Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

41. Assertion (A): Insect resistant transgenic cotton has been produced by inserting Bt gene. [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

Reason (R): The Bt gene is derived from a bacterium.
Code :

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Solution:Insect-resistant cotton plants have been genetically engineered by inserting a gene from a bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis). Strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produces different toxins which are harmful to different insects. Such variety of cotton is commonly known as Bt. cotton. The American multinational company Monsanto has produced such variety.

42. Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of [I.A.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Clonal propagation of crop plants
(b) Developing genetically modified crop plants
(c) Production of plant growth substances
(d) Production of biofertilizers

Correct Answer: (b) Developing genetically modified crop plants

Solution:Bollgard I Bt cotton (single-gene technology) is India’s first biotech crop technology approved for commercialization in India in 2002, followed by Bollgard II – double-gene technology in mid-2006, by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the Indian regulatory body for biotech crops.
Bollgard I cotton provides in-built protection for cotton against destructive American Bollworm Helioithis Armigera infestations, and contains an insecticidal protein from a naturally occurring soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bollgard II technology contains a superior double-gene technology – Cry 1 Ac and Cry 2 Ab which provides protection against bollworms and Spodoptera caterpillar, leading to better boll retention, maximizing yield, lower pesticides costs, and protection against insect resistance. Both, Bollgard II and Bollgard I insect-protected cotton are widely planted around the world as an environment-friendly way of controlling bollworms.

43. A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt. brinjal has been developed. The objective of this is- [I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]

(a) To make it pest-resistant
(b) To improve its taste and nutritive qualities
(c) To make it drought-resistant
(d) To make it shelf-life longer

Correct Answer: (a) To make it pest-resistant

Solution:Bt. brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene ‘Cry 1 Ac’ from the soil bacterium ‘Bacillus thuringiensis’ into brinjal. Bt. brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteran insects like the brinjal shoot-borer Leucinodes orbonalis and fruit-borer Helicoverpa armigera. Bt. brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt. brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields etc. On the other hand, concerns about Bt. brinjal relates to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity. In India Bt. brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds company (Mahyco). Despite the conduct of field trials from 2002-2006, a moratorium was issued in October 2009 and a government ban was implemented in February 2010.

44. Genetically modified, Bt. Brinjal is developed for: [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

(a) Drought Resistance
(b) Insect Resistance
(c) Bacterial Resistance
(d) Fungal Resistance

Correct Answer: (b) Insect Resistance

Solution:Bt. brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene ‘Cry 1 Ac’ from the soil bacterium ‘Bacillus thuringiensis’ into brinjal. Bt. brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteran insects like the brinjal shoot-borer Leucinodes orbonalis and fruit-borer Helicoverpa armigera. Bt. brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt. brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields etc. On the other hand, concerns about Bt. brinjal relates to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity. In India Bt. brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds company (Mahyco). Despite the conduct of field trials from 2002-2006, a moratorium was issued in October 2009 and a government ban was implemented in February 2010.

45. Bt brinjal is- [Uttarakhand Lower Sub. (Pre) 2010]

(a) A new variety of Brinjal
(b) A genetically modified Brinjal
(c) A wild variety of Brinjal
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (b) A genetically modified Brinjal

Solution:Bt. brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene ‘Cry 1 Ac’ from the soil bacterium ‘Bacillus thuringiensis’ into brinjal. Bt. brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteran insects like the brinjal shoot-borer Leucinodes orbonalis and fruit-borer Helicoverpa armigera. Bt. brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt. brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields etc. On the other hand, concerns about Bt. brinjal relates to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity. In India Bt. brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds company (Mahyco). Despite the conduct of field trials from 2002-2006, a moratorium was issued in October 2009 and a government ban was implemented in February 2010.

46. Consider the given statements- [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

BT brinjal is created by inserting in its genome, the gene of soil fungus.
The seeds of BT brinjal are terminator seed so farmers have to buy it before every weather from the seed companies.
This is also a fact that it can affect the user’s health negatively.
The other threat is that its insertion may affect adversely bio-diversity.

Choose the right answer according to the code:

(a) Only 1, 2 & 3
(b) Only 2 & 3
(c) Only 3, 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 & 4

Correct Answer: (c) Only 3, 4

Solution:Bt. brinjal is a transgenic brinjal created by inserting a gene ‘Cry 1 Ac’ from the soil bacterium ‘Bacillus thuringiensis’ into brinjal. Bt. brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteran insects like the brinjal shoot-borer Leucinodes orbonalis and fruit-borer Helicoverpa armigera. Bt. brinjal has generated much debate in India. The promoters say that Bt. brinjal will be beneficial to small farmers because it is insect resistant, increases yields etc. On the other hand, concerns about Bt. brinjal relates to its possible adverse impact on human health and bio-safety, livelihoods and biodiversity. In India Bt. brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds company (Mahyco). Despite the conduct of field trials from 2002-2006, a moratorium was issued in October 2009 and a government ban was implemented in February 2010.

47. With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]

GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Solution:GM mustard developed in India, also known as Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), is a genetically modified hybrid variety of the mustard species Brassica juncea. It was developed by Prof. Deepak Pental (University of Delhi) with the aim of reducing India’s demand for edible oil imports. His team introduced several genes from a soil bacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, into the mustard that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization. Then they cross-pollinated Indian variety with European variety to make a new hybrid called DMH-11. The above DMH-11 has been developed by the scientists of ‘Center for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants’ of Delhi University. Hence, only statement 2 is correct.

48. Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been created? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

To enable them to withstand drought.
To increase the nutritive value of the produce.
To enable them to grow and do photosynthesis in space ships and space stations.
To increase their shelf life.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4

Solution:Genetically modified crops (GMCs, GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases or environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage or resistance to chemical treatments (e.g. resistance to a herbicide), to enable them to withstand drought, to increase the nutritive value of the produce, to increase their shelf life, or improving the nutrient profile of the crop.

49. With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]

Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationship in crops.