Genetically modified plants

Question 1

GM crops could help…

Answer 1

• increase crop productivity
• conserve biodiversity
• provide a better environment
• reduce CO2 emissions
• help elevate poverty and hunger

Question 2

callus

Answer 2

• equimolar amounts of auxin and cytokinin stimulate cell division
• leads to mass proliferation of an unorganised mass of cells

Question 3

agrobacterium

Answer 3

• infects plants
• inserts some of their DNA into genome
• affects base of stem, forming a gall

Question 4

applications of GM crops

Answer 4

• insect resistance:
• Bt corn
• herbicide resistance
• increase nutritional value
• produce drugs

Question 5

pesticide hazards

Answer 5

• substantial health impacts on workers
• pollution of natural ecosystems/waterways
• loss of insect biodiversity
• creation of secondary pests
• creation of insect races resistant to pesticides

Question 6

bt

Answer 6

• bacillus thuringiensis = common soil borne bacterium
• produce crystal proteins = selectively kill certain groups of insects
• must be ingested to kill
• bind to receptors in intestine
• insects stop eating
• bt genes inserted into corn genome

Question 7

bt corn advantages

Answer 7

• toxin will not be destroyed by UV, heat, desiccation

Question 8

bt corn dangers

Answer 8

• potential allergies to crystal proteins
• may kill other insects, e.g. monarch butterfly larvae
• gene flow = production of ‘superweeds’
• produce resistance in target pests

Question 9

herbicide resistance

Answer 9

• round-up herbicides (glyphosate)
  = will kill basically any plant
  = banned in UK
• GM crops can be made resistant to glyphosate
  = can be sprayed to kill weeds but crops will survive

Question 10

GM increasing nutrient value

Answer 10

golden rice
- 400m poor in rice-based societies have Vit A deficiencies
- 500,000 per year go blind
- golden rice includes genes required to produce provitamin A
- content high enough to cover vit A requirements
- adapted to fit diff rice preferences

Question 11

GM food concerns

Answer 11

• all foods have been extensively tested (safe)
• can be made into convenience food like any other produce
• nutrients depend on food choices, not on method of crop breeding

Question 12

GM producing drugs

Answer 12

• e.g. positive tobacco-grown covid vaccine
• prototype enzymes using transient plant expression tech
• squalene oil