19.3.1

GM Crops & Livestock

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Uses

Recombinant DNA has a variety of applications. These applications can be hugely beneficial in combating a number of humanitarian issues. These include:

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Genetically modified crops

  • Recombinant DNA can be used to genetically modify crops to improve their yield. This included crops such as maize, cotton, tobacco and oilseed rape.
  • Traits that can be improved include -
    • Resistance to disease.
    • Tolerance to the application of herbicides and pesticides.
    • Tolerance of adverse environmental conditions (e.g. drought).
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Resistance to herbicides

  • Genetically engineering crops to become resistant to herbicides can improve yields.
  • Fields containing the resistant crop can be sprayed with herbicides.
  • The herbicide will kill any competing weeds, but the crops will remain alive.
  • The absence of competition from weeds will allow the crops maximal access to resources such as sunlight and soil minerals.
    • So, the crop yield will increase.
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Resistant to insects

  • Genetic engineering can be used to produce crops that produce their own insecticides.
  • For example, transgenic corn has been genetically engineered to produce an insect toxin.
  • This toxin is called the bt toxin. So, this type of corn is sometimes called bt corn.
  • The toxin is toxic to certain pests, so the pests avoid the corn.
    • As the corn is not lost to pests, the yield of the corn increases.
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Increased nutritional value

  • Recombinant DNA can be used to increase the nutritional value of food.
    • E.g. Rice has been genetically modified to contain Vitamin A (beta-carotene). Vitamin A is a common deficiency in Asian countries where rice is widely consumed.
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Livestock

  • Atlantic salmon have been genetically modified to produce greater yields of bigger fish.
  • This has been done by inserting a DNA promoter for growth hormone into fertilised salmon eggs.
    • The presence of the promoter leads to increased transcription of the growth hormone gene.
  • The increased production of growth hormone means the fish reach maturity almost twice as quickly than in unmodified salmon.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Structure

2Biological Molecules

3Enzymes

4Cell Membranes & Transport

5The Mitotic Cell Cycle

6Nucleic Acids & Protein Synthesis

7Transport in Plants

8Transport in Mammals

9Gas Exchange

10Infectious Diseases

11Immunity

12Energy & Respiration (A2 Only)

13Photosynthesis (A2 Only)

14Homeostasis (A2 Only)

15Control & Coordination (A2 Only)

16Inherited Change (A2 Only)

17Selection & Evolution (A2 Only)

18Classification & Conservation (A2 Only)

19Genetic Technology (A2 Only)

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