BIOL 1122 DISCUSSION UNIT 4

Question 1

Sphagnum moss is a non-vascular plant belonging to the bryophytes. They possess a thalloid

vegetative form that lacks a differentiation into leaves, stem and roots. However, their

morphology allows for effective absorption of moisture. This, and their ability to intertwine

and form a mat-like layer over surfaces made them an important tool for military and surgical

dressing by ancient human populations (Openstax College, 2013). The Sphagnum moss is

rich in phenolic compounds particularly Sphagnum acid which has proven antibacterial

properties, further adding to its value as wound dressing material (Drobnik and Stebel, 2017).

Question 2

The incorporation of selected genes from animals into plants with the goal of changing

certain desirable traits is advantageous in the sense that we might be able to save certain

organisms from extinction by giving the plants traits that are needed to survive dangers or

reproduce rapidly enough to satisfy demand. We can make plants grow in extreme cold

environments by moving DNA from fish that live in these conditions to crops that we want to

grow in the climate. This may be an excellent technique for ensuring the survival of a man

who feeds on the crop as well as the ecosystem as a whole. However, since DNA functions as

an instruction manual, if it is inserted into a somatic cell that has had its genetic material

removed, the newly formed cell will follow the instructions of the inserted DNA, and the

genetic traits that allow a fish to withstand extreme cold will be passed to the plant. (Biology

Online, n.d.). However, the study must be done with caution because plants will pass genes to

other wildly growing plants, making it difficult to reverse the original plant species' traits. We

may require certain wild plant traits, but if they are harmed by genetically modified plants,

the situation may become irreversible with extinction of older, wilder varieties of the plants
that obtain new DNA from other plants through pollination or other mechanisms. (Biology

Online, n.d.).

REFERENCES

Biology online, (n.d). Genetic Engineering Advantages and Disadvantages. Retrieved from:

https://www.biologyonline.com/tutorials/genetic-engineering-advantages-disadvantages. on

the 28th April, 2021.

Openstax College, (2013). Biology. Rice University. Retrieved from:

http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@9.85:1/ on the 28th April,

2021.

Drobnik, J. and Stebel, A. (2017). Tangled history of the European uses of Sphagnum moss

and sphagnol. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 209:41-49. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.07.025.