Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

GMO plants contain what types of genetic material?

1. Only genes from the same species

2. Genes from another organism or altered genes

3. Natural genes only

4. Hybrid genes from crossbreeding

The correct answer is: Genes from another organism or altered genes

GMO plants, or genetically modified organisms, contain genes that can be sourced from different organisms, including those entirely unrelated to the species itself. This process often involves the incorporation of specific genes from other plants, animals, bacteria, or viruses, which can lead to desirable traits such as pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or improved nutritional content. Furthermore, genetic engineering techniques may also involve altering existing genes within the plant to enhance certain characteristics. In contrast to this, options that limit the genetic material in GMO plants to only genes from the same species or purely natural genes do not account for the fundamental principle of genetic modification. The assertion that GMO plants possess only hybrid genes from crossbreeding fails to recognize that traditional hybridization does not typically involve the same level of genetic manipulation or the introduction of foreign DNA as found in genetic engineering. Thus, the emphasis on the presence of genes from another organism or altered sequences is what distinguishes GMO plants.