A gene for disease resistance in fir trees is transferred to pine trees using modern DNA technology. How might this be economically helpful to tree farmers?

A) Abnormal pine tree growth would be eliminated.
B) Erosion of topsoil would no longer be a concern.
C) Pine trees would be safe from pine beetle attacks.
D) More pine trees would live to maturity, increasing lumber output.

I think A or D.

1 answer

The correct answer is D) More pine trees would live to maturity, increasing lumber output. By transferring a gene for disease resistance from fir trees to pine trees, the resulting genetically modified pine trees would have an increased ability to resist diseases that could otherwise kill them. This would result in more trees reaching maturity and therefore increasing the lumber output for tree farmers.