Flavr Savr and Golden Rice: Innovations in Biotechnology

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the Flavr Savr tomato and Golden Rice, focusing on their development, benefits, and the challenges they face.

Flavr Savr Tomato

The first GMO tomato designed to ripen on the vine longer while maintaining firmness for transport.

Ethylene

A gaseous plant hormone that promotes fruit ripening, applied to tomatoes post-harvest.

Polygalacturonidase (PG)

An enzyme involved in pectin degradation that contributes to fruit softening during ripening.

Anti-sense RNA

RNA that is complementary to sense mRNA, used to inhibit gene expression by creating double-stranded RNA.

Substantial Equivalency

A regulatory principle determining if a GMO product is 'as safe' as its conventional counterpart.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where all steps of production are controlled by a single company.

Provitamin A

A precursor to vitamin A, lacking in conventional rice but essential for preventing vitamin A deficiency.

Golden Rice

A genetically engineered rice variety enriched with beta-carotene to combat vitamin A deficiency.

Kanamycin Resistance

A selectable marker gene used in the Flavr Savr tomato to identify successful genetic modification.

Precautionary Principle

The idea of exercising caution in the face of uncertainty regarding potential risks, often impacting GMO regulation.