Question

Rice has been genetically modified to produce
(A)Lipid
(B)Protein
(C)Carbohydrate
(D)Vitamin A

Answer 1

Hint: The golden rice is a biofortified crop, where the genes have been altered to increase the nutritional value of crops. Here Golden rice is genetically modified in such a way to produce beta carotene, where usual rice fails to produce. They also help in accelerating photosynthesis, tolerating herbicides, resisting pests, producing human nutrients.

Complete answer:
The research was purely conducted to help the children who are suffering from Vitamin A (VAD)deficiency. In 2005, there were about 190 million children who suffered from VAD deficiency and almost 19 million pregnant women also suffered. The deficiency of Vitamin A results in night blindness. In some countries, vitamin A supplements have been given to children which are not sufficient.
As many of the children in VAD affected countries rely on rice as staple food, so genetic modification was made to make rice to produce vitamin A. Rice already produces geranylgeranyl diphosphate(GGPP) which is already a precursor of beta-carotene. Here, the pathway was engineered with rice endosperm to convert the GGPP to beta carotene.
And that was Golden rice, here "gold" refers to Beta carotene –the substance that is converted into Vitamin A, when it is synthesized in the human body. As the human body needs Vitamin - A for healthier skin, vision, and immune system.

Hence the correct answer is option(D).

Note: It might also be allergic to some people or it might contain a substance that has a higher level of toxins. The genetically modified crop also made the crops more tolerant of abiotic stresses like cold, drought, heat, etc. It also reduced the reliance on chemical pesticides.