Concept explainers
Improving the nutritional value of food has long been one of the goals in agricultural genetics. Crossing different strains of plants and animals followed by generations of artificial selection have yielded some successes, including the development of high-protein maize. The use of gene transfer
Scientists are now turning their attention to using gene transfer technology to nutritionally enhance animal foods. Recently, biotechnology was used to produce a sheep with increased amounts of an omega-3 essential fatty acid that plays an important role in the development of the nervous system and, in adults, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Once a small number of transgenic animals have been produced, they can be bred by conventional methods to establish a source of nutritionally enhanced meat and milk.
The use of biotechnology is presenting consumers with many new choices, which will become more common in the future. Increasingly, we will all have to educate ourselves about the pros and cons of such decisions.
How would you explain your decision to eat nutritionally enhanced meat from animals modified by biotechnology?
To explain: The choice of eating nutritionally improved meat of the animals that are modified by biotechnology.
Introduction: The alteration in a DNA sequence of an organism by using the genetic engineering techniques results in the formation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The motive behind the formation of GMOs is to obtain the enhanced quality products from the animals and also provide resistance to the animals from the unfavorable conditions.
Explanation of Solution
The field of biology that deals with the enhancement in the production rate of the animal products are genetic engineering and biotechnology. These branches have applications in increasing the nutritional value of the food products that are produced by animals and plants.
The crossing between the varieties of strains of animals followed by the generations of artificial selection has produced some success in the production of genetically modified organism. A genetically modified sheep was produced which has increased amount of an omega-3 fatty acid in its meat. Omega-3 fatty acid play an important role in the development of nervous system. In adults, omega-3 decreases the risk of coronary artery disease.
Animals produced by the modification in their gene have increased values of essential substrates that are important for the growth and development.
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Chapter 13 Solutions
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
- Improving the nutritional value of food has long been one of the goals in agricultural genetics. Crossing different strains of plants and animals followed by generations of artificial selection have yielded some successes, including the development of high-protein maize. The use of gene transfer biotechnology has led to other advances, including the creation of nutritionally enhanced rice to combat vitamin A deficiency and blindness. Researchers are now turning their attention to the nutritional enhancement of animals that are used as food. Scientists are now turning their attention to using gene transfer technology to nutritionally enhance animal foods. Recently, biotechnology was used to produce a sheep with increased amounts of an omega-3 essential fatty acid that plays an important role in the development of the nervous system and, in adults, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Once a small number of transgenic animals have been produced, they can be bred by conventional methods to establish a source of nutritionally enhanced meat and milk. The use of biotechnology is presenting consumers with many new choices, which will become more common in the future. Increasingly, we will all have to educate ourselves about the pros and cons of such decisions. On the other hand, how would you explain your preference for meat from animals without higher levels of beneficial fatty acids?arrow_forwardOne problem with this line of criticism is that it is difficult to distinguish good forms of manipulating nature from unacceptable ones. Some critics of GMOs argue that we ought to leave species as we find them, and that it is the cross-species transfers of genetic material involved in some GMOs that make them unacceptable. One problem with this objection is that similar transfers have occurred in nature—from basic plant genetics to the long-term patterns of evolution. Please explain what does it meanarrow_forwardIn addition to physical traits, gene sequences can be used when comparing related species. Instead of looking for the presence or absence of a specific gene, you would look at the percent similarity between the same gene in two or more species. Therefore, it is important to select a gene that contains a similar DNA gene sequence in each of the species being compared. Certain genes are involved in processes that are required for basic cellular function. As these processes are critical to cell function, the genes that regulate them are highly conserved, meaning that they have remained essentially unchanged over time. Glycolysis is one such process that is critical for cellular metabolism. Glycolysis involves converting glucose into pyruvate in order to generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Because glycolysis is an essential process for all species, the genes involved are therefore highly conserved. You will be looking at similarities among different taxa of the highly conserved…arrow_forward
