NEETZoologyBiotechnology - Principles and Processes
Which of the following statements correctly describes a common feature of both Agrobacterium tumefaciens and retroviruses in the context of biotechnology?
Options
- ABoth are naturally non-pathogenic organisms that are used to deliver genes of interest into prokaryotic host c
- BBoth naturally transform normal cells into tumorous or cancerous cells and are modified into non-pathogenic ve
- CBoth possess a tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid that integrates into the host genome to direct the production of re
- DBoth deliver a specific piece of DNA called T-DNA into their respective host cells to achieve genetic transfor
Correct answer
B. Both naturally transform normal cells into tumorous or cancerous cells and are modified into non-pathogenic ve
Step-by-step solution
According to NCERT, Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a pathogen of several dicot plants that delivers T-DNA to transform normal plant cells into a tumor. Similarly, retroviruses in animals have the natural ability to transform normal animal cells into cancerous cells. In biotechnology, both of these pathogens are 'disarmed' (their disease-causing genes are removed) so they are no longer pathogenic. They are then used as highly effective vectors to deliver desirable genes of interest into their respective eukaryotic hos