Applications Of Biotechnology

While bioterrorism is indeed about the use of biological agents to cause mass harm, it is not intended to promote medical advancement.
Thus, Assertion is correct, but Reason is factually unrelated and incorrect.

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is the apex body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in India, responsible for the approval of activities involving genetically modified organisms.

Based on the table provided, the correct values for A, B, and C are:
- A: 200000 (Rice variety code)
- B: 27 (Varieties of Basmati rice grown in India)
- C: 1997 (Year of U.S. patent on Basmati rice)

The correct pair is: - II: Selectable marker – Antibiotics (amp , tet )
- III: Restriction sites – Hind III, Pst I – Link alien DNA

Parbhani Kranti is a genetically improved variety of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), developed to resist yellow mosaic virus, a major disease affecting yield.

Plasmids are extra-chromosomal circular DNA in bacteria capable of autonomous replication. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) can also replicate independently in the bacterial host.

Biopiracy refers to the exploitation of biological resources without proper authorization, not with authorization. Hence, A is incorrect. However, R is a true generalization about industrialized nations.

The wrong statement is (3) because protoxins are activated by alkaline pH, not acidic pH, in the gut of insects.

The Flavr Savr tomato was developed to delay the ripening process and extend shelf life by suppressing the polygalacturonase gene. It does not include genes for added flavors or vitamin A.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used for gene transfer in plants, E. coli provides selectable markers in genetic engineering, and Bacillus thuringiensis produces Bt toxin for pest resistance. Although Thermus aquaticus produces Taq polymerase, it's not grouped with the correct choices in the answer key.

In gene silencing technology, the host plant produces both sense and antisense RNA strands which form dsRNA. This dsRNA does not proceed through a normal RNA intermediate and causes silencing of specific nematode genes through RNA interference. Hence II, III, and IV are valid consequences.

The sequence GAATTC is recognized by the restriction enzyme EcoRI and is a palindromic sequence. It cuts between G and A, resulting in sticky ends which are single-stranded overhangs.

- (1), (2), (3) — All are genuine biosafety concerns as they relate to health and ecological risks of GM crops.
- (4) — This is a bioethical or biopiracy concern, not directly linked to biosafety.

- I: Incorrect — Human insulin is synthesized using genetically modified {E. coli}, not fungi.
- II: Incorrect — Insulin genes are introduced into plasmids, not directly into the genophore (main chromosome).
- III: Correct — Recombinant {E. coli} produces separate A and B chains of insulin which are then chemically joined.