Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)
Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780134604718
Author: William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spencer, Michael A. Palladino, Darrell Killian
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 1, Problem 17PDQ

The Age of Genetics was created by remarkable advances in the use of biotechnology to manipulate plant and animal genomes. Given that the world population reached 7.5 billion people in 2017 and is expected to reach 9.7 billion in 2050, some scientists have proposed that only the worldwide introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods will increase crop yields enough to meet future nutritional demands. Pest resistance, herbicide, cold, drought, and salinity tolerance, along with increased nutrition, are seen as positive attributes of GM foods. However, others caution that unintended harm to other organisms, reduced effectiveness to pesticides, gene transfer to nontarget species, allergenicity, and as yet unknown effects on human health are potential concerns regarding GM foods. If you were in a position to control the introduction of a GM primary food product (rice, for example), what criteria would you establish before allowing such introduction?

Blurred answer
Students have asked these similar questions
AquAdvantage salmon is a genetically modified (GM) Atlantic salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's application to allow the entry of this GM salmon into the United States food supply late last year. The FDA announced that: "AquAdvantage salmon is as safe to eat as any non- genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon, and also as nutritious." However, opponents of genetically modified food are claiming that the AquAdvantage salmons could pose a serious environmental risk to the marine ecosystem if the engineered fishes escape from the farms. These transgenic salmons would be a big threat to the wild salmons. Justify this statement.
Genetically 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…
In October 2002, the government of the African nation of Zambia announced that it was refusing to distribute 15,000 tons of corn donated by the United States, enough corn to feed 2.5 million Zambians for three weeks. The government rejected the corn because it was likely to contain genetically modified kernels. The government made the decision after its scientific advisers concluded that the studies of the health risks posed by GM crops “are inconclusive.” Do you agree with Zambia’s decision to turn away the corn? Why or why not? In your answer, consider that at the time, Zambia was facing food shortages, and 35,000 Zambians were expected to starve to death over the next six months. How do the risks posed by GM crops compare to the risk of starvation?
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...
Biology
ISBN:9781305251052
Author:Michael Cummings
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Nutrition and Diet - GCSE Biology (9-1); Author: Mr Exham Biology;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFE1DfAlipo;License: Standard Youtube License