[Campbell Biology P.888] A transgenic variety of Agrostis stolonifera was engineered to resi... | Practice Question

A transgenic variety of Agrostis stolonifera was engineered to resist glyphosate. Based on the information provided, what was a significant outcome observed three years after its escape from an experimental plot?

  • A: The escaped Agrostis plants rapidly lost their glyphosate resistance in the wild.
  • B: All Agrostis plants in the vicinity became glyphosate resistant, indicating complete spread.
  • C: The ecological impact of the escape was immediately and severely detrimental to the local ecosystem.
  • D: A significant percentage (62%) of Agrostis plants in the vicinity were found to be glyphosate resistant.

Explanation

The section "Addressing the Problem of Transgene Escape" details the Agrostis stolonifera case: "Despite efforts to eradicate the escapee, 62% of the Agrostis plants found in the vicinity three years later were glyphosate resistant." This directly supports option D. Options A, B, and C contradict specific details provided in the text regarding the percentage of resistant plants and the observed ecological impact.