Biotechnology and its Applications — BIOLOGY STD 12 Science — Question
Maharashtra BoardEnglish MediumSTD 12 ScienceBIOLOGYBiotechnology and its Applications1 Mark
Question
How have pest$-$resistant plants been produced using biotechnology? Explain.
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Answer
Pest resistant plants:
A nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infects the roots of tobacco plants which reduces the production of tobacco.
It can be prevented by using $\text{RNA}$ interference $(\text{RNAi})$ process which is checked by silencing of specific $\text{mRNA}$ due to a complementary $\text{dsRNA}.$
$\text{dsRNA}$ binds and prevents translation of the $\text{mRNA}($silencing$).$
By using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode$-$specific genes were introduced into the host plants which produce both sense and anti$-$sense $\text{RNA}$ in the host cells.
These two $\text{RNAs}$ are complementary to each other and form a double$-$stranded $\text{RNA}(\text{dsRNA})$ that initiates $\text{RNAi}$ and hence silence the specific $\text{mRNA}$ of the nematode.
The parasite cannot survive in the transgenic host, so protects the plants from pests.
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