GMO Test 1

What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?

Organisms whose genes have been artificially altered to modify their characteristics.

What does the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard define as GMO foods?

Foods that contain detectable genetic material modified through lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding.

The first genetically engineered animal sold as a pet.

Glofish

What are some potential benefits of GMO crops?

Increase crop yields, reduce pesticide use, conserve water, improve food security, and aid biomedical research.

What was the first genetically modified organism created?

Escherichia coli in 1973 by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen.

What breakthrough did the first GMO lead to?

The development of genetically engineered insulin.

What were the first transgenic mammals?

Transgenic mice were created in 1974 by Rudolf Jaenisch and Beatrice Mintz, showing that foreign DNA could integrate into the mouse genome.

What are Bt crops?

Crops genetically engineered to produce Bt toxins that affect agricultural pests, such as cotton engineered to fend off bollworm.

What is the Flavr Savr tomato known for?

It was the first genetically engineered crop approved by the US FDA, modified to block the enzyme responsible for fruit softening.

What is Golden rice and why was it developed?

A biofortified rice developed to produce a precursor to vitamin A, created through the addition of genes from daffodils and a soil bacterium.

What is AquAdvantage salmon?

The first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption, engineered to grow faster than traditional farm-raised salmon.

What is the significance of the American chestnut GMO?

A genetically engineered cultivar resistant to fungal blight, potentially the first genetically modified forest tree released into the wild in the US.

What was the purpose of genetically modifying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes?

To control populations that transmit diseases like dengue fever and Zika virus by engineering them to require tetracycline to develop.

What was the outcome of the 2021 release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida?

Male mosquitoes were released to mate with females, reducing the population of mosquitoes that transmit viruses.

Vector used to genetically engineer the first GMO.

Plasmid

Vector used to genetically engineer the first transgenic mammal.

Virus

Bt

Bacillus thuringiensis

Enzyme responsible for enzymatic browning in fruit.

Polyphenol oxidase

The protein responsible for the brown color when fruit browns.

Melanin

Function of melanin in plants

Natural defense mechanism

AquAdvantage salmon contains the genes from these species of fish.

Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, and ocean pout

First genetically engineered animal approved by the FDA for both medical and food uses.

Gal Safe pig

Herbicide-resistant crops approved in the United States in 1996.

Round-up Ready crops

In Golden Rice, the gene for the synthesis of beta carotene comes from what plant?

Daffodil

What species of mosquito is primarily genetically engineered for disease control?

Aedes aegypti

What are the two special genes carried by genetically modified mosquitoes?

A self-limiting gene and a fluorescent marker gene

What is the purpose of the self-limiting gene in genetically engineered mosquitoes?

It prevents female offspring from surviving to adulthood

How do genetically modified male mosquitoes contribute to population reduction?

They mate with wild females, passing on the self-limiting gene, leading to fewer surviving offspring.

What happens to the Aedes aegypti population if releases of genetically engineered mosquitoes stop?

The population returns to normal levels.

Which U.S. agency regulates the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

In which U.S. states has the EPA approved the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes?

Florida and Texas

What has the EPA confirmed regarding the risks of genetically engineered mosquitoes?

There are no risks to humans, animals, or the environment.

How do genetically engineered mosquitoes complement traditional mosquito control measures?

They provide an innovative tool for controlling mosquito-borne diseases.

What is genetic engineering?

A process that modifies food faster and more precisely by changing an organism's DNA.

What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

Organisms whose DNA has been altered through genetic engineering.

What was the first GMO product approved by the FDA?

Human insulin to treat diabetes.

In what decade did the first wave of GMO produce become available to consumers?

1990s.

What crops were included in the first wave of GMO produce?

Summer squash, soybeans, cotton, corn, papayas, tomatoes, potatoes, and canola.

What significant development occurred in 1953 regarding DNA?

James Watson and Francis Crick identified the structure of DNA, building on Rosalind Franklin's discoveries.

What did plant breeders learn to do in 1940?

Use radiation or chemicals to randomly change an organism's DNA.

What international organizations developed guidelines for GMO safety in 2003?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

What was the first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption by the FDA?

A genetically engineered salmon in 1973 (AquAdvantage Salmon)

What law did Congress pass in 2016 regarding GMO foods?

A law requiring labeling for some foods produced through genetic engineering, using the term 'bioengineered.'

What was the first GMO produce created through genetic engineering?

A GMO tomato, available for sale after safety evaluations (Flavr Savr tomato)

What significant policy was established in 1986 regarding biotechnology regulation?

The Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology

What GMO product became available to U.S. consumers in 1994?

GMO pink pineapple.

What does FDA policy state about foods from GMO plants?

They must meet the same safety standards as foods derived from traditionally bred plants.

Agencies that regulate genetically engineered organisms.

FDA, USDA, EPA