NEETZoologyBiotechnology - Principles and Processes
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely used as a vector to deliver desirable genes into a variety of plants. Reason (R): It naturally delivers a piece of DNA known as 'T-DNA' to transform normal plant cells into a tumor, and this property is exploited by using its disarmed plasmid as a vector. In the
Options
- ABoth Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion
- BBoth Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion
- CAssertion is true but Reason is false
- DAssertion is false but Reason is true
Correct answer
A. Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is true: Agrobacterium tumefaciens is considered a natural genetic engineer of plants and is extensively used as a cloning vector for introducing genes into dicot plants. Reason (R) is true: In nature, it infects plants and transfers a segment of its Ti (tumor-inducing) plasmid, called T-DNA, which directs normal plant cells to become tumor cells (crown gall). Biotechnologists have modified this Ti plasmid by removing the tumor-causing genes (disarming it) while retaining its ability to transfer DNA.