With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements : 1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests. 2. GM m

examrobotsa's picture

Submitted by examrobotsa on

Q: 3 (IAS/2018)
With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements :
1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,108,112,46,108,17,49

keywords: 

{'gm mustard': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'mustard': [4, 0, 7, 6], 'genetically': [1, 0, 0, 6], 'genes': [3, 0, 0, 0], 'punjab agricultural university': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'hybridization': [1, 0, 0, 2]}

The correct answer is 2, which means only the second statement is correct. Here`s a breakdown of each statement:

1. The first statement says that Genetically Modified (GM) mustard has genes from a soil bacterium giving it pest-resistant properties. This is actually true for Bt cotton, not GM mustard. Bt cotton contains genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis, which provides resistance to a wide range of pests.

2. The second statement is correct. GM mustard has been genetically modified with genes that allow for cross-pollination and hybridization. Cross-pollination and hybridization increase genetic variety and can improve crop yield and resistance to environmental pressures.

3. The third statement is incorrect. GM mustard was developed by Delhi University’s Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, not jointly with Punjab Agricultural University or the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).