Question

The "Golden rice" has been developed to help people suffering from which one of the following diseases?

• A. Beriberi
• B. Scurvy
• C. Pernicious anaemia
• D. Xerophthalmia

Hint:

Golden Rice = Vitamin A = Better Eyesight.
"Beta-carotene" gives the rice its Yellow/Golden color.
Remember: Yellow/Orange vegetables (like carrots) are good for your eyes because of Vitamin A. Golden Rice follows the same logic.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice designed to produce beta-carotene. The question asks to identify the clinical condition that this biofortified crop aims to prevent or treat.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Nutritional Modification: Scientists (Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer) engineered rice to express enzymes that synthesize beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) in the edible endosperm.

• Mechanism of Benefit: When humans consume Golden Rice, the body converts the beta-carotene into active Vitamin A (Retinol).

• Target Deficiency: Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness and immune system failure in developing countries where rice is the staple diet.

• Xerophthalmia: This is the medical term for the range of eye symptoms caused by VAD. It begins with night blindness and progresses to the drying of the cornea and conjunctiva, eventually leading to total blindness.

• Analysis of other options:
- Beriberi is caused by Vitamin $B_1$ (Thiamine) deficiency.
- Scurvy is caused by Vitamin C deficiency.
- Pernicious anaemia is caused by Vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency.

• Public Health Impact: Golden Rice was developed as a humanitarian tool to provide a sustainable source of Vitamin A to poor populations who cannot afford a varied diet.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Golden rice was developed to combat Vitamin A deficiency, the primary clinical manifestation of which is Xerophthalmia.