Question

"For evaluating transgenic plants, EPA spends about one year reviewing the data collected, prior to approving the plant for commercialization. What is not a concern that EPA focuses on?"

-Potential for transgene flow to undesirable weeds
-The need to minimize or slow the development of resistance in target insects
-Source of gene and how it is expressed
-The improvement in fruit size of the transgenic plant
-The effects of the engineered protein on non-target insects or other animals

Answer 1

The EPA's review of transgenic plants does not typically focus on the improvement in fruit size as this is more related to productivity than safety or environmental impact.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is tasked with ensuring that transgenic plants are safe for the environment and for human consumption. When evaluating these genetically engineered (GE) crops, the EPA focuses on several concerns, such as the potential for transgene flow to undesirable weeds, the need to minimize or slow the development of resistance in target insects, the source of the gene and how it's expressed, and the effects of the engineered protein on non-target insects or other animals.

However, one aspect that is not typically a central focus for the EPA's review is the improvement in fruit size of the transgenic plant, as this characteristic is more related to agricultural productivity than to safety or environmental concerns.