Gibberellic acid, a growth hormone, is responsible for the growth of stems in many plants; specifically, this paper highlights GA’s role in pea plants. Gregor Mendel, the earliest geneticist we know of, formed the theory of heredity, in which he described genes (traits) passed down from one generation to another. Using his knowledge, we tested whether an unknown genotype, le*, contained a mutation along the signaling pathway of GA. Based on our data, the le* pea plants treated with GA grew 20.2 cm. while the le* pea plants treated without GA only grew 5.9 cm. We can understand that the le* pea plants were able to synthesize the GA enzyme and grow taller as a result. Further, we performed gel electrophoresis to understand the genetic …show more content…
Some of Mendel’s pea plants were tall (Le) while others were short, or dwarfs (le). Our experiment centers on why an uncharacterized pea mutant (le*) has short stem height. The determining factor of plant height is the hormone gibberellin (gibberellic acid, or GA), discovered in the 1920s from a fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. After extraction, it was purified into liquid form, able to be sprayed onto plants,
Mutations along this signaling pathway disrupt plant growth; if a dwarfed plant is responsive to the addition of GA, then the mutation can be found along the initial portion of the pathway (at the conversion of GA precursors to GA1) (Biology 1 Laboratory Manual, 2014).
In this experiment we are testing whether or not the mutated le* pea plant is responsive to GA. While Le plants already code for a GA biosynthetic enzyme, the addition of GA to le mutants could jumpstart their stunted growth. We hypothesized that spraying the three plant genotypes (Le, le, le*) with GA3 should result in increased growth over one week, as the plants synthesize active GA1. If the plants are not responsive to GA, mutations could be found in the receptor or in other genes, and we will see no change in height. Secondly, we are testing whether the le* mutant will have a change in the DNA sequence of the Le gene after applying GA. Through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and gel
The hypothesis behind this experiment is that the Gibberellic acid has a positive growth effect on the plant and causes it grow larger in height.
No antibacterial compounds are available resistant to this disease but genetic engineering has developed the first trees to resist this devastating disease and increased the consumption level. Specific foods have been developed to correct malnutrition problems. To this end, plants have been modified to provide increased and more stable quantities of essential amino acids, vitamins, or desirable fatty acids. For example, golden rice has been genetically modified to increase beta-carotene content which may help to overcome the severe vitamin A deficiencies that cause blindness and iron. Plants can also be genetically modified to grow well in areas of low production potential. For example, two researchers in Mexico inserted a gene from a bacterium into papaya and tobacco to produce acid-tolerant crops. The crops thus secrete citric acid from their roots by combining with toxic metals which in turn making the soils accessible to protect the tropical forests which contain most of the world’s species of plants and animals. Genetic engineering also helps to decrease or eliminate the allergenic proteins that occur naturally. For example, it has been already used to reduce the levels of major allergen in rice and peanuts. Genetic engineering brings closer the prospect of commercial production in plants of edible vaccines and therapeutics for preventing and treating human diseases like cancer and diabetes. The genetically derived vaccines are potentially
30. What attributes of the garden pea plant made it an excellent organism for Gregor Mendel’s genetic studies?
Modifying plants is not a new concept. "For centuries, gardeners and farmers have been crossbreeding different species of
The origin of GMOs started in 1982 by an experiment done by the United States Department of Agriculture, in which they changed the genes of a tomato plant. Commercial use of Genetically Engineered crops began in 1996 (Fernandez-Cornejo et al. pg 7). While developing Genetically Modified Organisms, scientists and researchers characterized the types of Genetically Engineered crop traits into
Genetically altering genes has been around for ages by cross breeding plants. Genetic alteration has been practice to help plants grow healthier and stronger helping Indians to become nomadic. “Gatherers
Since 1994, GMOs have started to become more prevalent in our fruits and vegetables. According to Shireen, the FDA to start the production and manufacturization of Flavr Savr, a tomato that has a longer shelf life than the conventional tomatoes, became approved as a GMO patent. When a farmer puts genetically modified seeds into the soil, the crops start to develop differently. The process of genetic
This procedure has also been performed successfully in the lab with dicots, broadleaf plants, soybeans and tomatoes for many years. Through this procedure, the desired gene and marker is inserted into the tDNA of the plasmid. Tissues of the organism are then transferred to a medium containing an antibiotic or herbicide in order to tell if the organism has successfully taken up the desired gene because only the tissues expressing the marker will survive. These tissues are then grown under controlled environmental conditions in tissue cultures containing nutrients and hormones so that whole plants are grown. When plants are grown and have produced seed, an evaluation of the progeny is done making sure that the desired traits have been passed on (Understanding GMOs).
The author particularly and uniquely writes through the eyes of the plants and, in doing so, lets us see from a different perspective. This book is written with a very personal touch and passion for nature. The wisdom of gardening explains why we grow certain types of apples, tulips, use marijuana, and why we doubt eating genetically-engineered potatoes, yet, within the context of human-plant relationship, it brings the uniqueness out of this book. One main theme from the book is that humans have manipulated plants in agriculture and cultivation throughout history. Humans
Knowing that gibberellic acid can cause plants to bolt could lead to a gardener being able to increase the size of the plant. However, gibberellic acid can cause the plant to grow too large. The effects of large amounts of gibberellic acid could kill the plant because it is not able to fully supports own weight. With the knowledge of how gibberellic acid effects plants in mind, farmers, gardeners, and plant laypersons alike can learn to grow large and healthy plants.
The six plots were individually given a treatment. Two of the plates were treated with 3.0 mL of Gibberellic Acid (GB). We chose to treat two of them with the same amount to see if our overall outcome was about the same. The second two plates were treated with 1.5 mL of Gibberellic Acid and 1.5 mL of deionized water (DI). Again, we treated two with the same amount to validate our results. The third two plates were treated with 3.0 mL of DI water; this was our control plate which did not receive any of the hormone. These treatment amounts were chosen by wanting to conduct an experiment having one treated with all hormone, half hormone and half DI water, and just DI water. We wanted to determine what effects the hormone had on the root length and stem length.
Consumers who were concerned with the genetically modified tomatoes and the lack of success in sales of the company removed the Flavr Savr tomatoes from the market, but were able to influence revolutionary modern changes in genetically modified tomatoes. The demand of the Flavr Savr tomatoes was high and remained high, but the company couldn’t profit from their product and was later acquired by the Monsanto Company. However, thanks partially Calgene’s prior existence, we are now familiar with how to experiment with tomato’s genes in order to potentially benefit from them in future
On one hand, target gene of interest are responsible for economically important characteristics and mega adaptation. Such characteristics include pest and disease resistance, male sterility, self-incompatibility, and others related to shape, color, and architecture of whole plants and are often of mono- or oligogenic in nature. Often the target gene can be detected phenotypically, and markers are used to select for the
The development of recombinant DNA techniques have allowed desired genes to be inserted into a plant genomes resulting in plants that are totally different to the parent plant. The first genetically modified plant-antibiotic resistant tobacco and petunias-were produced in 1983, but it was until 1994 that US markets saw the first genetically modified species of tomato, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, several transgenic crops have received FDA
Many people today are often amazed by the amount of nutrition and health information required for humans. The constant stream of genetic modification of food can be confusing. Genetically modified (GM) foods are plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup artificially altered by scientists to make them grow faster, taste better, last longer and to provide more nutrients. Scientists make these alternations by transferring genes from one organism into another in order to change the condition or character of the receiving organism. This process is known as biotechnology or genetic engineering (GE), and it has revolutionized the way that agriculture is practiced in many parts of the world. Researchers are now able to use GE