The Mighty Chestnut Tree Once Dominated Many of Our Appalachian

question 30

Essay

The mighty chestnut tree once dominated many of our Appalachian forests but was decimated by an exotic fungus in the first part of the 20th century.A few small groves of trees still remain in isolated pockets, and living roots of some of the fallen ancient trees still try to send up new shoots.These shoots always die as soon as they are exposed to the fungus.How could chestnut trees be genetically modified to be resistant to the fungus and to grow again?

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Definitions:

Epidermis

The outermost layer of cells covering an organism, providing protection against the environment.

Ectoderm

The outermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development, giving rise to the formation of the nervous system and the skin epidermis.

Germ Layer

One of the three primary layers of cells (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) in the early embryo from which all the organs and tissues of the body eventually develop.

Excretory System

A system of organs responsible for the removal of waste products and excess substances from an organism's body.