Question

With reference to applications of biotechnology, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. A foreign gene is inserted into host plants to develop transgenic plants
2. Mutation breeding is one of the techniques to produce transgenic plants
3. Golden rice is a transgenic variety of rice with genes taken from the daffodil plant

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

The correct option is C 1 and 3 only

Statement 1 is correct: A transgenic crop plant is the one where foreign genes are inserted into plants that are derived from other species. To produce a genetically modified (GM) plant, foreign DNA is transferred into the cells of a plant. These cells are then grown in tissue culture where they transform into plants. The seeds produced by these plants will have the foreign DNA.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Mutation breeding is not one of the techniques to produce transgenic plants. Mutation breeding is the process of exposing seeds to chemicals or radiation in order to generate mutants with desirable traits. Plants created using mutations (changes in the DNA) are sometimes called mutagenic plants.

Statement 3 is correct: Golden rice is a transgenic variety of rice with genes for synthesis of ꞵ - carotene taken from the daffodil plant and inserted into rice. As a result of accumulation of provitamin A (beta-carotene) and xanthophylls in the endosperm of golden rice, it is yellow in colour. The ꞵ - carotene is converted into vitamin A in human beings.