Impacts of Trait Technology - Middle School Life Science
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What is genetic engineering in the context of trait selection technologies?
What is genetic engineering in the context of trait selection technologies?
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Directly changing an organism’s DNA to add, remove, or alter traits. Scientists modify DNA sequences to introduce new traits or remove unwanted ones.
Directly changing an organism’s DNA to add, remove, or alter traits. Scientists modify DNA sequences to introduce new traits or remove unwanted ones.
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What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?
What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?
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An organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering. Scientists have modified its genetic code through laboratory techniques.
An organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering. Scientists have modified its genetic code through laboratory techniques.
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What is one major biological risk of selective breeding in a population over many generations?
What is one major biological risk of selective breeding in a population over many generations?
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Reduced genetic diversity. Breeding similar individuals reduces the variety of alleles in the gene pool.
Reduced genetic diversity. Breeding similar individuals reduces the variety of alleles in the gene pool.
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What is inbreeding depression most directly caused by in selective breeding programs?
What is inbreeding depression most directly caused by in selective breeding programs?
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Increased expression of harmful recessive alleles. Related parents share harmful alleles that become homozygous in offspring.
Increased expression of harmful recessive alleles. Related parents share harmful alleles that become homozygous in offspring.
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Which impact is an example of a benefit of trait selection in crops?
Which impact is an example of a benefit of trait selection in crops?
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Higher yield or improved resistance to pests or disease. Modified traits help crops produce more food or survive threats.
Higher yield or improved resistance to pests or disease. Modified traits help crops produce more food or survive threats.
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Which impact is an example of a benefit of trait selection in livestock?
Which impact is an example of a benefit of trait selection in livestock?
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Improved growth rate or increased milk or egg production. Selected traits increase productivity in farm animals.
Improved growth rate or increased milk or egg production. Selected traits increase productivity in farm animals.
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What is a possible ecological risk if a genetically modified trait spreads to wild relatives?
What is a possible ecological risk if a genetically modified trait spreads to wild relatives?
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Gene flow that can change wild populations and ecosystems. Modified genes could spread to native species through reproduction.
Gene flow that can change wild populations and ecosystems. Modified genes could spread to native species through reproduction.
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What is pesticide or herbicide resistance in pests or weeds most likely to result from?
What is pesticide or herbicide resistance in pests or weeds most likely to result from?
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Strong selection pressure favoring resistant individuals. Chemicals kill susceptible pests, leaving only resistant ones to reproduce.
Strong selection pressure favoring resistant individuals. Chemicals kill susceptible pests, leaving only resistant ones to reproduce.
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What is one potential environmental benefit of pest-resistant crops?
What is one potential environmental benefit of pest-resistant crops?
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Reduced use of chemical insecticides. Crops that resist pests naturally don't need chemical spraying.
Reduced use of chemical insecticides. Crops that resist pests naturally don't need chemical spraying.
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What is the key difference between somatic cell gene therapy and germline editing?
What is the key difference between somatic cell gene therapy and germline editing?
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Somatic affects one person; germline changes can be inherited. Somatic changes die with the person; germline passes to offspring.
Somatic affects one person; germline changes can be inherited. Somatic changes die with the person; germline passes to offspring.
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What is a major concern about unintended effects of gene editing?
What is a major concern about unintended effects of gene editing?
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Off-target changes that may cause unexpected traits or health issues. Gene editing tools might accidentally alter unintended DNA sequences.
Off-target changes that may cause unexpected traits or health issues. Gene editing tools might accidentally alter unintended DNA sequences.
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Identify the most likely outcome if a single crop variety is planted widely for many years.
Identify the most likely outcome if a single crop variety is planted widely for many years.
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Higher vulnerability to a new disease due to low genetic diversity. Lack of genetic variation makes all plants susceptible to the same threats.
Higher vulnerability to a new disease due to low genetic diversity. Lack of genetic variation makes all plants susceptible to the same threats.
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Which option is the best example of an organism-level benefit of gene editing in medicine?
Which option is the best example of an organism-level benefit of gene editing in medicine?
