Question 1

In transgenic organisms, what step(s) would a gene gun replace?

Accepted Answer

A)  isolation and replication of a desired gene 
B)  insertion of a desired gene into a plasmid 
C)  plasmid delivering a desired gene to the host nucleus 
D)  A, B, and C 
E)  B and C 
A)  isolation and replication of a desired gene 
B)  insertion of a desired gene into a plasmid 
C)  plasmid delivering a desired gene to the host nucleus 
D)  A, B, and C 
E)  B and C E

Question 2

Infographic 16.4.  
-Refer to Infographic 16.4. Use the infographic to explain step by step how a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is inserted into a plant. In your own words, describe how this happens and how a bacterial gene can be beneficial to a plant.

Accepted Answer

To make a genetically modified organism, you first have to identify a trait that you wish your organism would express. In this case, farmers wanted their crops to express a bacterial gene that kills insects in the hopes that they could use less pesticides on their crops. Once the desired trait is identified, the gene encoding that trait is isolated from the original organism, in this case a bacterium, and many copies of the gene are made in the lab. The gene is then put into a piece of circular DNA called a plasmid that is readily taken up by bacterial cells. In this case, the bacterial cells that take up the Bt gene are also able to enter plant cells. The plasmid carrying bacterium then infects the plant cell and delivers the desired gene to the nucleus of the plant cell, where it is incorporated into the plant DNA. The plant then grows and expresses the desired gene-in this case the insect toxin Bt. Seeds from the transgenic plant are harvested and sold to farmers who now require less chemical pesticide to be applied.

Question 3

What is another low-tech farming method employed by some farms in Africa?

Accepted Answer

A)  herbicide resistant crops 
B)  use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer 
C)  only growing cash crops 
D)  planting trees around the farm plot 
E)  diverting rivers to flow through farm plots 
A)  herbicide resistant crops 
B)  use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer 
C)  only growing cash crops 
D)  planting trees around the farm plot 
E)  diverting rivers to flow through farm plots D

Question 4

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the United States, GMOs are limited to a few corn products. 
B)  GMOs will almost certainly be part of the solution to meeting future food demands as the global population swells. 
C)  GMOs are cheap and therefore a popular option for developing countries. 
D)  Since DNA is unique for each species, it is not possible to move genes from one species to another. 
E)  In the United States, less than 1% of processed foods contain GMOs. 
A)  In the United States, GMOs are limited to a few corn products. 
B)  GMOs will almost certainly be part of the solution to meeting future food demands as the global population swells. 
C)  GMOs are cheap and therefore a popular option for developing countries. 
D)  Since DNA is unique for each species, it is not possible to move genes from one species to another. 
E)  In the United States, less than 1% of processed foods contain GMOs.

Question 5

Given what you know about industrial agriculture and the Green Revolution, why is world hunger considered a "wicked problem"?

Accepted Answer

A wicked problem is a term used to descr

Question 6

Genetic engineering involves the transfer of genes for desirable characteristics, including ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  drought resistance 
B)  pest resistance 
C)  increased nutrient production 
D)  herbicide tolerance 
E)  all of these answers 
A)  drought resistance 
B)  pest resistance 
C)  increased nutrient production 
D)  herbicide tolerance 
E)  all of these answers

Question 7

Why is 98% of the world's underfed population found in developing nations?

Accepted Answer

A)  war 
B)  political unrest 
C)  inability to recover from natural disasters 
D)  lack of economic means to affect infrastructure solutions 
E)  all of these answers 
A)  war 
B)  political unrest 
C)  inability to recover from natural disasters 
D)  lack of economic means to affect infrastructure solutions 
E)  all of these answers

Question 8

What caused the lack of food and resulting riots in 2008?

Accepted Answer

A)  extreme weather events 
B)  the rising cost of oil 
C)  the growing demand for meat 
D)  increased production of biofuels 
E)  all of these answers likely contributed, with other factors as well 
A)  extreme weather events 
B)  the rising cost of oil 
C)  the growing demand for meat 
D)  increased production of biofuels 
E)  all of these answers likely contributed, with other factors as well

Question 9

What are some potential concerns about eating GMO foods?

Accepted Answer

A)  allergic reactions 
B)  the decline of nutritional quality 
C)  the presence of toxins, like Bt, in consumer foods 
D)  in the United States, there are no labels indicating that the product came from GMOs 
E)  all of the above 
A)  allergic reactions 
B)  the decline of nutritional quality 
C)  the presence of toxins, like Bt, in consumer foods 
D)  in the United States, there are no labels indicating that the product came from GMOs 
E)  all of the above

Question 10

What is the process of microfertilization?

Accepted Answer

A)  the specific fertilization of microbes that provide nutrients to growing plants 
B)  the application of a small amount of fertilizer to the area directly around the seed 
C)  the use of only natural, non-synthetic fertilizers 
D)  the intentional overuse of fertilizer to prepare the soil for next year's planting 
E)  the use of GM organic matter that enhances plant growth 
A)  the specific fertilization of microbes that provide nutrients to growing plants 
B)  the application of a small amount of fertilizer to the area directly around the seed 
C)  the use of only natural, non-synthetic fertilizers 
D)  the intentional overuse of fertilizer to prepare the soil for next year's planting 
E)  the use of GM organic matter that enhances plant growth

Question 11

Giant ragweed and pigweed are examples of super weeds. These weeds have acquired the gene for _______, which makes them tolerant to all herbicides.

