Biology: Section 13-3 Review

Biology: Section 13-3 Review

1.) List two types of medical products that can be produced using DNA technology.

Two types of medical products that can be produced using DNA technology are the human growth hormone which is used to treat dwarfism and colony-stimulating factors which are used to treat immune-system deficiencies by stimulating the production of white blood cells.

2.) What is a vaccine, and what are the benefits of producing vaccines using DNA technology?

A vaccine is a solution that contains a harmless version of a virus or a bacterium. Traditionally, vaccines have been made of disease-causing agents known as pathogens – that have been treated chemically or physically so that they no longer can cause disease. DNA technology can be used for preparing vaccines, which may be safer than some more traditional methods. DNA technology can also be used to alter the genome of a pathogen so that it can no longer cause disease.

3.) List three traits for which genes are being transferred into crop plants.

By transferring genes for enzymes that are harmful to plants, scientists have now made it possible for plants to be more productive for farmers and immune to things such as hornworms and types of fertilizer. Also, it has now become possible for plants not to need fertilizer. Although these major developments are liked by many, there are still some people against the genetic engineering of plants.

4.) What benefit are plants that contain nitrogen fixing gene transported from bacteria?

Plants that contain a nitrogen fixing gene that is transported from bacteria are very beneficial in that they do not need to be fertilized. With out this genetically engineered trait, farmers have to extensively apply nitrogen fertilizers to the soil. Currently, researchers are working to isolate and clone genes from nitrogen-fixing bacteria and transplant this gene into plants.

5.) Describe two potential safety and environmental problems that could result from genetic engineering.

Many people in the United States are concerned that genetically engineered foods are potentially hazardous and unsafe for many people as well as the environment. Some concerns that people have include that genetically engineered foods could contain toxic proteins or substances that create allergies to people who consume them. Also, some genetically engineered crops could have the potential to spread into the wild and wipe out native plant species. In doing this genes could be exchanged, resulting in the formation of a “super weed” that could take over large areas of land because they are immune over native crops.