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A bioengineering firm is developing a new probiotic supplement using genetic engineering to modify bacteria to produce beneficial compounds for human health.

What is a potential benefit of using genetic engineering for the development of this supplement?

• It makes the bacteria less effective in promoting health.

• It allows for the creation of new strains of bacteria that produce specific health-promoting compounds.

• It prevents the bacteria from reproducing and colonizing the gut.

• It introduces harmful mutations that may negatively impact health.

1. A medical research team is working on developing a new treatment for a genetic disease by targeting and editing the mutated gene responsible for the condition. They use CRISPR-Cas9 technology to accomplish this goal. What is the primary advantage of using CRISPR-Cas9 in this scenario?

•  It can only target one specific gene.

• It randomly modifies multiple genes at once.

•  It can precisely target and edit specific genes with high accuracy.

• It eliminates the need for DNA analysis.

1. A team of neuroscientists are using CRISPR technology to study a rare neurological disorder in mice. They introduce a mutation into a specific gene suspected to cause the disorder and observe its effects.

Part 1: What is the goal of using CRISPR to introduce this mutation in mice?

• To disrupt the mice's ability to learn

• To create a model for studying the disorder's progression and symptoms

• To eliminate all genes associated with the disorder

• To increase the mice's lifespan

1. A team of neuroscientists is using CRISPR technology to study a rare neurological disorder in mice. They introduce a mutation into a specific gene suspected to cause the disorder and observe its effects.

3. Part 2: How can this mouse model benefit the neuroscientists' research?

• By providing insights into the genetic basis and potential treatments for the disorder

• By offering a way to reduce interest in the research

• By preventing the disorder from manifesting in the mice

• By creating more complex disorders unrelated to the research

1. A team of agricultural scientists are researching ways to improve crop yield in an area prone to soil salinity. They use genetic engineering to introduce a salt tolerance gene into a variety of wheat.

3. Part 1: What advantage does this approach offer to agricultural scientists?

•  It allows them to control all aspects of the wheat plant's growth.

• It ensures the wheat variety remains unaffected by pests.

• It enables the wheat to grow better in saline soils by regulating ion uptake.

• It helps the wheat plant photosynthesize in darkness.

1. A team of agricultural scientists is researching ways to improve crop yield in an area prone to soil salinity. They use genetic engineering to introduce a salt tolerance gene into a variety of wheat.

Part 2: How might the use of genetic engineering in this context impact future crop production?

• By reducing wheat production in other regions

• By increasing the global availability of wheat in saline areas

• By making wheat susceptible to more diseases

• By decreasing wheat's nutritional content 

How is genetic engineering used in modern day agriculture to enhance crop yields and resistance to environmental stressors?

• By selectively cross-breeding crops with wild varieties to introduce natural genetic diversity.

• By using the technique to introduce specific genes that transfer desirable traits such as drought tolerance, pest resistance, or improved nutritional content in plants.

• By employing traditional farming methods to optimize soil health and crop nutrition, thereby indirectly enhancing plant resilience.

• By implementing advanced irrigation techniques and precision farming technologies to mitigate the impact of environmental factors on crop growth.