Biotechnology for Food Security

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Questions and Answers

Within the framework of biotechnology for food security, if a food security risk is identified as 'reliance on Russia and Ukraine for grain supply', which intervention strategy would most effectively address the geopolitical dimensions of this risk?

Investing in the development of drought-resistant crop varieties through CRISPR-mediated gene editing.
Establishing decentralized, localized grain production systems utilizing climate-resilient genetically modified crops. (correct)
Promoting the adoption of precision agriculture techniques to optimize fertilizer use and reduce environmental impact.
Implementing nationwide biofortification programs to enhance the nutrient content of staple foods.

Considering the multifaceted goals of GMO crop development, which of the following strategies would MOST comprehensively address the interwoven challenges of expanding production, fighting malnutrition, alleviating small farmer poverty, and improving food quality?

Focusing solely on increasing crop yields through enhanced herbicide tolerance.
Implementing a multi-pronged approach that integrates enhanced nutritional profiles, pest resistance, and climate resilience with open-source seed distribution and farmer education programs. (correct)
Concentrating efforts on crops that require minimal water and fertilizer inputs.
Prioritizing the development of crops with extended shelf life to reduce post-harvest losses.

If a novel GMO crop is engineered for enhanced nematode resistance, and it is primarily cultivated in regions where nematode infestations are prevalent, what potential ecological consequence should be MOST rigorously evaluated to prevent unintended harm?

The possibility of reduced biodiversity within the target crop species.
The risk of horizontal gene transfer to non-target plant species.
The likelihood of increased pesticide use due to enhanced crop productivity.
The potential disruption of soil microbial communities due to altered root exudates. (correct)

Given that the Flavr Savr tomato was engineered for longer shelf life by suppressing polygalacturonase activity through Agrobacterium-mediated transfer of an ACC synthase gene, what unintended pleiotropic effect would be MOST critical to evaluate for subsequent generations of engineered tomatoes?

Compromised seed viability and germination rates due to modified pectin degradation. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of engineering environmental stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana via the introduction of the Osmyb4 gene to increase drought tolerance, what epigenetic modifications should be monitored to ensure the stability and heritability of this trait across successive generations under fluctuating environmental conditions?

The level of DNA methylation at transposable element insertion sites near the Osmyb4 gene. (C) Signup and view all the answers

When employing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal genes to confer pest resistance in GM crops, what evolutionary pressure is MOST likely to drive the emergence of resistant insect populations?

Enhanced detoxification enzyme activity coupled with target-site mutations in Bt toxin receptors. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the implementation of microbiome manipulation strategies to suppress soil-borne pathogens in agriculture, what potential off-target effect on native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities should be MOST scrupulously assessed to maintain overall plant health and nutrient uptake?

Changes in the diversity and functional capacity of AMF communities due to altered carbon allocation patterns from the plant. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a PGPB (plant growth promoting bacteria) is introduced to enhance nutrient uptake in plants; but is also pathogenic under specific environmental conditions, what strategy should be employed to mitigate the risk of exacerbating plant disease outbreaks while harnessing its beneficial effects?

Employing a CRISPR-based system to silence pathogenicity genes in the PGPB upon detection of specific environmental cues. (B) Signup and view all the answers

When utilizing Trichoderma harazianum as a biocontrol agent against Botrytis in agricultural settings, what mechanism would MOST effectively prevent the development of resistance in Botrytis populations while maximizing biocontrol efficacy?

Employing a cocktail of Trichoderma strains with diverse modes of action in conjunction with silicon-based soil amendments. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In precision agriculture, if multispectral and hyperspectral imaging reveals significant variability in crop biomass and surface temperature across a field, what advanced data analytics approach would MOST effectively integrate this information with soil salinity data to optimize variable-rate irrigation strategies?

Bayesian network modeling to infer causal relationships between environmental factors and crop performance for adaptive control of irrigation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the challenges associated with open-water aquaculture, particularly the issue of escaped GMO fish, what risk mitigation strategy would MOST effectively prevent genetic introgression into wild populations while maintaining the economic viability of aquaculture operations?

Implementing triploidization to induce sterility in farmed fish combined with CRISPR-mediated knockout of key reproductive genes and the establishment of closed-containment aquaculture systems. (D) Signup and view all the answers

When formulating alternative protein sources using insect species, what metabolic engineering strategy would MOST effectively enhance the nutritional profile of insect biomass for human consumption, specifically targeting essential amino acid content and fatty acid composition?

Co-culturing insects with symbiotic bacteria that synthesize essential nutrients and modifying insect lipid metabolism through CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. (B) Signup and view all the answers

During Quorn production, if RNA reduction is insufficient and excess uric acid production leads to gout, what strategy would MOST effectively mitigate this issue while maintaining the economic viability of mycoprotein fermentation?

Implementing in-line enzymatic treatment with uricase coupled with overexpression of purine salvage pathway enzymes in the mycoprotein strain. (A) Signup and view all the answers

If 3D bioprinting technology is used to create lab-grown meat with controlled texture, what post-printing maturation techniques should be optimized to ensure realistic myofiber alignment, vascularization, and extracellular matrix remodeling to mimic native muscle tissue?

Employing microfluidic bioreactors that mimic the in vivo microenvironment coupled with electrical stimulation to induce coordinated muscle contraction and growth. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In wastewater treatment, if a community discharges effluent water with elevated levels of micro-pollutants (pharmaceuticals, disinfectants), what advanced oxidation process (AOP) combined with bioaugmentation would MOST effectively degrade these recalcitrant compounds while minimizing the formation of harmful disinfection byproducts?

