Chapter 20. Chapter 20: Feeding the World - A Gene Revolution

What is the focus of the next Green Revolution...?

Why You Should Care

Advances in molecular biology and genetic engineering have brought modern agriculture into a brave new world. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are arguably the centerpiece of the next ‘green revolution’ in farming methods. Genetic modification of domesticated plants and animals has been around for millennia in the form of selective breeding and grafting, but the technology now exists to insert into crop or livestock genes that did not evolve in their species. There are several ways to do this, including simply ‘shooting’ the genes into cells and using an intermediate carrier, such as a bacterium or virus to deliver the gene into cells. So far, no genetically modified animal has been approved for consumption. Most of the modifications to crops center around increasing harvests, by reducing the labor and chemicals needed to grow them: genes to make them resistant to herbicides (weed killers) or produce their own pesticides. Some crops have been further modified to make them easier to ship, such as slowing their ripening.

1.

Which of the following about GMOs is FALSE?

A.

GMO plants are only modified with genes from other plants.

B.

The genes transferred into organisms during genetic modification may sometimes transfer to other species.

C.

In the United States, most processed foods contain GMOs.

D.

Growing GMOs is prohibited or highly regulated in China.

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2.

Bacillus thuringiensis is _________________. (check all that apply)

a. A bacterium

b. The source of the pesticide Bt

c. Used to transfer new genes into plant cells

d. Harmful to most plants

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3.

Plasmids are _________________. (check all that apply)

a. Organelles based on chloroplasts

b. Small circular pieces of DNA

c. Naturally found in bacteria

d. Used to transfer new genes into plant cells

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4.

After a new gene is inserted into plant cells, the first plants with the gene are grown from ____________.

A.

Cell culture

B.

Seeds

C.

Grafts

D.

Implanted eggs

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5.

Golden rice is a variety of GMO rice with genes from different organisms (including daffodils and corn) added to make it produce vitamin A in the edible part of the rice. It was developed because most areas of the world with widespread vitamin-A deficiencies (which can cause blindness in children) also consume most of their dietary calories as rice. Choose the correct order of steps for creating golden rice.

Image	Step
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)
	--------Gene is incorporated into the plant cell DNAGene of interest is isolated and many copies are made (cloned)Plasmid containing the gene is inserted into a bacteriumCells grow into small plants with the Bt gene and produce toxin to kill pestsBacterium delivers plasmid to plant cellSource for a desirable gene is foundEach gene copy is inserted into a small piece of circular DNA (a plasmid)

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

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