Medical Botany Exam 2 Reading Concepts

hurdles in the development of golden rice

precautionary principle

low yield after introducing the genes to make beta-carotene

opposition from anti-GMO organizations such as green peace

when historically were GMOs introduced? in the middle ages?

no- the late 20th century

Beta-carotene is normally expressed in the leaves of rice plant. However Golden Rice is a GMO (genetically modified organism) that is engineered, so that it can express the enzymes in the _________ tissue to make beta-carotene within it. This can be very useful to treat vitamin A deficiency associated infections and blindness in poor countries that have rice as their staple diet.

endosperm

what kind of article is reading 11?

book review

How much mortality might be preventable with golden rice?

2 million

T/F Vitamin A is required to maintain the normal integrity of the epithelial barriers such as skin and mucous membranes, is required for normal vision and is required for normal function of the immune system

true

Genetic alteration in golden rice allows it to express beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A in the grain. This makes the color of the rice grain _________. Lack of vitamin A in children especially in developing countries in Africa and Asia where rice is the staple diet, leads to frequent ____________ (due to inability to regenerate their mucous membranes, reduced immunity), blindness, and even death.

yellow, infections

The precautionary principle that has been laid out in the international guidelines regulating GMOs that often inadvertently stifle genuine benefits to humanity (such as in the case of Golden Rice) is equivalent to which of the following phrase:

better safe than sorry

it allows countries to restrict, postpone, or completely ban any new product or technology without needing to offer any actual scientific evidence that it poses a threat or danger.

the precautionary principle

Another major toxin produced by the same family as the one producing Galantamine.

Toxic alkaloids produced by daffodil family

lycorine