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According to the passage, how did genetic modification of crops begin? Genetic modification (GM) of crops began with the discovery that the soil bacterium Agrobacterium could be used to transfer useful genes from unrelated species into plants - NSC Life Sciences - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 2
Question 3
According to the passage, how did genetic modification of crops begin? Genetic modification (GM) of crops began with the discovery that the soil bacterium Agrobacte... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:According to the passage, how did genetic modification of crops begin? Genetic modification (GM) of crops began with the discovery that the soil bacterium Agrobacterium could be used to transfer useful genes from unrelated species into plants - NSC Life Sciences - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 2
Step 1
According to the passage, how did genetic modification of crops begin?
Answer
Genetic modification (GM) of crops commenced with the discovery of the soil bacterium Agrobacterium, which has the ability to transfer useful genes from unrelated plant species into the host plants. This breakthrough enabled the incorporation of beneficial traits into various crops.
Step 2
Explain why a plant, which is modified to be weed-killer resistant, could be a problem for farmers.
Answer
A plant modified to be weed-killer resistant could pose problems for farmers as it may give rise to super-weeds. These super-weeds could breed with other plants, making them resistant to the herbicides intended to eliminate them. Consequently, it becomes challenging and costly for farmers to manage these resistant plants, which can outcompete the original crops.
Step 3
Give TWO examples in the passage of the use of GM crops that may be a potential threat to human health.
Answer
- Toxic proteins might be produced, which could have unforeseen health effects.
- Antibiotic-resistance genes may be transferred to human gut bacteria, potentially leading to health risks associated with antibiotic resistance.