Lesson 6: GMO Flashcards
(89 cards)
1
Q
What is the definition of a GMO according to the World Health Organization (WHO)?
A
Organism(s) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.
2
Q
What is the difference between a transgenic organism and a cisgenic organism?
A
A transgenic organism has DNA that is across species, while a cisgenic organism modifies the DNA of the target organism without introducing foreign DNA.
3
Q
What is selective breeding?
A
Humans identify natural variation in traits of a species and breed individuals with similar characteristics to produce offspring with the desired trait.
4
Q
What was the first GMO approved for human consumption?
A
Flavr-savr tomato.
5
Q
Why do scientists develop GMOs?
A
To address global challenges such as resource conservation, food supply, and pest management.
6
Q
What is the role of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in genetically modified crops?
A
Bt crops produce a toxin that kills insects but is not harmful to plants or humans.
7
Q
Fill in the blank: The first organism to have its DNA directly manipulated in the lab is _______.
A
Escherichia coli.
8
Q
What are some examples of genetically modified bacteria?
A
- Production of human insulin
- Production of vaccines
- Bioremediation of toxic chemicals
- Synthesis of organic chemicals
9
Q
What are some applications of genetically modified animals?
A
- Models for human disease
- Biotechnology products
- Increased nutritional value
- Xenotransplantation
10
Q
List some genetically modified plants currently available in the United States.
A
- Squash (1995): Disease resistance
- Cotton (1996): Insect resistance; herbicide tolerance
- Soybean (1995): Insect resistance; herbicide tolerance
- Corn (1996): Insect resistance; herbicide tolerance; drought tolerance
- Papaya (1997): Disease resistance
11
Q
Which of the following traits can genetically modified plants provide? Select all that apply.
A
- Resistance to drought
- Resistance to commonly used herbicides
- Resistance to insect pest species
- Reduced spoilage
12
Q
True or False: All living organisms are genetically modified in some way.
A
True.
13
Q
What is the significance of the AquaAdvantage Salmon?
A
It was the first genetically modified animal approved for human consumption.
14
Q
What are the challenges addressed by developing GMOs?
A
- Climate change
- Pest management
- Human population growth
15
Q
What is the impact of climate change on ecosystems?
A
- Alters temperature
- Affects precipitation patterns
16
Q
Fill in the blank: The process of controlling agricultural pests through genetic modification involves the use of _______ crops.
A
Bt.
17
Q
What is the role of genetically modified bacteria in bioremediation?
A
They can break down toxic chemicals in the environment.
18
Q
What are some traits currently under development for genetically modified crops?
A
- Disease resistance
- Insect resistance
- Drought tolerance
19
Q
Genetically modified plants may be produced for which of the following reasons?
A
All of the above:
* To provide resistance to drought
* To provide resistance to commonly used herbicides
* To provide resistance to insect pest species
* To reduce spoilage
20
Q
Which organisms are being genetically modified to produce biotechnology products such as vaccines?
A
Bacteria, Plants, Animals
21
Q
What are the basic characteristics of a plant?
A
- Multicellular
- Eukaryotes
- Photosynthetic
22
Q
What is the primary function of roots in plants?
A
- Anchors plant to the ground
- Transports water and nutrients
- Produces plant growth hormones
23
Q
What is the function of xylem in plant physiology?
A
Transports water and dissolved ions upwards through the plant
24
Q
What is the function of phloem in plants?
A
Transports organic compounds from photosynthesis throughout the plant
25
What defines gymnosperms?
First plants to evolve seeds
26
What is the difference between sporophyte and gametophyte in plant reproduction?
* Sporophyte: Spore-producing generation, diploid (2n)
* Gametophyte: Gamete-producing generation, haploid (1n)
27
What is the life cycle of a plant called?
Alternation of generations
28
What are the characteristics of monocots?
* Fibrous roots
* Parallel leaf veins
* Random vascular bundles in stem
* Floral components in multiples of threes
29
What are the characteristics of eudicots?
