Question

A transgenic food crop which may help in solving the problem of night blindness in developing countries is
A. Golden rice
B. Flavr savr tomatoes
C. Starlink maize
D. Bt soybean

Answer 1

Night blindness is often referred to as nyctalopia, a form of vision disorder. At night or in dim light settings , individuals with night blindness suffer impaired vision.

Complete Answer:
Plants used during agriculture are genetically engineered crops , the DNA of which has been engineered using techniques of genetic engineering. It is possible to engineer plant genomes through physical methods or by using Agrobacterium for the distribution of sequences stored in binary T-DNA vectors.

Now, let us find the solution from the options-
- Night blindness is induced by vitamin A deficiency. Golden rice, a genetically engineered rice developed with high levels of beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, is known to have a solution in developing nations. The increased beta carotene levels are golden in colour.
- By inserting an antisense gene that interferes with the development of the Beta polygalacturonase enzyme, the Flavr Savr was rendered more immune to rotting. The enzyme typically degrades pectin in the walls of the cells and results in fruit softening, rendering them more vulnerable to fungal infections being harmed. Thus, option B is not the correct option.
- StarLink is a genetically engineered maize that includes two modifications: a glufosinate resistance gene as well as a bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein variant named Cry9CC. Thus, option C is not the correct option.
- Bt Soybeans are genetically modified soybeans that contain an insecticidal protein such as that formed naturally through Bacillus thuringiensis, a species of bacteria. Thus, option D is not the correct option.

Thus, the correct option is option (A) Golden rice.

Note: There is scientific evidence that foods produced from GM crops currently available do not pose a higher risk to human health than traditional foods, but that any GM food needs to be examined on a case-by - case basis prior to implementation.