B2. Biotechnology in agriculture
Nature of science:
Assessing risks and benefits associated with scientific research—scientists need to evaluate the potential of herbicide resistance genes escaping into the wild population. (4.8)
Understandings:
Transgenic organisms produce proteins that were not previously part of their species’ proteome.
Genetic modification can be used to overcome environmental resistance to increase crop yields.
Genetically modified crop plants can be used to produce novel products.
Bioinformatics plays a role in identifying target genes.
The target gene is linked to other sequences that control its expression.
An open reading frame is a significant length of DNA from a start codon to a stop codon.
Marker genes are used to indicate successful uptake.
Recombinant DNA must be inserted into the plant cell and taken up by its chromosome or chloroplast DNA.
Recombinant DNA can be introduced into whole plants, leaf discs or protoplasts.
Recombinant DNA can be introduced by direct physical and chemical methods or indirectly by vectors.
Applications and skills:
Application: Use of tumour-inducing (Ti) plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to introduce glyphosate resistance into soybean crops.
Application: Genetic modification of tobacco mosaic virus to allow bulk production of Hepatitis B vaccine in tobacco plants.
Application: Production of Amflora potato (Solanum tuberosum) for paper and adhesive industries.
Skill: Evaluation of data on the environmental impact of glyphosate-tolerant soybeans.
Skill: Identification of an open reading frame (ORF).