Accepted Answer

A)  Wt 
B)  Bt 
C)  Ct 
D)  Ht 
E)  Pt 
A)  Wt 
B)  Bt 
C)  Ct 
D)  Ht 
E)  Pt

Question 12

What is a pro of high-yield varieties of crops introduced globally during the Green Revolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  more grain produced 
B)  less nitrogen required 
C)  less mechanical dependence to harvest crops 
D)  environmentally friendly 
E)  None of these answers are beneficial attributes of high-yield crops. 
A)  more grain produced 
B)  less nitrogen required 
C)  less mechanical dependence to harvest crops 
D)  environmentally friendly 
E)  None of these answers are beneficial attributes of high-yield crops.

Question 13

What is a con of high-yield varieties of crops introduced globally during the Green Revolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  faster growth cycle 
B)  not as much grain production as traditional varieties 
C)  increased vulnerability to pests 
D)  genetically diverse 
E)  None of these answers are negative attributes of high-yield crops. 
A)  faster growth cycle 
B)  not as much grain production as traditional varieties 
C)  increased vulnerability to pests 
D)  genetically diverse 
E)  None of these answers are negative attributes of high-yield crops.

Question 14

Describe how traditional selective breeding, where farmers attempt to produce offspring with valuable traits by breeding parents with those traits, is different from creating organisms with valuable traits using genetic engineering.

Accepted Answer

Traditional selective breeding has been

Question 15

_______ is an(are) organism(s) or product(s) that contains genes from another species.

Accepted Answer

A)  Transgenic organisms 
B)  Bt corn plants 
C)  Roundup tolerant cotton 
D)  Golden rice 
E)  all of these answers 
A)  Transgenic organisms 
B)  Bt corn plants 
C)  Roundup tolerant cotton 
D)  Golden rice 
E)  all of these answers

Question 16

Which of the following farming techniques is considered non-GMO and non-industrial?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bt corn 
B)  Zaï pit 
C)  high-yield varieties 
D)  irrigation systems 
E)  synthetic fertilizer 
A)  Bt corn 
B)  Zaï pit 
C)  high-yield varieties 
D)  irrigation systems 
E)  synthetic fertilizer

Question 17

Even though it is counterintuitive, how can overnutrition, the consumption of too many calories, be a problem for people of lower economic means?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, foods that are of good qu

Question 18

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the world produces enough food to feed everyone more than _________ calories a day.

Accepted Answer

A)  500 
B)  1,800 
C)  2,000 
D)  2,800 
E)  There is still not enough food to feed everyone. 
A)  500 
B)  1,800 
C)  2,000 
D)  2,800 
E)  There is still not enough food to feed everyone.

Question 19

A(n) _______ organism is one that contains genes from another species.

Accepted Answer

A)  hybrid 
B)  transgenic 
C)  diploid 
D)  asexual 
E)  native 
A)  hybrid 
B)  transgenic 
C)  diploid 
D)  asexual 
E)  native

Question 20

__________ is the driving force behind the Green Revolution 2.0, or gene revolution.

Accepted Answer

A)  Cross pollination 
B)  Cross breeding 
C)  Genetic engineering 
D)  Organic farming 
E)  Sustainable farming 
A)  Cross pollination 
B)  Cross breeding 
C)  Genetic engineering 
D)  Organic farming 
E)  Sustainable farming

Exam 16: Feeding the World - a Gene Revolution: Can Genetically Engineered Food Help End Hunger

In transgenic organisms, what step(s) would a gene gun replace?

Infographic 16.4. -Refer to Infographic 16.4. Use the infographic to explain step by step how a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is inserted into a plant. In your own words, describe how this happens and how a bacterial gene can be beneficial to a plant.

What is another low-tech farming method employed by some farms in Africa?

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Given what you know about industrial agriculture and the Green Revolution, why is world hunger considered a "wicked problem"?

Genetic engineering involves the transfer of genes for desirable characteristics, including ___________.

Why is 98% of the world's underfed population found in developing nations?

What caused the lack of food and resulting riots in 2008?

What are some potential concerns about eating GMO foods?

What is the process of microfertilization?

Giant ragweed and pigweed are examples of super weeds. These weeds have acquired the gene for _______, which makes them tolerant to all herbicides.

What is a pro of high-yield varieties of crops introduced globally during the Green Revolution?

What is a con of high-yield varieties of crops introduced globally during the Green Revolution?

Describe how traditional selective breeding, where farmers attempt to produce offspring with valuable traits by breeding parents with those traits, is different from creating organisms with valuable traits using genetic engineering.

_______ is an(are) organism(s) or product(s) that contains genes from another species.

Which of the following farming techniques is considered non-GMO and non-industrial?

Even though it is counterintuitive, how can overnutrition, the consumption of too many calories, be a problem for people of lower economic means?

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the world produces enough food to feed everyone more than _________ calories a day.

A(n) _______ organism is one that contains genes from another species.

__________ is the driving force behind the Green Revolution 2.0, or gene revolution.

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