- Think and identify a modern-day problem that can be solved by genetic engineering. If you were ascientist, what unique characteristics (name three) will the GMO exhibit that will solve the problem?Briefly describe eacharrow_forwardThe genetic modification of plants for food is a hot-button issue around the world. Genes transplanted to corn, potato, soybean, and other food strains can confer desired traits, such as resistance to pests, which lessens the need for toxic pesticides. Though genetically modified foods are thought to be safe to eat, their impact on the environment may not be fully known. Do you worry about the long-term effects of genetically modified foods on your health, or the health of the environment? Do the positive impacts outweigh the negatives?arrow_forwardGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used to create human growth hormone, insulin and clotting factor proteins that are used to treat dwarfism, diabetes and hemophilia respectively. Several crops such as corn and soybean have also been genetically modified in order to facilitate either the management or growth of these crops. Why do you think there is push back or opposition against the use of GM food crops but not in the use of products such as insulin, which is also created using GMOs?arrow_forward
- true or false 1.Crossbreeding and genetic engineering are both ways to develop improved varieties of crops. 2.Reducing the use of GMOs could reduce the cost of organic products 3.Overnutrition is most common in developed countries, rather than in less-developed countries 4.Micronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. 5.To reduce the drawbacks of no-till farming, it will be important to find ways to reduce associated herbicide use. 6.High-input agriculture is a form of industrialized agriculture used primarily in less-developed tropical countries that involves growing cash crops such as bananas, coffee, vegetables, soybeans, sugarcane, and palm oil.arrow_forwardAs scientists have developed more productive crop varieties, farmers have switched from growing many traditional varieties to new high-yield varieties. For example, in India, the 10,000 varieties of rice once grown have been reduced to 10 major ones for most of the rice crop. Besides the varieties of rice being reduced, what else is reduced by this practice? types of soil nutrients the gene pool for rice food chains that include rice human dietary choices As scientists have developed more productive crop varieties, farmers have switched from growing many traditional varieties to new high-yield varieties. For example, in India, the 10,000 varieties of rice once grown have been reduced to 10 major ones for most of the rice crop. Why is this practice of reducing the varieties of a crop dangerous? Question options: It makes the overall crop more susceptible to pests and/or disease. It reduces the variety of crops available for human diets.…arrow_forwardWhat modern-day problem can be solved by Genetic Engineering? Explain the unique characteristics will be exhibited by the GMO that will solve the problem. Briefly describe each.arrow_forward
- Humans have engaged in genetic manipulation for millennia, producing plant and animal varieties through selective breeding and hybridization that significantly modify genomes of organisms. Why do you think modern genetic engineering, which often entails introducing or modifying only one or a few genes, has met with so much opposition? Should some forms of genetic engineering be of greater concern than others? Explain.arrow_forwardGenetically modifying seeds to produce herbicide-resistant plants that increase crop yields has revolutionized modern agriculture. However, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have come under fire in recent years, with consumer groups calling for mandatory GMO labeling on all food packages that contain GMO ingredients. GMO labeling laws have been in force in the European Union and other countries for several years, but the threat to the U.S. food industry is only now surfacing. Although bills requiring GMO labeling have been introduced in many state legislatures, Vermont is the only state where such a law has so far withstood the first round of legal battles from the industry. Leading chemical companies, including Monsanto, BASF, and DuPont, are the world’s largest suppliers of seeds that grow the food that feeds the world. To counter the GMO labeling threat, they now are turning to mutagenesis as an alternative technique to create herbicide-resistant crops. Mutagenesis mimics the…arrow_forwardYou were tasked to conduct a population genetic survey of a diploid insect population. You obtained tissue samples from 20 individuals, ran a starch gel electrophoresis, and stained the gel for lactate dehydrogenase. Below is the result of your gel electrophoresis. You found that there are three alleles and you decided to call them F, M, and S for their fast, medium, and slow mobility on the gel. please explain this in deep. 1) What is the M allele frequency in this population? A) 0.05 b) 0.25 c) 0.30 d) 0.4 e) 0.5 2)Following up the previous question, what is the observed SS genotype frequency in this population? a) 0.1 b) 0.2 3) 0.3 4) 0.4 5) 0.5arrow_forward
- Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...BiologyISBN:9781305251052Author:Michael CummingsPublisher:Cengage Learning