Question

An improved variety of transgenic basmati rice
A. Does not require chemical fertilisers and growth hormones
B. Gives high yield and are rich in vitamin A
C. Is completely resistant to all insect pests and diseases of paddy
D. Gives high yield but had no characteristic aroma

Answer 1

Hint: Transgenic basmati rice is different from its parent strain by the addition of three beta carotene biosynthetic genes, it was produced to enhance the nutritional value of rice as well as for increasing the yield of the plant.

Complete Answer:
- Transgenic approach offers an attractive alternative to conventional techniques for the genetic improvement of Basmati rice because they enable the introduction of one or more genes into a leading cultivar without affecting its genetic background.
- The improved variety of transgenic basmati rice is Oryza sativa,produced with the help of genetic engineering to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice. It is also known as golden rice, named for its golden colour which is caused by beta carotene.
- Golden rice is a modified form of basmati rice which is rich in vitamin A and has high resistance to a variety of diseases which has led to high yield of this variety as compared to normal rice.

So the correct answer is option ‘B’ i.e. gives high yield and rich in vitamin A.

Note: An improved variety of transgenic basmati rice is rich in vitamin a as well as also produced in the larger amount due to resistance to diseases as its genes are introduced in the plant with the help of genetic engineering.