Biotechnology Pop Quiz

Genetic engineering has both positive and negative outcomes. One of the most common areas where genetic engineering is used is in agriculture. If farmers plant more genetically modified crops, which of the following negative outcomes could occur?

• An increase in the use of pesticides

• A decrease in genetic diversity of the crops

• An increase in the contamination of the water supply

• A decrease in crop productivity

Rice, the most popular food crop in the world, can be successfully grown only in certain places. If trends in climate change continue, the areas in which rice currently grows will be significantly reduced. Which of the following is the best way that biotechnology can keep the harvest of rice from decreasing?

• Identifying new areas with soil fertile enough for rice production

• Developing clean energy sources to reduce carbon dioxide production worldwide.

• Seeing clouds with dry ice to produce more rainfall where it is needed

• Genetically engineering rice crops that are tolerant to change in the environment

In October of 1990, the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the US National Institute of Health began the process of mapping the human genome. This process was referred to as The Human Genome Project and was intended to identify the 20,000 – 25,000 genes of the human genome. A working draft of the genome was announced in 2000 and a complete one in 2003. Which of the following describes the main benefit of completing The Human Genome Project?

• Cloning humans

• Designing new human genes

• Patenting specific human genes

• Identifying genetically-based diseases

Insulin is a natural human product that is deficient in people with diabetes. The human gene for insulin has been inserted into E. coli DNA to produce synthetic insulin for diabetes treatment. Why can the E. coli bacteria accept a human gene and then produce a human protein?

• Bacteria cells are identical in structure to human cells.

• The basic components of DNA are the same in bacteria and humans.

• DNA replication occurs in the exact same way in both bacteria cells and human cells.

• Chromosomes are identical in bacteria cells and human cells.

Genetic screening is a procedure where a person’s DNA is analyzed to identify a genetic predisposition to lethal diseases. One advantage of genetic screening is that it allows doctors to prevent and treat diseases before patients have symptoms. Which of the following is a disadvantage of genetic screening?

• Genetic screening results could be used to determine inheritance patterns in families.

• The likelihood of a child contracting an inheritable disease could be predicted by genetic screening

• A doctor could combine a patient’s current symptoms with genetic screening results to diagnose and treat the patient.

• Insurance companies could drop a patient’s medical coverage based on potential medical issues projected by genetic screening.