[Campbell Biology P.889] In most plant species, chloroplast genes are inherited strictly fro... | Practice Question

In most plant species, chloroplast genes are inherited strictly from the egg. A strategy to prevent transgene escape involves engineering transgenes into chloroplast DNA. If, contrary to most species, chloroplast genes were inherited exclusively from pollen sperm , which of the following would be the most effective strategy to prevent transgene escape into wild populations from engineered plants?

  • A: Engineering plants to be male-sterile, producing no viable pollen.
  • B: Engineering flowers to develop normally but fail to open.
  • C: Engineering transgenes into mitochondrial DNA instead.
  • D: Engineering plants such that the transgene is only expressed in the ovule, not the pollen.
  • E: Relying on self-incompatibility mechanisms to reject pollen bearing the transgene.

Explanation

The text states that chloroplast genes inherited from the egg prevent transgene transfer by pollen. If inherited exclusively from pollen sperm , then the pollen itself would carry the transgene. To prevent its escape, strategies that eliminate viable pollen or prevent its dispersal become crucial. Engineering plants to be male-sterile means they produce no viable pollen, directly preventing the engineered gene from being spread via pollen, making it the most effective direct solution.