disrupt food chains and ecological balance.
