Question

Which of the following is a transgenic food crop which can help in solving the problem of night blindness in children in developing countries?

• A. Golden Rice
  
• B. Bt brinjal
• C. Bt soybean
  
• D. none of the above
  

Answer 1

The correct option is A Golden Rice


Crops which have been genetically modified to carry a foreign gene in their genome are known as transgenic or genetically modified crops.

Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice, the edible parts of which have been genetically engineered to produce beta carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A. As a result of the accumulation of provitamin A (beta-carotene) in the endosperm of golden rice, it is yellow in colour.

Vitamin A is very important for our immunity, good skin and vision in dim light. Vitamin A deficiency is highly prevalent in developing countries because a huge proportion of the diet of most people consists of staple foods like rice or wheat, which are naturally deficient in Vitamin A. Hence, intake of biofortified golden rice as a part of a regular diet can increase the synthesis of Vitamin A in the body and hence prevent the occurrence of night blindness.

Bt brinjal is a genetically modified variety of brinjal which is resistant to pests (insects that harm crops), particularly the brinjal fruit and shoot borer.

Bt soybean is also a transgenic plant engineered with the cry genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis to develop resistance against pests.