Question

What are the disadvantages of Golden rice?

Answer 1

Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional values of food crops have been increased. It is done through different breeding methods. It can be done either through selective breeding or through genetic engineering. The process helps in overcoming many deficiencies associated with micronutrient deficiencies.

Complete answer:
Golden rice is a biofortified variety of rice or Oryza sativa that is attained through genetic engineering. The aim of this process is to induce biosynthesis of beta- carotenes that acts as a precursor of vitamin A. Hence improving the vitamin A content in the plant.
Apart from the various advantages this biofortified crop offers, it also has multiple disadvantages, which are:
The production of these crops are more expensive than the normal crops.
There are many concerns that arise from the fact that the consumption of these varieties can be harmful.
These biofortified varieties can involve in cross breeding and hence lead to the contamination in the gene makeup of the wild variety.
The levels of the beta-carotene in golden rice are so low, that the usage of these crops does not pose much advantage over normal rice varieties. And not much research has been carried out in the holding up capacity of beta-carotenes during the storage period.

Note:
The golden rice consists of three additional genes that help in the biosynthesis of beta-carotenes. This variety has been developed mainly to help children suffering from Vitamin A deficiency. The adverse effects of this deficiency can be death, irreversible blindness, and xerophthalmia.