Question

Which of the following techniques is commonly used to introduce herbicide resistance into plants?

• A. RNA interference.
• B. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
• C. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• D. Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer.

Hint:

Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer is a widely used technique for genetic modification of plants, including introducing traits like herbicide resistance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The correct Option is : 4

Step 1: Role of Agrobacterium in genetic engineering.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a bacterium, naturally integrates a portion of its DNA (T-DNA) into plant cells. This process is leveraged in genetic engineering to insert target genes, such as those conferring herbicide resistance, into plants. 

Step 2: Explanation of alternative techniques. 
RNA interference (Option A): This technique silences specific genes but is not employed for introducing herbicide resistance. 

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing (Option B): While a precise genome editing tool, it is less frequently utilized for herbicide resistance compared to Agrobacterium-mediated methods. 

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (Option C): PCR amplifies DNA sequences and is not used for transferring genes into plants. \[ \therefore \text{The correct answer is: Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer.} \]