Food Production & Biodiversity Quiz

Food Production's Impact on Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• Intensive food production methods, including machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, and selective breeding, are reducing biodiversity. Monoculture practices severely limit species diversity.

• Intensive livestock farming contributes to pollution, overuse of resources, and animal welfare concerns.

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity refers to the variety of species in a given ecosystem.

• Monoculture farming directly reduces biodiversity by limiting the number of species present.

Habitat Destruction

• Land conversion for agriculture, housing, and other uses leads to habitat loss, affecting diverse ecosystems.

• Deforestation has devastating consequences including habitat loss, biodiversity reduction, increased soil erosion, and an increase in atmospheric CO2 levels.

Pollution

• Pollution from untreated sewage and fertilizers reduces the oxygen levels in water bodies, harming aquatic life.

• Non-biodegradable plastics cause environmental damage and threaten animals through ingestion or contact.

• Greenhouse gases, especially CO2 and methane, released from fossil fuels, livestock, and rice cultivation, contribute greatly to climate change.

Conservation Efforts

• Conservation strategies include establishing protected areas, regulating logging, replanting trees, and controlling fishing practices (e.g., quotas, closed seasons) to protect forests and fish stocks.

• Monitoring habitats, captive breeding programs, and seed banks play crucial roles in protecting species.

Biotechnology and Genetic Modification

Bacteria in Biotechnology

• Bacteria are used due to their rapid reproduction rates, ability to produce complex molecules, and ethical advantages. Plasmids are examples of tools in these applications.

Anaerobic Respiration

• Yeast plays a role in producing carbon dioxide (for bread rising) and ethanol (a biofuel).

Enzymes in Biotechnology

• Pectinase increases the yield and clarity of fruit juices by breaking down pectin.

• Biological washing powders use enzymes like proteases and lipases to remove stains (proteins, fats, and starch).

• Lactase aids digestion for lactose-intolerant individuals by breaking down lactose.

Fermenters

• Fermenters provide controlled environments for bacteria and yeast growth, producing various products like ethanol, insulin, and carbon dioxide.

Genetic Modification (GM)

• Genetic modification alters genetic material through gene removal, addition, or modification.

Applications of GM

• Bacteria are modified for medicine to produce human proteins like insulin and growth hormones.

• Herbicide-resistant crops reduce herbicide dependence.

• Pest-resistant crops decrease pesticide use.

• Golden rice is enriched with beta-carotene to combat vitamin A deficiency.

GM Process

• Restriction enzymes cut human genes; DNA ligase joins these genes to bacterial plasmids; the plasmids are then introduced into bacteria.

• Modified bacteria multiply and produce the desired protein.

Controversies of GM Crops

• Health, environmental, and ethical concerns exist around the use of GM crops like soybeans, maize, and rice.