* Large taproot system
* Netlike leaf veins
* Vascular bundles in a ring in stem
* Floral components in multiples of fours or fives
30
Fill in the blank: The process by which plants manufacture their food is called _______.
Photosynthesis
31
What are the inputs for photosynthesis?
* Solar energy
* Carbon dioxide
* Water
32
What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?
Captures incoming energy of the sun
33
True or False: All reactions of photosynthesis require sunlight.
True
34
What is the output of photosynthesis?
* Oxygen
* Carbohydrates
35
What is one way genetic modification can improve fruit ripening?
Silencing the gene responsible for polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme
36
How can genetic modification increase crop yield?
By making plants resistant to insect pests and herbicides
37
What is beta-carotene and why is it important?
A nutrient that is a precursor of vitamin A, important for human development
38
What is the purpose of genetically modifying plants?
To make them resistant to herbicides like glyphosate (RoundUp)
## Footnote
Glyphosate is widely used to control weed populations.
39
What nutrient does Golden Rice produce?
Beta-carotene
## Footnote
Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A, essential for human development.
40
What two genes were added to rice to allow it to produce beta-carotene?
One from a daffodil and one from a soil bacterium
41
What is DNA?
The genetic material of every organism, responsible for storing information needed for life processes
## Footnote
DNA is involved in processing energy, maintaining internal environments, responding to stimuli, reproducing, and adapting.
42
What is the structure of DNA?
A double helix made of two complementary strands
## Footnote
Nucleotides in DNA include adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).
43
What is complementary base pairing?
Adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G)
## Footnote
This pairing is crucial for the storage of genetic information.
44
What is a gene?
Information that produces a product, typically proteins or RNA molecules
45
What is gene expression?
The process of using genes to make proteins
## Footnote
It involves transcription and translation.
46
What is the role of enzymes?
To act as catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions
## Footnote
Enzymes have specific shapes that determine their interactions with substrates.
47
What is mutagenesis?
The intentional introduction of a change into the genetic material of a cell or organism
48
What is CRISPR technology used for?
To remove or insert nucleotides in a gene, altering its function
49
What is Agrobacterium tumefaciens?
A plant bacterial pathogen used as a vector to introduce genetic material into plants
50
What is particle bombardment?
A method of transforming plants by firing DNA-coated particles into plant tissue
51
What is RNA interference (RNAi)?
A process that silences existing genes using complementary RNA sequences
## Footnote
RNAi binds with target mRNA to produce double-stranded RNA, leading to degradation.
52
What is a potential risk of GMOs related to herbicide resistance?
Transfer of glyphosate resistance genes to weed species, creating 'super-weeds'
53
What are some public concerns regarding GMOs?
Potential negative health effects, such as allergic reactions
54
Fill in the blank: The process of genes being used to make proteins is called _______.
gene expression
55
True or False: The two strands of DNA are oriented in the same direction.
False
56
Select all that apply: Which methods can be used to make copies of a gene of interest?
* Polymerase chain reaction
* Restriction enzymes
* DNA cloning
57
What is the role of restriction enzymes in gene cloning?
To cut DNA at specific patterns of nucleotides for gene insertion
58
What are DNA probes used for?
To identify specific sequences of DNA
## Footnote
DNA probes can also be used in DNA microarrays.
59
What is glyphosate resistance associated with?
Glyphosate resistance is associated with transgenic crop species to weed species, creating a 'super-weed' that can no longer be controlled using herbicides.
60
What are some concerns regarding adverse human reactions to GMOs?
Concerns include the possibility of negative health effects, such as allergic reactions.
61
What specific example illustrates an allergic reaction to GMOs?
In 2000, a woman had an allergic reaction after eating taco shells containing the unapproved protein Cry9C.
62
What is the Bt endotoxin used for in genetically modified plants?
The Bt endotoxin is introduced in crop plants to control insect populations.
63
What are non-target species in the context of GMOs?
