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 genetically modified variety of rice developed to address Vitamin A deficiency, a prevalent issue in many parts of the world, especially in regions where rice is a staple food. Let's explore why the correct answer is: It is Vitamin A enriched, with a gene from daffodil.

1. Understanding Golden Rice: Golden rice is rice enriched with beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A. This enhancement is achieved by introducing specific genes into the rice genome.
2. Genetic Modification Process: The significant step in developing Golden Rice was the introduction of a gene from the daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) which produces phytoene synthase and a gene from a soil bacterium (Erwinia uredovora), which produces another enzyme, carotene desaturase. These enzymes transform geranylgeranyl diphosphate into beta-carotene.
3. Significance of Vitamin A: Vitamin A is crucial for visual health, immune function, and cell growth. Deficiencies can lead to severe health problems, including blindness and increased mortality in children.
4. Evaluation of Other Options:
   • Option 2: "It is pest resistant, with a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis." - This description is typical for Bt crops, like Bt cotton, where genes from Bacillus thuringiensis provide pest resistance but not applicable to Golden rice, which is not genetically modified for pest resistance.
   • Option 3: "It is drought tolerant, developed using Agrobacterium vector." - While many plants are modified using Agrobacterium, the primary goal for Golden Rice is not drought tolerance.
   • Option 4: "It has yellow grains, because of a gene introduced from a primitive variety of rice." - The yellow color of the grains is indeed due to beta-carotene, but not from primitive varieties of rice. It's due to genetic modification with genes from daffodil and bacterium.
5. Conclusion: Given this information, the correct statement about Golden Rice is that it is Vitamin A enriched, with a gene from daffodil (Option 1). This trait is specifically designed to help alleviate Vitamin A deficiency-related health issues in rice-dependent regions.