NEETZoologyBiotechnology and Its Applications
The nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants, causing a significant reduction in yield. Which of the following biotechnological strategies is utilized to develop transgenic plants resistant to this specific infection?
Options
- ARNA interference
- BApplication of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin
- CGene therapy
- DMutational breeding
Correct answer
A. RNA interference
Step-by-step solution
The nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants, causing a great reduction in yield. A novel strategy was adopted to prevent this infection which was based on the process of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defense and involves silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule. The use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin is primarily for insect resistance, not nematode resistance. Gene therapy is a medical applicat