Question

True or False: the original domestication of plants and animals was essentially the same as what scientists do today to create GM crops such as corn, soybeans, etc.

Answer 1

The original domestication of plants and animals through selective breeding is different from modern genetic engineering of GM crops. Selective breeding alters genetic makeup through generations, whereas genetic engineering involves direct manipulation of DNA to create GMOs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The original domestication of plants and animals was fundamentally different from what scientists do today to create GM crops such as corn, soybeans, and others. The domestication process began thousands of years ago and was based on selective breeding, which involved choosing plants with desirable traits and propagating them. This practice indeed altered the genetic makeup of these plants over time, as seen in the transformation of teosinte into modern maize.

In contrast, the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) involves genetic engineering, a more recent scientific advancement. This technique includes the artificial incorporation of genetic material from one species into another through methods such as recombinant DNA technology and transgenic manipulation. These modern methods allow for the introduction of specific genes to confer desirable traits such as pest resistance or herbicide tolerance.