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Questions and Answers
What was the first FDA approved genetically modified food?
What is the enzyme responsible for softening of the Flavr Savr Tomato?
Polygalacturonase
What type of RNA inhibits the synthesis of the PG enzyme in Flavr Savr Tomato?
Antisense RNA
Flavr Savr Tomato was licensed in 2000.
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Who started the Golden Rice Project?
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What is the primary goal of Golden Rice?
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Golden rice differs from its parental strain by the addition of three _____ biosynthesis genes.
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Rice can naturally produce beta-carotene in its endosperm.
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What is biofortification?
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Study Notes
Flavr Savr Tomato
- First genetically modified food approved by the FDA in 1994.
- Designed to delay the softening and rotting process through the inhibition of the enzyme polygalacturonase (PG).
- Calgene introduced an antisense RNA (asRNA) which is complementary to the PG mRNA, reducing PG enzyme synthesis.
- The transformation involved in vitro transcription, RNA isolation, hybridization, and measurement of PG activity.
Constructs and Components
- Utilized constructs such as pCGN1436, pCGN1547, pCGN1548, pCGN1549, pCGN1557, pCGN1558, pCGN1559, pCGN1578, and pCGN4109 for genetic modification.
- Key components of pCGN4109 include:
- LB (left border)
- RB (right border)
- nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase)
- pg (polygalacturonase)
- 35S CaMV (promoter)
- T-Tml (termination sequences from plasmid pTiA6).
Effects of Malnutrition
- Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) leads to symptoms such as night blindness, increased cancer risk, anemia, tissue deterioration, and cardiovascular issues.
- Nearly 9 million children die from malnutrition annually, often due to preventable diseases resulting from inadequate nutrition.
- Reduced immune competence significantly raises morbidity and mortality rates in children.
Golden Rice Project
- Initiated in 1982 by Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer, funded by several organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation.
- Aims to introduce and distribute biofortified rice enriched with vitamin A in regions with dietary shortages.
Importance of Rice
- Rice is a global staple, cultivated for over 10,000 years, serving as a primary calorie source for over 3 billion people.
- Other plants like sweet potatoes showcase varying pro-vitamin A content, underlining rice's importance in dietary nutrition.
Golden Rice Characteristics
- Genetically engineered to synthesize beta-carotene (provitamin A) in the edible part (endosperm) of rice.
- The orange color of golden rice results from the accumulation of beta-carotene.
- Developed at ETH Zurich, utilizing genes from daffodil and other sources to facilitate beta-carotene biosynthesis.
Genetic Engineering of Golden Rice
- Golden rice production involved transforming rice with phytoene synthase (psy) from daffodil and a second gene for beta-carotene synthesis.
- The rice plant is capable of producing beta-carotene in leaves but requires modification for production in the endosperm.
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Description
Explore the key aspects of genetically modified foods, including the Flavr Savr Tomato, Golden Rice, and Bt Cotton. Discover their approval processes, genetic modifications, and implications in agriculture. This quiz will test your knowledge on significant genetically modified organisms and their impact on food production.
