Pros and Cons of Selection - Middle School Life Science
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What is selective breeding?
What is selective breeding?
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Choosing parents with desired traits to increase those traits in offspring. Artificial selection based on desired characteristics across generations.
Choosing parents with desired traits to increase those traits in offspring. Artificial selection based on desired characteristics across generations.
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What is genetic engineering?
What is genetic engineering?
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Directly changing an organism’s DNA to alter traits. Uses biotechnology to modify genetic material at the molecular level.
Directly changing an organism’s DNA to alter traits. Uses biotechnology to modify genetic material at the molecular level.
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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. Contains artificially inserted or modified genes from the same or other species.
An organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering. Contains artificially inserted or modified genes from the same or other species.
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What is cloning?
What is cloning?
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Producing a genetically identical copy of a cell or organism. Creates exact genetic duplicates through asexual reproduction methods.
Producing a genetically identical copy of a cell or organism. Creates exact genetic duplicates through asexual reproduction methods.
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What is a common benefit of selective breeding in livestock?
What is a common benefit of selective breeding in livestock?
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Increased production traits such as faster growth or more milk. Breeding selects for traits that maximize agricultural productivity.
Increased production traits such as faster growth or more milk. Breeding selects for traits that maximize agricultural productivity.
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What is a major concern of selective breeding related to genetic diversity?
What is a major concern of selective breeding related to genetic diversity?
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Reduced genetic variation, increasing vulnerability to disease. Limited gene pool makes populations susceptible to widespread disease.
Reduced genetic variation, increasing vulnerability to disease. Limited gene pool makes populations susceptible to widespread disease.
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What is inbreeding, and why is it a concern in selective breeding?
What is inbreeding, and why is it a concern in selective breeding?
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Breeding close relatives; it raises the chance of harmful recessive traits. Related parents share more genes, doubling harmful allele expression risk.
Breeding close relatives; it raises the chance of harmful recessive traits. Related parents share more genes, doubling harmful allele expression risk.
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What is a potential benefit of GM crops related to pesticides?
What is a potential benefit of GM crops related to pesticides?
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Some GM crops reduce insect damage and can lower insecticide use. Built-in pest resistance reduces chemical pesticide applications.
Some GM crops reduce insect damage and can lower insecticide use. Built-in pest resistance reduces chemical pesticide applications.
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What is a major environmental concern about gene flow from GM crops?
What is a major environmental concern about gene flow from GM crops?
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Engineered genes may spread to wild relatives through cross-pollination. Modified genes could create uncontrollable wild plant hybrids.
Engineered genes may spread to wild relatives through cross-pollination. Modified genes could create uncontrollable wild plant hybrids.
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What is a concern about pests and weeds when a single trait is widely used?
What is a concern about pests and weeds when a single trait is widely used?
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Resistance can evolve, making control methods less effective. Overuse of single traits accelerates natural selection for resistance.
Resistance can evolve, making control methods less effective. Overuse of single traits accelerates natural selection for resistance.
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What is a medical benefit of gene therapy?
What is a medical benefit of gene therapy?
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It can treat genetic disorders by correcting or replacing faulty genes. Repairs genetic defects causing inherited diseases at their source.
It can treat genetic disorders by correcting or replacing faulty genes. Repairs genetic defects causing inherited diseases at their source.
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Which option best matches this case: “Dogs bred for very short snouts often have breathing issues”?
Which option best matches this case: “Dogs bred for very short snouts often have breathing issues”?
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Concern: selective breeding can increase health problems. Extreme physical traits from selective breeding cause health issues.
Concern: selective breeding can increase health problems. Extreme physical traits from selective breeding cause health issues.
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Which option best matches this case: “A crop is engineered to survive drought with less irrigation”?
Which option best matches this case: “A crop is engineered to survive drought with less irrigation”?
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Benefit: genetic engineering can improve survival in harsh conditions. Engineered traits help crops thrive with limited water resources.
Benefit: genetic engineering can improve survival in harsh conditions. Engineered traits help crops thrive with limited water resources.
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Identify the correct concern: A single high-yield crop variety replaces many local varieties.
Identify the correct concern: A single high-yield crop variety replaces many local varieties.
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Concern: reduced genetic diversity and higher risk from disease outbreaks. Monoculture farming eliminates genetic variation needed for resilience.
Concern: reduced genetic diversity and higher risk from disease outbreaks. Monoculture farming eliminates genetic variation needed for resilience.
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Which term describes humans choosing parents with desired traits to produce offspring?
Which term describes humans choosing parents with desired traits to produce offspring?
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Artificial selection (selective breeding). Humans control breeding to enhance specific traits.
Artificial selection (selective breeding). Humans control breeding to enhance specific traits.
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What is the main benefit of artificial selection in crops and livestock?
What is the main benefit of artificial selection in crops and livestock?
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Increases frequency of desired traits in a population. Breeding selects for beneficial traits over generations.
Increases frequency of desired traits in a population. Breeding selects for beneficial traits over generations.
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What is a major concern of artificial selection regarding genetic diversity?
What is a major concern of artificial selection regarding genetic diversity?
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Reduced genetic variation in the population. Selecting for specific traits reduces overall genetic diversity.
Reduced genetic variation in the population. Selecting for specific traits reduces overall genetic diversity.
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What term describes mating of close relatives that increases homozygosity?
What term describes mating of close relatives that increases homozygosity?
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Inbreeding. Related individuals share similar genes, increasing homozygosity.
Inbreeding. Related individuals share similar genes, increasing homozygosity.
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What is a common genetic risk associated with inbreeding in domesticated animals?
What is a common genetic risk associated with inbreeding in domesticated animals?
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Higher chance of harmful recessive traits appearing. Inbreeding unmasks harmful recessive alleles in offspring.
Higher chance of harmful recessive traits appearing. Inbreeding unmasks harmful recessive alleles in offspring.
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Which term describes a harmful effect when a population has too little genetic variation?
Which term describes a harmful effect when a population has too little genetic variation?
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Inbreeding depression. Low genetic diversity reduces fitness and survival.
Inbreeding depression. Low genetic diversity reduces fitness and survival.
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Which option best states a benefit of selective breeding for food supply?
Which option best states a benefit of selective breeding for food supply?
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Higher yield and more uniform product quality. Selected traits improve crop productivity and consistency.
Higher yield and more uniform product quality. Selected traits improve crop productivity and consistency.
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Which option best states a concern of uniform crops created by selective breeding?
Which option best states a concern of uniform crops created by selective breeding?
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Greater vulnerability to the same disease or pest. Genetic uniformity makes all plants susceptible to same threats.
Greater vulnerability to the same disease or pest. Genetic uniformity makes all plants susceptible to same threats.
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What term describes a sudden reduction in population size that lowers variation?
What term describes a sudden reduction in population size that lowers variation?
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Genetic bottleneck. Population crash dramatically reduces genetic diversity.
Genetic bottleneck. Population crash dramatically reduces genetic diversity.
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What is a likely outcome when a bottlenecked population is later selectively bred?
What is a likely outcome when a bottlenecked population is later selectively bred?
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Even less genetic diversity and more inherited disorders. Limited gene pool amplifies negative effects of selective breeding.
Even less genetic diversity and more inherited disorders. Limited gene pool amplifies negative effects of selective breeding.
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What is the definition of a recessive allele in inheritance?
What is the definition of a recessive allele in inheritance?
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An allele expressed only when two copies are present. Recessive traits appear only in homozygous individuals.
An allele expressed only when two copies are present. Recessive traits appear only in homozygous individuals.
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