Question

RNA interference which is employed in making tobacco plant resistant to Meloidogyne incognita is essentially involved in
A) Preventing the process of translation of mRNA.
B) Preventing the process of transcription
C) Preventing the process of replication of DNA
D) Preventing the process of splicing of hnRNA

Answer 1

Hint: RNA interference is a kind of gene-silencing process. It blocks the expression of genes in the parasite when it enters the host's body. In RNA, a complementary RNA binds to mRNA to make a ds RNA that cannot translate. Thus its expression is blocked.

Complete answer:
RNA interference method means the involvement of a long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence the expression of target genes. Then the dsRNA enters a cellular pathway to obtain processed into small interfering RNA (siRNA). Then siRNA collects into an RNA-induced silencing complex. The siRNA subsequently leads the complex to complementary RNA molecules where they cleave and demolish the target mRNA. By this, the total process causes the silencing of mRNA. Meloidogyne incognita contaminates the roots of tobacco plants and creates a great loss by the reduction in yield.

The correct option is ‘A’ – ‘Preventing the process translation of mRNA’.

Additional information:
Endogenous triggers of RNAi pathway comprise foreign DNA or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of the viral origin. Abnormal transcripts from the repetitive sequences in the genome such as transposons, and pre-microRNA (miRNA). For the presence of RNAi, these plants are build resistant to this nematode.

Note:
Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants and brings a great loss by causing a reduction in yield. Some important points to remember about RNA interference are, these processes of making tobacco plants resistant to Meloidogyne incognita depend on the silencing of the expression of target genes. It mainly takes place by Silencing mRNA.