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Correcting a harmful mutation to reduce or prevent a genetic disorder. Gene therapy can fix disease-causing mutations at the DNA level.
Correcting a harmful mutation to reduce or prevent a genetic disorder. Gene therapy can fix disease-causing mutations at the DNA level.
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Identify the most direct societal impact if only wealthy groups access trait-selection therapies.
Identify the most direct societal impact if only wealthy groups access trait-selection therapies.
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Increased inequality in health outcomes and opportunities. Creates genetic advantages available only to those who can afford them.
Increased inequality in health outcomes and opportunities. Creates genetic advantages available only to those who can afford them.
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Which option best explains why a pest population may rebound after repeated pesticide use?
Which option best explains why a pest population may rebound after repeated pesticide use?
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Resistant pests survive and reproduce, increasing resistance in the population. Natural selection favors resistant individuals when pesticides kill others.
Resistant pests survive and reproduce, increasing resistance in the population. Natural selection favors resistant individuals when pesticides kill others.
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What is gene flow in the context of GM crops and wild relatives?
What is gene flow in the context of GM crops and wild relatives?
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Movement of genes from crops into wild populations. Modified genes can spread to related wild species.
Movement of genes from crops into wild populations. Modified genes can spread to related wild species.
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What is a major risk of releasing organisms with a gene drive into ecosystems?
What is a major risk of releasing organisms with a gene drive into ecosystems?
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Hard-to-reverse changes to ecosystems and species balance. Permanent ecological changes are unpredictable.
Hard-to-reverse changes to ecosystems and species balance. Permanent ecological changes are unpredictable.
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What is a gene drive intended to do in a wild population?
What is a gene drive intended to do in a wild population?
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Spread a chosen gene through a population rapidly. Engineered inheritance biases offspring traits.
Spread a chosen gene through a population rapidly. Engineered inheritance biases offspring traits.
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Which option is most likely to increase biodiversity: monoculture or diverse crop varieties?
Which option is most likely to increase biodiversity: monoculture or diverse crop varieties?
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Diverse crop varieties. Multiple varieties preserve genetic diversity.
Diverse crop varieties. Multiple varieties preserve genetic diversity.
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What is a key organism-level risk of selective breeding focused on one trait?
What is a key organism-level risk of selective breeding focused on one trait?
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Reduced genetic diversity and increased inherited disorders. Inbreeding increases harmful recessive allele expression.
Reduced genetic diversity and increased inherited disorders. Inbreeding increases harmful recessive allele expression.
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What is cloning in biology as a trait selection technology?
What is cloning in biology as a trait selection technology?
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Producing a genetically identical copy of an organism or cell. Creates exact genetic duplicates through asexual reproduction.
Producing a genetically identical copy of an organism or cell. Creates exact genetic duplicates through asexual reproduction.
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What is a likely long-term result of widespread use of a single pest-resistant crop trait?
What is a likely long-term result of widespread use of a single pest-resistant crop trait?
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Pests may evolve resistance through natural selection. Surviving pests reproduce, passing resistance to offspring.
Pests may evolve resistance through natural selection. Surviving pests reproduce, passing resistance to offspring.
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What is gene editing (for example, CRISPR) compared with older genetic engineering?
What is gene editing (for example, CRISPR) compared with older genetic engineering?
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More precise DNA changes at a targeted location. CRISPR allows specific gene targeting unlike random insertion.
More precise DNA changes at a targeted location. CRISPR allows specific gene targeting unlike random insertion.
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What is gene flow, and why does it matter for trait selection technologies?
What is gene flow, and why does it matter for trait selection technologies?
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Movement of genes between populations; traits can spread to wild relatives. Modified genes could transfer to wild plants through breeding.
Movement of genes between populations; traits can spread to wild relatives. Modified genes could transfer to wild plants through breeding.
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Identify the best example of genetic engineering: crossing two dog breeds or adding a vitamin-producing gene to rice?
Identify the best example of genetic engineering: crossing two dog breeds or adding a vitamin-producing gene to rice?
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Adding a vitamin-producing gene to rice. Gene insertion creates traits impossible through breeding.
Adding a vitamin-producing gene to rice. Gene insertion creates traits impossible through breeding.
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