Potatoes are a very important vegetable crop in the US and many farmers and cons
ID: 277165 • Letter: P
Question
Potatoes are a very important vegetable crop in the US and many farmers and consumers rely on them. Because of the increase in temperature caused by climate change, many crops, including potatoes, are suffering because they can't tolerate the high temperatures 1. What biological trait(s) are needed to solve this problem and in what organism(s) would you find a gene for this trait? 2. Describe the entire process of how to make your new GMO. 3. What are the potential health issues or environmental impacts of your new GMO?Explanation / Answer
1. What biological trait (s) are needed to solve this problem and in what organism (s) would you find a gene for this trait?
It would need to have proteins and enzymes more resistant to higher temperatures.
I would use a virus (in various studies the cauliflower mosaic virus is used) and a gene (codA gene encodes for choline oxidase) of the bacteria Arthrobacter globiformis, that would help the plant produce more glycinebetaine, a solute of low molecular weight. The accumulation of glycinebetaine protects enzymes and proteins of the damages of high temperatures, it even specifically protects photosynthetic machinery.
2. Describe the entire process of how to make your new GMO.
Initially, add the gene of interest to the virus (that is going to be the one in charge of introducing the gene to the plant, this virus are sold by industries who already have a version that does not hurt he plant). First, isolate the gene, then clone it. Specialized enzymes are use to insert the gene in a specific place of the virus genome. Once the virus has the gene wanted, a process of infecting the plant with the virus takes place. Usually a Western blot (a techique use to detect specific proteins) analysis could be use to make sure the choline oxidase is expressing.
3. What are the potential health issues or environmental impacts of your new GMO?
Possible healt issues could rise for the use of the virus and bacteria, because the plant we consume has these genes associated. Some studies talk about higher cancer rates beacuse of these issues. These genes could case changes in our cells.
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