Biotechnologists Have Isolated a Single Gene (HARDY) That Plants Use

question 114

Multiple Choice

Biotechnologists have isolated a single gene (HARDY) that plants use to regulate genes in response to stress.Scientists found that, when this gene is integrated into the genome of rice plants, the plants show a significant increase in water-use efficiency and become more tolerant of dry soil, relative to the wild type.This discovery is important because it has the potential to

• A) limit the amount of pesticides needed to grow rice.
• B) enable rice to grow in a wider range of environments.
• C) enable rice plants to produce more grain per plant.
• D) increase the vitamin A content of rice.
• E) enable rice to grow under reduced amounts of sunlight.

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Definitions:

Okazaki Fragments

Short sequences of DNA nucleotides which are synthesized discontinuously and later joined together during DNA replication on the lagging strand.

DNA Ligase

A catalyst that aids in connecting strands of DNA by promoting the creation of a phosphodiester linkage.

Apoptosis

A process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms, maintaining health by eliminating old, unnecessary, or unhealthy cells.

Cancerous Cells

Abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and can invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.