Mr.Mathieu
Period 2
1/14/2014
Author: Unknown, Information provided by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Publish Date: February 3rd 2013
Summary
Scientists at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), have hypothesized a way to create corn that will produce more seeds (kernels). Doctor Peter Bommert said that by increasing the size of the inflorescence meristem, a "stem-cell reservoir” , it would in turn allow more space for the kernels to develop. This would be by making changes the Fasciated Ear2(FEA2) gene. The lab would need to create a weaker version of Fea2 which would in turn allow the the maristem to enlarge and create more space for more ears. More ears means more kernels created. In a test, the corn with the genetic modification produced 13% more kernels than the more prevalent Zea Mays corn crop that is used across America today. Next, the lab will try to cross breed some of the highest yielding genetically modified corn with this strand of the weakened FEA2 to create an even more efficient crop.
Connection
In this unit, we learned about genetically modified organisms. In this example, the corn is being genetically modified to have a larger yield of kernels, and in turn allow more food to be produced. If we did a GMO test on the corn from this new type of maize, much like the GMO lab we did in class, we would find GMO genes. Also, this would help humans sustain a larger population. We learned about this in chapter 14 from Thomas Robert Malthus and Charles Darwin. At our current state, we have a maximum population for how much food we can produce. If our population exceeds the number of people we are allowed by our food, there would be a struggle for existence. By developing techniques and technology to create more food, we are able to increase the population that our environment, Earth , can support without a widespread struggle for existence.
Are there safer alternative ways to creating more kernels on a corn, instead of genetically modifying genes in a corn plant, and what are they if there area any?
ReplyDeleteAn alternative to genetically modifying the maize (which is not dangerous) would be to plant corn that naturally has more ears. But, the downside to this is that a different breed of corn might not be suitable to farms in the United States and it's quality could be much worse than the Zea Mays corn variety, which is used across America today.
DeleteWould this corn have to be subject to more pesticides?. If there are more kernals, there is more volume for insects to consume the insect population may grow. Would this lead to an increased need for pesticides, cancelling out the saved cost of more kernals?
ReplyDelete