8.4.6Unit 6: Practical Skills in Biology II
Risks and Benefits of Using GMOs — IAL Edexcel Linear Revision Notes & Topical Questions
5 min read 5 parts Lesson 48 of 48 Unit quiz
Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
Part 1 of 5Benefits
Medicine
- Medicine Bacteria, plants and animals can make human proteins such as insulin and clotting factors in large and reliable amounts.
Crop yield
- Crop yield Crops can be given genes for pest resistance, which can reduce crop losses and the need for some pesticides.
Nutrition
- Nutrition Crops can be modified to contain extra nutrients, which may help people whose diet lacks them.
Safer supply
- Safer supply A human protein made by bacteria avoids the risk of passing on infections that could come from animal or donor sources.
Disease treatment
- Disease treatment Gene therapy offers a way to treat inherited disorders by providing a working copy of the gene.
Part 2 of 5Risks and Concerns
Risks and Concerns
Gene spread
- Gene spread Transferred genes might pass to wild relatives by cross-pollination, giving unwanted traits such as herbicide resistance to weeds.
Biodiversity
- Biodiversity Widespread use of a few modified crop varieties could harm wild species or reduce the diversity of crops.
Human health
- Human health Some people worry that eating modified food might cause allergies or other harm, although this has to be tested.
Cost and control
- Cost and control Patents can mean farmers must buy seed from a few companies, which can make small farmers more dependent.
Gene therapy risk
- Gene therapy risk Viral vectors can trigger immune responses, and inserted genes might disrupt other genes in the genome.
Part 3 of 5Ethical Issues
1
Some people believe it is wrong to alter the genes of living organisms because this interferes with nature.
2
Modified animals may suffer, so their welfare must be weighed against the benefit of the drug that they provide.
3
The benefit to many patients may be argued to outweigh the cost to a smaller number of animals.
4
Modified food needs clear labelling so that consumers can make informed choices about what they eat.
5
Decisions are best made after risks have been tested, results published and the public consulted.
Part 4 of 5Weighing the Evidence
Weighing the Evidence
Medical use
- Medical use Concern is usually lower for drugs made in contained fermenters, because the organisms remain inside closed systems.
Food crops
- Food crops Concern is greater when modified crops are grown in open fields or eaten, because they are not contained.
Evaluation
- Evaluation A good answer gives a benefit and a risk, explains each and then reaches a balanced judgement using evidence.
| Area | Benefit | Risk or concern |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Large supplies of human proteins | Welfare of modified animals |
| Agriculture | Higher yield and pest resistance | Spread of genes to wild plants |
| Gene therapy | Possible cure for inherited disease | Immune response to viral vector |
Part 5 of 5Exam Checklist & Tips
8.4.6 – Key Points for the Exam
- Transgenic organism An organism containing a gene from another species.
- Herbicide resistance The ability of a plant to survive treatment with a weedkiller.
- Cross-pollination Transfer of pollen from one plant to the flower of another plant.
- Biodiversity The variety of living organisms in a habitat or on Earth.
- Gene therapy Treatment of a genetic disorder by inserting a working copy of a gene.
Common Mistakes
- Giving only benefits or only risks; evaluation questions need both sides and a judgement.
- Treating all GMOs as the same;
- drug-producing bacteria in a fermenter present different risks to crops grown in fields.
- Stating that modified food is definitely harmful;
- the concern is that the risk has to be tested and not that harm is proven.
- Writing vague points such as "it is unnatural" with no explanation of the ethical argument.
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