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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 started with the discovery of the soil bacterium Agrobacterium, which can transfer useful genes from unrelated species into plants. This process paved the way for modifying various crops to enhance their resistance to pests and adverse environmental factors.
Step 2
Explain why a plant, which is modified to be weed-killer resistant, could be a problem for farmers.
Answer
A weed-killer resistant plant could become problematic for farmers because it may result in the inadvertent creation of super-weeds that cannot be easily controlled. These super-weeds could breed with other plants, leading to the spread of resistance traits, which would cause increased difficulties and expenses in managing the crops, ultimately affecting the yield and sustainability of farming practices.
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 as a result of genetic modification, which can pose unforeseen health risks.
- Antibiotic-resistance genes may be transferred to human gut bacteria, potentially leading to challenges in treating infections due to increased antibiotic resistance.