1560; Understanding Food - Module 10

What is selective breeding?

Controlled reproduction to select desirable traits.

When did domestication and selective breeding begin?

Around 14,000–12,000 years ago.

What is a purebred?

Mating within the same breed over many generations

What is a hybrid?

An organism resulting from a cross between different species or breeds.

What is heterosis?

Increased size, health, or fertility from crossbreeding.

Who discovered the DNA double helix?

James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953.

What is a GMO?

A genetically modified organism with altered DNA.

Difference between cloning and gene transfer?

Cloning copies the whole genome, gene transfer adds a single gene.

What is a species?

Organisms that normally breed with one another.

What is a breed?

A lineage within a species maintained by artificial selection.

What is straight breeding?

Mating within the same breed to produce uniform offspring.

What is inbreeding depression?

Reduced health, fertility, or longevity due to mating within the same breed.

What is crossbreeding?

Mating individuals of different breeds to produce hybrid vigor.

What reproductive technologies emerged post-WWII?

Artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and in-vitro fertilization.

Who laid the foundation of plant genetics?

Gregor Mendel with experiments on pea plants.

What is a gene?

The unit of heredity controlling traits.

What is genotype?

The genetic makeup of an organism.

What is phenotype?

The observable traits of an organism.

What model organism was used in early genetics research?

The fruit fly (Drosophila).

Name a Canadian success in plant breeding.

Rust-resistant Marquis wheat or Canola.

What was the Green Revolution?

Agricultural reforms in the 1950s–60s to increase crop yields.

Who led the Green Revolution?

Norman Borlaug.

What is DNA made of?

Two anti-parallel strands of nucleotides.

What is a nucleotide?

A phosphate group, 5-carbon sugar, and nitrogen base.

What are DNA base pairs?

A–T and G–C.

What is the genetic code?

The sequence of DNA bases that directs protein synthesis.

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

DNA → RNA → proteins.

What is genetic engineering?

Direct manipulation of DNA to modify organisms.

What is cloning in genetic engineering?

Copying the entire genome of an organism.

What is gene transfer?

Adding a specific gene from a donor to a target organism

What is gene editing?

Modifying one or more genes in an organism.

Is food from cloned animals approved in Canada?

No, it is considered novel food and must be approved first.

What is recombinant DNA (rDNA)?

DNA formed by inserting a gene from one organism into another.

What is a transgenic organism?

An organism with a gene transferred via recombinant DNA.

An organism with a gene transferred via recombinant DNA.

Hybrid = cross between species or breeds; transgenic = single gene added.

Give an example of a protein produced using engineered bacteria.

Insulin or human growth hormone.

Give examples of GMO crops.

Roundup-ready soy, Bt corn, AquAdvantage salmon, Arctic® apples.

What is an argument for GMOs?

They are more controlled and efficient than traditional breeding.

What is a main concern with GMOs?

Gene interactions are poorly understood and may harm biodiversity.

What are chromosomes made of?

DNA and proteins.

What do genes code for?

Proteins.

How do species differ genetically?

By the sequence of genes in their DNA.

When did genetic engineering begin?

In the 1970s.

What allows gene transfer across species?

Recombinant DNA technology.

What are vectors in gene transfer?

Tools like plasmids or viruses used to insert DNA.

First step of gene transfer?

Identify the desired gene in donor DNA

What is used to cut DNA in gene transfer?

Restriction enzymes.

Final result of gene transfer?

A transgenic organism.

What is the genetic code made of?

The sequence of bases in DNA.

What are Bt crops?

Crops engineered to produce their own pesticide.

What is one environmental argument FOR GMOs?

They can be more environmentally friendly than conventional agriculture.

What is one economic argument AGAINST GMOs?

Patents can increase inequality and restrict access.

What is one political argument AGAINST GMOs?

Lack of transparency is undemocratic.

What is a crossbred?

A cross between two breeds of the same species.

What is an example of an interspecific hybrid?

A zorse

What is an example of an intraspecific hybrid?

A labradoodle.

What are mutations?

Biochemical changes in chromosomes.

What type of crops were emphasized in the Green Revolution?

High-yield varieties of wheat, rice, and maize