Selective breeding, genetic engineering and gene editing

Question 1

Evaluate this claim: “Gene therapy can cure every inherited disease.” Which response is best supported by evidence?

• A. Some gene therapies are approved for specific conditions, but many diseases are still being researched.
• B. It only works on plants.
• C. It has never helped anyone.
• D. It changes the genes of every person on Earth.

Question 2

Farmers breed only the cows that give the most milk, generation after generation. What is this called?

• A. natural selection
• B. selective breeding (artificial selection)
• C. genetic engineering
• D. cloning

Question 3

Evaluate this claim: “Insect-resistant GM crops mean farmers never need to manage pests again.” Which response is best supported by evidence?

• A. Pests disappear forever after one season.
• B. The crops kill every animal that touches them.
• C. Insects cannot evolve.
• D. They can reduce insecticide spraying, but insects can evolve resistance, so careful management is still needed.

Question 4

Farmers breed only the cows that give the most milk, generation after generation. What is this called?

• A. genetic engineering
• B. natural selection
• C. selective breeding (artificial selection)
• D. cloning

Question 5

Evaluate this claim: “GM crops are unsafe to eat.” Which response is best supported by evidence?

• A. All GM crops are identical, so one test proves everything.
• B. A website says so, so it must be true.
• C. Large reviews of studies have found approved GM foods as safe as conventional foods, but each new crop is tested separately.
• D. Nobody has ever tested GM food.

Question 6

Golden rice was genetically modified to make a substance the body turns into vitamin A. What problem does it aim to reduce?

• A. obesity
• B. vitamin A deficiency, which can cause blindness
• C. antibiotic resistance
• D. lack of protein

Question 7

Evaluate this claim: “Insect-resistant GM crops mean farmers never need to manage pests again.” Which response is best supported by evidence?

• A. Insects cannot evolve.
• B. Pests disappear forever after one season.
• C. The crops kill every animal that touches them.
• D. They can reduce insecticide spraying, but insects can evolve resistance, so careful management is still needed.

Question 8

Farmers breed only the cows that give the most milk, generation after generation. What is this called?

• A. genetic engineering
• B. selective breeding (artificial selection)
• C. cloning
• D. natural selection

Question 9

Evaluate this claim: “Gene therapy can cure every inherited disease.” Which response is best supported by evidence?

• A. Some gene therapies are approved for specific conditions, but many diseases are still being researched.
• B. It changes the genes of every person on Earth.
• C. It has never helped anyone.
• D. It only works on plants.

Question 10

Farmers breed only the cows that give the most milk, generation after generation. What is this called?

• A. cloning
• B. genetic engineering
• C. natural selection
• D. selective breeding (artificial selection)

Question 11

Evaluate this claim: “GM crops are unsafe to eat.” Which response is best supported by evidence?

• A. Large reviews of studies have found approved GM foods as safe as conventional foods, but each new crop is tested separately.
• B. Nobody has ever tested GM food.
• C. A website says so, so it must be true.
• D. All GM crops are identical, so one test proves everything.