30. A transgenic food crop which may help in solving the problem of night blindness in developing countries is (a) Bt cotton (b) golden rice (c) Flavr Savr (d) Bt corn
Option B.Rice is a staple food in many countries, particularly in Asia, but does not contain vitamin A or its immediate precursors. By inserting two genes from Daffodil and one gene from a bacterial species into rice plants, Swiss researchers have produce rice capable of synthesizing β-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A. Vitamin A is required by all individuals as it is present in retina of eyes. Deficiency of vitamin A causes night blindness and skin disorders. This rice is called 'Golden rice' because of yellow colour of rice grains due to the presence of β-carotene.