UV irradiation combined with hydrogen peroxide and subsequent bioaugmentation with genetically engineered bacteria expressing broad-specificity cytochrome P450 enzymes. (C) Signup and view all the answers

During secondary wastewater treatment, what advanced molecular technique could be employed to monitor the dynamics of microbial communities responsible for BOD reduction and nutrient removal, allowing for real-time adjustments to treatment parameters to optimize performance?

Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting key functional genes combined with metagenomic sequencing to assess community composition and metabolic potential. (A) Signup and view all the answers

If a wastewater treatment plant is designed to remove nitrogen compounds; which microbial process should be optimized with the highest priority, and what specific operational parameters should be meticulously controlled to ensure its efficiency?

Nitrification/denitrification; dissolved oxygen levels, carbon source availability, and biofilm architecture within the bioreactor. (D) Signup and view all the answers

When implementing trickling filters for wastewater treatment, what strategy would MOST effectively prevent biofilm clogging and maintain consistent hydraulic flow, while simultaneously promoting the growth of diverse and robust microbial communities?

Optimizing media pore size, employing forced aeration to maintain aerobic conditions throughout the biofilm, and introducing a diverse inoculum of fungal and eukaryotic grazing organisms to control biofilm thickness. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a tertiary wastewater treatment process aims at removing trace organic contaminants, what combination of advanced treatment technologies - including membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, and bioaugmentation - would be MOST effective in achieving complete mineralization while minimizing energy consumption and byproduct formation?

Nanofiltration combined with ozonation and subsequent bioaugmentation using engineered microbial consortia capable of mineralizing a broad spectrum of organic pollutants. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Considering in situ bioremediation of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, what advanced omics technique would MOST effectively characterize the functional diversity and metabolic interactions within the indigenous microbial community, allowing for targeted biostimulation strategies to enhance contaminant degradation?

Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics to comprehensively profile the community's genetic potential, gene expression patterns, and protein activities under in situ conditions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If biostimulation is being used to improve local conditions, what is the purpose and how is it related to the microbes?

Altering environmental parameters to activate existing (endogenous) microbial communities to catalyze contaminant degradation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is ex situ bioremediation and what does it involve?

Involves treating contaminated soil and water after it has been removed elsewhere. (C) Signup and view all the answers

When designing engineered bioplastics, what aspect is important in the process of ensuring the bioplastic is eco-friendly?

Raw material is sustainable, and the process of making and the breakdown does not cause harm into the environment. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of biofuel?

Renewable, cost-effective, huge potential for using plants (B) Signup and view all the answers

If dark fermentation is occurring, what will the final products be?

Hydrogen and Acetate (B) Signup and view all the answers

Given the challenges presented by climate change and the implications for conservation ecology, which modern conservation strategy would be MOST appropriate for a species that depends on variable and shifting habits, which requires a dynamic approach?

New Goal: Need anticipate change, not historical benchmark (B) Signup and view all the answers

During assisted colonisation, what factors should be considered?

If species turns invasive (A) Signup and view all the answers

As scientists plan to discover ways to colonise Mars, what should be avoided to prevent contaminated stuff?

Compromise biosignature missions (D) Signup and view all the answers

When looking to create oxygen on mars, what is required for it to be made?

Plants being able to survive the harsh conditions of Mars (B) Signup and view all the answers

If bioengineering for terraforming on mars, what process should be done?

Prob require introduction & growth of bacteria, algae & plants on surface (C) Signup and view all the answers

During bioremediation, what aspect of the process could be a disadvantage?

Pollutants might be toxic to microbes (D) Signup and view all the answers

In a microbial fuel cell (MFC) designed to treat wastewater while generating electricity, if polarization losses are limiting the overall performance, which strategy would MOST effectively mitigate these losses and enhance power output?

Engineering exoelectrogenic bacteria with enhanced electron transfer capabilities coupled with optimizing electrode materials and separator design to minimize mass transport limitations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

If a constructed wetland is being designed to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from agricultural runoff, what configuration of plant species, substrate composition, and hydraulic retention time would MOST effectively promote the synergistic activity of plant uptake, microbial degradation, and sorption processes to achieve optimal pollutant removal?

A subsurface flow wetland planted with a diverse consortium of native macrophytes, using a layered substrate of sand, gravel, and biochar, and an optimized HRT to maximize microbial activity and plant uptake. (C) Signup and view all the answers

If significant investment is given to 'carbon capture', what does it mean and what are the benefits/drawbacks?

Expensive: Need capture 10-20 billion tonnes of C/year, tech doesn't even exist (B) Signup and view all the answers

If, after some time, Mars loses its atmosphere, what are some processes to fix this?

Apply Crispr/GM to make plants survive in mars condition (C) Signup and view all the answers

When a disease is brought to Mars, how should we prevent it from having high effects?

Quarantine, heat, clean (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of utilizing insects as an alternative protein source; what strategy would be most appropriate?

Metabolic engineering to change the fat profile (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

GMO Crops

GMO crops are allowed in 44 countries and mainly target staple plants like maize, cotton, and potato.

Flavr Savr Tomato

The Flavr Savr tomato was engineered for longer shelf life by using a gene that suppresses polygalacturonase, an enzyme that degrades pectin.

Rhizosphere microbiome

Rhizosphere microbiome refers to the soil around plant roots, which is critical to plant health and can suppress soil-borne pathogens.

Ectomycorrhizae

Ectomycorrhizae are fungi that form extensive networks connected to plant roots, enhancing water and nutrient uptake for the plant.