Question
Read the passage. Then explain the ways humans have influenced the traits in corn plants and the impacts each biotechnology has had.
An image of a corn in a field.
Many of the types of corn found in grocery stores were originally bred for their taste and productivity. But these varieties are often threatened by pests. This makes it harder for farmers to produce enough corn.
Scientists have used genetic engineering to make GMO corn plants that are resistant to pests. In one type of GMO plant, they added genes from bacteria that live in soil. The genes let the GMO plants produce a bacterial protein that kills certain insects.
An image of a corn in a field.
Many of the types of corn found in grocery stores were originally bred for their taste and productivity. But these varieties are often threatened by pests. This makes it harder for farmers to produce enough corn.
Scientists have used genetic engineering to make GMO corn plants that are resistant to pests. In one type of GMO plant, they added genes from bacteria that live in soil. The genes let the GMO plants produce a bacterial protein that kills certain insects.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Humans have influenced the traits in corn plants primarily through selective breeding and genetic engineering. Here are the ways these biotechnologies have impacted corn:
1. **Selective Breeding**:
- **Impact**: This traditional method involves choosing specific corn plants with desirable traits, such as better taste and higher productivity, and breeding them over generations. While this has led to enhanced flavors and increased yields, these varieties tend to be more vulnerable to pests since they haven't been specifically engineered for pest resistance. The reliance on non-resistant varieties can lead to increased pesticide use and higher production costs, and it can also threaten food supply stability if crops are significantly damaged by pests.
2. **Genetic Engineering (GMO corn)**:
- **Impact**: Genetic engineering involved introducing specific genes from other organisms (like bacteria) into corn plants. This technique has enabled the development of corn that can produce a bacterial protein toxic to certain insects, which helps to protect the plants from pest infestations. The benefits of this technology include reduced crop loss due to pests, less reliance on chemical pesticides, and potentially lower costs for farmers in the long run. However, there can be environmental concerns, such as the impact on non-target insect populations and the potential for developing pest resistance to the engineered traits.
In summary, selective breeding has improved the flavor and yield of corn but left it vulnerable to pests, while genetic engineering has created pest-resistant varieties, reducing the need for pesticides and increasing productivity, though it comes with its own set of ecological and ethical considerations.
1. **Selective Breeding**:
- **Impact**: This traditional method involves choosing specific corn plants with desirable traits, such as better taste and higher productivity, and breeding them over generations. While this has led to enhanced flavors and increased yields, these varieties tend to be more vulnerable to pests since they haven't been specifically engineered for pest resistance. The reliance on non-resistant varieties can lead to increased pesticide use and higher production costs, and it can also threaten food supply stability if crops are significantly damaged by pests.
2. **Genetic Engineering (GMO corn)**:
- **Impact**: Genetic engineering involved introducing specific genes from other organisms (like bacteria) into corn plants. This technique has enabled the development of corn that can produce a bacterial protein toxic to certain insects, which helps to protect the plants from pest infestations. The benefits of this technology include reduced crop loss due to pests, less reliance on chemical pesticides, and potentially lower costs for farmers in the long run. However, there can be environmental concerns, such as the impact on non-target insect populations and the potential for developing pest resistance to the engineered traits.
In summary, selective breeding has improved the flavor and yield of corn but left it vulnerable to pests, while genetic engineering has created pest-resistant varieties, reducing the need for pesticides and increasing productivity, though it comes with its own set of ecological and ethical considerations.