Genetically modified crops

Question 1

What is menat by genetically modifying something?

Answer 1

transferring genes artificially from one species to another

Question 2

what are herbicides ?

Answer 2

chemicals that farmers use to kill crops

Question 3

how would you make a plant herbicide resistant (soya beans)

Answer 3

. cut out genes from resistant plant
. transfer into the chromosomes into chose plant (soya bean)
. clone the modified cells to produce genetically modified plants resistant to herbicides

Question 4

what are the advantges of genetic modification?

Answer 4

. plants that are resistant to herbicides can be sprayed with it to kills pest plants like weeds surroundig it
. leads to incresaed yields as other pest plants are taken away so less competition for space and nutrients

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of genetically modified plants ?

Answer 5

. the health effect of eating them
. the escape of transferred geens into another species
. the creation of superweeds resistant to herbicides
. unkown long term side effects

Question 6

Whay would it be importnant to carry out extensive field trials of genetically modified technology?

Answer 6

. to understand the posible health effects on the enviroment
. to identify any possible health problems
. to check if theres a transfer of genes to other species