BIO: Exam 2
How do GMO's stack up at the supermarket?
-"Stacked traits" that have genes for resistance to both herbicides and insects.
How do PFAs circulate in the environment?
-1950s, manufactures had a "breakthrough" with -waterproof, stain resistant, and non-stick products. -Soon was getting into our water. -Military bases -EPA
What is the length of time PFAs stay in tissues?
-4 years for the level in the body to go down by half.
What are the greenhouse gases?
-A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation -Water vapor -Carbon dioxide -Methane -Nitrous oxide
What is a GMO?
-A genetically modified organism -Any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. -Creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.
What is golden rice?
-A genetically modified variety of rice containing large amounts of the orange or red plant pigment betacarotene. -A substance important in the human diet as a precursor of vitamin A.
What is geoengineering?
-A manipulation of an environmental process that affects the earth's climate, in an attempt to counteract the effects of global warming.
What are fossil fuels?
-A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
What are some ways geoengineering may reduce climate change?
-Afforestation -Solar radiation management -Carbon filtering -Albedo -Space reflectors
What is the Great Lakes Water Compact?
-An agreement between eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces to regulate diversion of water from the Great Lakes basin.
What is Bt corn?
-Bt: bacillus thuringiensis; the Bt Gene is inserted into crop, crop is infected by European corn borer, pest dies when feeding on any plant part.
What are round-up ready crops?
-Considered safe for consumption. -Crops genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup. -Its active ingredient is glyphosate. -Widely used by both people in their backyards and farmers in their fields. -Roundup Ready plants are resistant to Roundup, so farmers that plant these seeds must use Roundup to keep other weeds from growing in their fields. -The first developed in 1996, with the introduction of genetically modified soybeans that are resistant to Roundup. These crops were developed to help farmers control weeds. Because the new crops are resistant to Roundup, the herbicide can be used in the fields to eliminate unwanted foliage. Current Roundup Ready crops include soy, corn, canola, alfalfa, cotton, and sorghum, with wheat under development.
What are some major types of GMO's?
-Corn (field and sweet). -Papaya. -Canola. -Cotton. -Alfalfa.
What are some future GMO's being worked on?
-Disease-resistant banana, wheat and potatoes are all in the pipeline, along with drought-tolerant sugarcane and maize. -Scientists are working on disease-resistant pigs, bird-flu resistant chickens, hornless dairy cows and highly productive sheep.
What evidence is there to show Climate Change is occurring?
-Global temperature rise -Warming oceans -Shrinking ice sheets -Glacial retreat -Decreased snow cover -Sea level rise -Declining Arctic sea ice -Acidity of oceans surface
Why is groundwater important?
-Groundwater, which is in aquifers below the surface of the Earth, is one of the Nation's most important natural resources. Groundwater is the source of about 33 percent of the water that county and city water departments supply to households and businesses (public supply).
What are the effect of PFA's on humans and animals?
-If humans, or animals, ingest PFAS → by eating or drinking food → PFAS are absorbed, and can accumulate in the body → can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals.
What effect do some GMO's have on native species of insects?
-Insecticides protect crops from pests. But chemicals can kill the 'good bugs' with the bad. -Certain GM crops need less insecticides and only target specific insects.
What are PFAs?
-Man-made chemicals. -Don't break down and they can accumulate over time. -There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. -Have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. -They have been used in non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil. -Found in: food, commercial household products, workplace, drinking water, living organisms.
Why are fossil fuels dangerous to the environment?
-Most of this air pollution we cause results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline to produce electricity and power our vehicles.
What are some differences between GMO's and their natural counterparts?
-Organic foods can be priced up to fifty percent higher than their GMO counterparts. -Organic foods are more expensive to grow due to the fact that they need to be certified --> they are more labor intensive in tilling and removing weeds and that there is the need to apply large amounts of organically approved pesticides. -No pesticides can be used in the growth of organic foods. -Organic meats don't have any growth hormones added to them. Studies show that meat products with growth hormones can adversely affect the cardiovascular system. -People who eat organic foods are healthier than those who eat foods laden with pesticides, herbicides, and hormones. -You'll pay less in doctors visits from ill effects of the chemicals and antibiotics in other foods.
What are some harmful water pollution types?
-Point-source, non-point source, and trans-boundary. When the source of water pollution is a single point, for example an oil spill, it is called point-source water pollution. -The most widespread source of water contamination in undeveloped countries is raw sewage dumped into lakes, rivers and streams. In developed countries, the three main sources of water pollution are: Agriculture, including fertilizers, animal waste and other waste, pesticides, etc.
What is residence time of water?
-Residence time: Tr = V/I [T], a measure of the average time a molecule of waterspends in a reservoir. The residence time defined for steady-state systems is equal to the reservoir volume divided by the inflow or outflow rate.
What are some alternatives to fossil fuels?
-Solar energy, wind power and hydroelectric power.
How has GMO use changed in recent years?
-Technology, techniques. -By decreasing fieldwork costs and introducing larger machinery to spray and harvest a uniform crop, genetically modified organisms have reduced the need for a labor force in rural areas. -Agricultural companies are currently developing drones and other remote-controlled tractors, planters, and sprayers to combat the dearth of laborers in large farming operations. -Costly machinery and even more expensive land prices have forced many young farmers out of the market.
Why are GMO's developed?
-The first crops developed were used for animal or human food and provide resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, spoilage or chemical treatments (e.g. resistance to a herbicide).
Why was the Compact developed?
-To provide protection and sustainable use of the Great Lakes for future generations.
What are some drawbacks to GMO's?
-Transfer of trans-genes to other organisms -Toxicity of GMO to humans (food allergy) -Effects on non-target organisms -Corporate control
What is the make-up of freshwater vs. saltwater on Earth?
-With 97.5% being salt water and 2.5% being fresh water.
What are the layers of the Earth affected by climate change?
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