Non-target species refer to beneficial insect populations that may be harmed by genetically modified plants designed to control pest populations.
64
Which of the following statements is correct regarding GMOs?
a. negatively impacted non-target species
b. the ability to cause health problems in most individuals
c. resulted in gene transfer to weed species
65
What potential benefit do genetically modified fungi offer?
Research into genetically modified fungi might remove the threat of diseases such as malaria by eliminating mosquitoes.
66
What are scientists currently developing GM plants to achieve?
Scientists are developing plants that are heat and drought resistant and have higher nutritional content.
67
What is the ultimate goal of developing new GM plants?
The goal is to grow more food on less land using less water and fewer chemical insecticides.
68
What is AquaAdvantage Salmon?
AquaAdvantage Salmon is a transgenic salmon that contains genes from two other fish, allowing it to grow faster.
69
What needs of society are future genetically modified plants and animals being designed to meet?
* Prevention of disease
* Increased food supply
* Adaptation to the consequences of climate change
70
What are the main categories of land plants?
* Mosses
* Lycophytes
* Ferns
* Gymnosperms
* Angiosperms
71
What processes are involved in the life cycle of plants?
* Fertilization
* Meiosis
* Mitosis
72
Why are plants called producers?
Plants are called producers because they convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
73
What occurs during the light reactions of photosynthesis?
Solar energy, ADP plus P, and NADP plus are converted into NADPH and ATP while H2O is converted into O2.
74
What is the Calvin cycle's role in photosynthesis?
The Calvin cycle converts CO2 into carbohydrates while producing ADP plus P and NADP plus for the light reaction.
75
What is the relationship between a gene and a trait?
A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait.
76
What processes involve the transformation of DNA into traits?
Transcription and translation are processes that involve converting DNA into traits via mRNA.
77
What is the structure of DNA?
Double-stranded helix composed of a coding strand and a template strand
## Footnote
The coding strand contains the genetic information, while the template strand is used for transcription.
78
What is the process of transcription?
The synthesis of mRNA from a DNA template in the nucleus
## Footnote
mRNA carries the genetic information needed for protein synthesis.
79
What is the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis?
Translation of mRNA to produce a polypeptide chain
## Footnote
Ribosomes read the mRNA codons and facilitate the assembly of amino acids into proteins.
80
What are codons?
Sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids
## Footnote
Each codon specifies one amino acid during translation.
81
What occurs when a substrate binds to an enzyme's active site?
A reaction occurs, producing products and releasing the enzyme
## Footnote
The shape of the active site is complementary to the substrate.
82
What is the purpose of adding fluorescently labeled nucleotides during DNA replication?
To halt replication and produce different lengths of DNA sequences
## Footnote
This technique helps in analyzing DNA sequences.
83
Fill in the blank: The complementary sequence for the nucleotides A T C G is _____
T A G C
84
What do sticky ends refer to in DNA?
Unpaired nucleotides at the ends of DNA fragments after cutting by restriction enzymes
## Footnote
Sticky ends facilitate the ligation of DNA fragments.
85
What are the three steps of the PCR process?
* Denaturation at 95 degrees
* Annealing at 55 degrees
* Extension at 72 degrees
## Footnote
These steps are repeated in cycles to amplify DNA.
86
What is the function of guide RNA in CRISPR-Cas technology?
To bind to the target gene and direct the Cas9 enzyme to cleave it
## Footnote
This allows for gene editing by creating double-strand breaks.
87
How is a plant transformed using Agrobacterium?
Agrobacterium containing recombinant DNA infects plant cells
## Footnote
The new gene is integrated into the plant's chromosomes.
88
What is the future application of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in aquaculture?
Creation of transgenic wild Atlantic salmon using growth hormone genes
## Footnote
This involves inserting genes into fertilized fish eggs to enhance growth.
89
True or False: DNA polymerase works from the 5 prime end to the 3 prime end during DNA replication.
False
## Footnote
DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA by adding nucleotides in the 3 prime to 5 prime direction.
