Download Sample final exam questions – BI/FS 430(H)/530

Name:
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MID-TERM TAKE HOME EXAM – BI/FS 430(H)/530 – Fall 2005
_______/100 points
DEFINITIONS (1 pt each)
Briefly define the following (~5-10 words)
1. Genome
2. Transposable elements
3. Gene
4. C-value paradox
5. Gene cloning
6. PCR
7. Microarray
8. Biolistics
9. Reporter gene
10. Event
11. Domestication
12. GRAS
13. CGIAR
14. DSHEA
15. Norman Borlaug
16. Barbara McClintock
17. Luther Burbank
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SHORT ANSWER (2-10 pts each)
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18. Why are 70% of foods in US supermarkets considered to be “genetically modified (engineered)” yet only a
very few species of transgenic crops are authorized for commercial use? (2 pts)
19. What are two differences between classical breeding and genetic engineering? (2 pts)
20. What are the three traits of commercially available GE crops today? (3 pts)
21. Give a brief description of the components of the US regulatory system for GE crops. (4 pts)
22. The article “Regulatory challenges reduce opportunities for horticultural biotechnology” by Redenbaugh
and McHughen discusses the barriers to developing biotech horticultural products for commercialization.
Describe two of these barriers. (4 pts)
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23. In the article “GM Foods - Breeding Uncertainty” in the Environmental Health Perspectives magazine by
Charles Schmidt describe two reasons for the ‘uncertainty’ of GM foods. How does this compare to traditional
breeding? (4 pts)
24. What are “promoters” and why are they important in genetic engineering? Give one example of a promoter
used in plant biotechnology? (2 pts)
25. Give an example of how genomics, combined with GMO methods, could be used to produce a new kind of
GMO crop. (2 pts)
26. Why do genetic engineers consider it very important, for the purposes of producing a commercial transgenic
crop, to examine progeny that were produced after inserting the same gene many different times? (2 pts)
27. Why is the insertion of genes into the cholorplast genome considered a containment technology? (2 pts)
28. Given that you have a genetically engineered Agrobacterium strain to start with, describe four steps, and
their purposes, that are generally employed in producing a transgenic plant ready for testing in the field. (4 pts)
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29. Why is Agrobacterium considered a “natural plant genetic engineer.” Discuss how its genes related to gene
transfer are organized, how this allows it to survive in the environment, and how plant biotechnologists have
modified it to transfer genes of interest to agriculture. (10 pts)
30. What is golden rice, and what is the main reason for creating it? What is its status with regard to
commercial development? What are the two concerns of those opposed to it? (4 pts)
31. Why are ‘genetic resources’ important for crop breeding? (2 pts)
32. Why are two reasons that the use of a dwarfing gene was important to the green revolution? (2 pts)
33. Considering animal or plant domestication, what are four kinds of traits that were consciously or
unconsciously selected during early stages in domestication? (4 pts)
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34. Describe two positive and two negative consequences of plant domestication and breeding. (4 pts)
35. In the article by Marcus and Grollman in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002, what are two of the
reasons they gave for their view that new regulations are needed for botanical medicines? (2 pts)
36. What are the two major components of environmental risk from chemicals? (2 pts)
37. Define a dietary supplement. How does the regulation of dietary supplements differ from that of
pharmaceuticals. What are the requirements for their efficacy assessment? (4 pts)
38. What does the “Starlink” issue refer to? What harm is known to have resulted from it? (2 pts)
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39. In “GM Crops: The Global and Economic and Environmental Impact - The First 9 Years” what are the main
economic and environmental benefits claimed from nearly a decade of use of GM crops? Why does the article
claim that GM crops have helped to reduced greenhouse gas emissions important to global climate change?
What is an example of an environmental effect that was not considered? (4 pts)
40. What is the difference between rape and canola? (2 pts)
41. Name 4 commercial crop varieties that were created by mutation breeding as cited in “Mendel in the
Kitchen” (4 pts)
42. Explain what is meant by the “product versus process” argument as discussed by in “Mendel in the Kitchen”
(2 pts)
43. Describe two of the commonly cited safety concerns of GM foods addressed in “Mendel in the Kitchen” (4
pts)