Although the production of GM plants could help address global issues such as providing food and reducing damage to the environment there are risks to biodiversity and unforeseen events due to the interdependence of species.Over half of the world's soybean crops are from GM strains. One strain has the gene for Bt protein inserted. The Bt protein is toxic to many insect strains that attack the crop. The crop has also been modified to have resistance to a common weedkiller so the farmers can spray the fields with weed killer without damaging the crop.However, the gene for antibiotic resistance has been used as a marker gene. There is concern that this gene could spread to wild populations of plants and into bacteria.
GM plants
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Specification: AQA Biology (7402), A-level, 3.8.4.1 Recombinant DNA technology. Topic: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
Key terms in this lesson
- mutation
- A random change in the base sequence of DNA (a gene mutation) or in the structure or number of chromosomes (a chromosome mutation).
- apoptosis
- Programmed cell death, a controlled process in which unwanted or damaged cells are broken down into vesicles and removed by phagocytosis without damaging surrounding tissue.
- oncogene
- A mutated or abnormally activated proto-oncogene that is permanently switched on, causing uncontrolled cell division and contributing to tumour formation.
More in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
- Genetic Engineering
- Genetically Engineering Different Organisms
- Genetically Engineering Plants
- Ethical Concerns - microorganisms
- Patenting
- GM animals
- Gene Therapy
- DNA Probes
All 23 lessons in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology · All AQA A-level Biology topics