[BOTLEC] M4 - Biotechnology

• What is plant breeding?

  Changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics.
• How does plant breeding work?

  Breeders keep a watch out for beneficial mutations.
• What is the general meaning of plant biotechnology?

  It refers to innovations in the use of plants to make useful products.
• What is the specific meaning of plant biotechnology?

  It refers to the use of genetically-modified organisms in agriculture and industry.
• What are transgenic organisms?

  Organisms that have been engineered to express a gene from another species.
• What are the pros of plant biotechnology?

  1.) Reducing World Hunger and Malnutrition

  2.) Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependency
• What are the cons of plant biotechnology?

  1.) Issues of Human Health

  2.) Possible Effects on Nontarget Organisms

  3.) Problems of Transgene Escape
• How does BT toxin help with maize?

  Its gene is encoded within the plant in order to create a pesticide that kills insects but is harmless to vertebrates.
• Give examples of beneficial GMOs that reduce malnutrition.

  Golden Rice addresses the vitamin A deficiencies amongst the poor.

  Transgenic cassava have increased levels of iron and beta-carotene and reduced cyanide compounds.
• Why are GMOs a possible solution to reducing fossil fuel dependency?

  Biofuels are GMOs and are a sustainable source of energy. Burning plants like switchgrass and poplar generate a carbon neutral cycle that reduces CO2 emissions.
• Is it true that allergens may be transferred to GM crops?

  No. In fact, there are more evidence that they have health benefits such as BT maize containing 90% less fumoninsin (cancer causing fungus) and BT cotton lessening the cases of insecticide poisoning in farmers.
• Why are ecologists concerned with GM crops?

  They are worried that they may unintentionally harm a nontarget organism which can cause a chain reaction in their ecosystem.
• Why is transgene escape a problem?

  The introduced gene may escape from the crop to the weeds via hybridization which creates a superweed that is resistant to pesticides.
• What are the strategies used to reduce transgene escape?

  1.) Male sterility, no pollen = no fertilization

  2.) Apomixis, no fertilization required in order to reproduce

  3.) Engineer the transgene into the crop’s chloroplast DNA, which can only be inherited from the egg and not by pollen.

  4.) Engineer flowers that develop normally but fail to open, such that pollen is unlikely to escape from the plant and self-fertilization occurs.