Genetically modified organisms in agriculture

Answer only one question.

Feb/March 2016

Fig. 5.1 presents the area of land used to grow genetically modified (GM) crops in the USA, Brazil, India and China between 2004 and 2015.

Feb/March 2019

Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health issue that affects many people. One dietary source of vitamin A is carotene. In the body, carotene can be changed into vitamin A. White rice grains cannot provide vitamin A in the diet because they contain no carotene. Scientists have genetically modified a rice variety to improve the diets of people who lack vitamin A. The grains of this genetically modified rice contain carotene.

Feb/March 2021

Gene technology has a wide range of applications, including making substances such as insulin.

May/June 2010

Gene technology has a wide range of applications, including making substances such as insulin.

May/June 2010

In the USA, around 35% of the maize grown has been genetically modified so that it produces a toxin called Bt toxin, which comes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. These genetically modified plants are referred to as Bt maize.

May/June 2011

In the USA, roughly $35\%$ of all maize grown has been genetically modified so that it produces a toxin, called Bt toxin, which comes from the bacterium $\textit{Bacillus thuringiensis}$. These genetically modified plants are called Bt maize.

May/June 2011

Golden Rice is a genetically modified rice variety that produces comparatively large amounts of $\beta$ carotene in the endosperm. $\beta$ carotene is metabolised in the human body to make vitamin A.

May/June 2012

Fig. 4.1 shows the structure of a male flower of maize, $\textit{Zea mays}$. Using Fig. 4.1, explain how two features of this flower make it adapted for wind pollination.

May/June 2012

Pigs are farm animals that are raised as livestock in some regions of the world. The first genetically modified (transgenic) pigs were made in 1985. Foreign DNA was inserted straight into the nuclei of zygotes. The foreign DNA consisted of two parts: the gene coding for human growth hormone; and a section of mouse DNA that, when metal ions are present, lets transcription start.

May/June 2018

Maize, Zea mays, is a major crop used both as food for people and as feed for animals. Two maize varieties are MON810 and Justina. Justina has been produced by selective breeding (artificial selection), whereas MON810 is a genetically modified (GM) organism.

May/June 2019

Rice, Oryza sativa, is a major food crop eaten by humans. The two rice varieties named are T2A-1 and Shanyou 2. Shanyou 2 was produced by the conventional method of selective breeding (artificial selection), whereas T2A-1 is an example of a genetically modified (GM) organism.

May/June 2019

Bt maize is a genetically modified crop developed to withstand insect attack. By 2019, Bt maize made up 83\% of the maize cultivated in the USA.

May/June 2021

Section B. Answer only one question.

May/June 2021

In 1973, a genetic engineering technique was used for the first time. Recombinant DNA was produced with a plasmid and then successfully moved into an organism. In 2012, a newer genetic engineering method, known as gene editing, was developed.

May/June 2022

One hypothesis is that the mutation rate of an animal species could influence how quickly individuals of that species age and how long they survive (lifespan). Table 7.1 compares the mutation rate and lifespan of five mammal species.

May/June 2024

Section B. Answer any one question.

Oct/Nov 2014

Section B. Answer any one question.

Oct/Nov 2015

There are several distinct strains of the soil bacterium $Bacillus\ thuringiensis$. Each strain makes a slightly different type of Cry-protein, and these proteins are poisonous to insects. Some cotton varieties, known as Bt cotton, have been genetically engineered to produce one of these proteins, Cry1Ac. This protein acts specifically to kill the larvae of butterflies and moths, including the cotton bollworm, $Helicoverpa\ zea$, which is a serious pest of cotton crops. The genetically modified cotton carries a ‘genetic package’ that includes: • the gene that codes for Cry1Ac, the Bt protein • a promoter • a herbicide resistance gene used as a marker.

Oct/Nov 2017

There are numerous strains of the soil bacterium $Bacillus\ thuringiensis$. Each strain makes slightly different Cry-proteins, and these are poisonous to insects. Some varieties of cotton, called Bt cotton, have been genetically altered so that they make one of these proteins, Cry1Ac. This protein is especially effective at killing the larvae of butterflies and moths, including the cotton bollworm, $Helicoverpa\ zea$, which is a major pest of cotton crops. The genetically modified cotton includes a ‘genetic package’ containing: • the gene for Cry1Ac, the Bt protein • promoter sequence • a herbicide resistance gene used as a marker.

Oct/Nov 2017

The potato plant, Solanum tuberosum, is a major food crop. Crop yield falls if the leaves of the plant are eaten by the larvae, which are the immature stages, of the Colorado beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Crop scientists used recombinant DNA technology to produce two genetically modified (GM) potato varieties. These plants make proteins that are toxic to insects. • GM potato variety A has two new genes, SN and Bt. • GM potato variety B has two new genes, SN and OCI. The new varieties were assessed by introducing a fixed number of Colorado beetle larvae to the plants at time 0 hours. The number of larvae that were still alive after 24, 48 and 72 hours was recorded. The percentage of larvae that died in each time interval was then calculated. The same procedure was repeated for potato plants that had not been genetically modified (non-GM). Table 4.1 shows the percentage of Colorado beetle larvae that died on the GM potato plant varieties and on non-GM potato plants.

Oct/Nov 2023

The potato plant, Solanum tuberosum, is a major food crop. Crop yield is lowered if the leaves of the plant are eaten by the larvae (immature stages) of the Colorado beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Crop scientists used recombinant DNA technology to make two genetically modified (GM) varieties of potato plant. These plants make proteins that are toxic to insects. GM potato variety A has two added genes, SN and Bt. GM potato variety B has two added genes, SN and OCII. The new varieties were investigated by introducing a fixed number of Colorado beetle larvae to the plants at time $0\ \text{h}$. The number of larvae alive after $24\ \text{h}$, $48\ \text{h}$ and $72\ \text{h}$ was noted. The percentage of larvae that died in each time interval was then worked out. This was repeated for potato plants that had not been genetically modified (non-GM). Table 4.1 shows the percentage of Colorado beetle larvae that died on the GM potato plant varieties and on non-GM potato plants.

Oct/Nov 2023

LibertyLink® soybean is a genetically modified crop that was first cultivated in 1996 and included in food products from 1998. It has been cultivated in 6 countries and used in food products in 21 countries. Table 8.1 outlines the alterations made to the soybean plant to create LibertyLink® soybean.

Oct/Nov 2025

LibertyLink® soybean is a genetically modified crop. It was first cultivated in 1996 and has been used in food products since 1998. It has been grown in 6 countries and has been used in food products in 21 countries. Table 8.1 gives a summary of the modifications made to the soybean plant to create LibertyLink® soybean.

Oct/Nov 2025

Genetic engineering is a contemporary way of producing crop plants with better characteristics. One crop example with better characteristics is soybean, Glycine max, which has been genetically modified so that it is resistant to a herbicide. This genetically modified soybean is known as GM soybean. To produce GM soybean, a bacterial gene together with a section of regulatory DNA were inserted into soybean cells.

Oct/Nov 2025