Question

Which of the following is true for Golden rice?

• A. It is Vitamin A enriched, with a gene from daffodil.
• B. It is pest resistant, with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis.
• C. It is drought tolerant, developed using Agrobacterium vector.
• D. It has yellow grains, because of a gene introduced from a primitive variety of rice.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Golden rice is a type of genetically modified rice that is designed to combat vitamin A deficiency, which is a major public health issue in many developing countries. The key characteristics and the correct choice from the given options can be understood through the following explanation:

1. Vitamin A Enrichment: Golden rice is specifically engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. This is achieved by inserting genes into the rice genome.
2. Genetic Modification Process: The genes responsible for the synthesis of beta-carotene in golden rice were isolated from two sources. One of the key genes is derived from daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) and the other gene, involved in the biosynthetic pathway, is from a bacterium called Erwinia uredovora.
3. Ruling Out Other Options:
   • The option stating pest resistance with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis refers to Bt crops, like Bt cotton or Bt corn, and not golden rice.
   • The option about drought tolerance developed using Agrobacterium vector is incorrect for golden rice, although Agrobacterium is frequently used in genetic engineering.
   • The option regarding yellow grains due to a primitive rice variety is incorrect; the yellow color in golden rice grains is due to the accumulation of beta-carotene, not from a primitive rice variety.
4. Conclusion: Therefore, the correct statement regarding golden rice is that it is "Vitamin A enriched, with a gene from daffodil."