Biotechnology and its Applications — BIOLOGY STD 12 Science — Question

Gene expression can be controlled with the help of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi takes place in all eukaryotic organisms and is part of the cellular defense. Under this method, a complementary dsRNA binds to and prevents translation of mRNA (silencing) and thus silences a specific mRNA. Thus gene expression which could have been carried out by the mRNA does not happen.
This method has been used to encounter a nematode in plants. Agrobacterium is used as vector to introduce nematode specific gene into the host plant. The introduction of DNA results in production of sense and anti-sense RNA in the host cells. These two RNAs form dsRNA and silence the specific mRNA.