Question

Assertion : GM plants are more useful than normal plants. Reason : Golden rice is rich in β-carotene.

Answer 1

Golden rice (right) compared to white rice (left)

Golden rice is a variety of rice (Oryza sativa) produced through genetic engineering to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice.[1] It is intended to produce a fortified food to be grown and consumed in areas with a shortage of dietary vitamin A,[2] a deficiency which each year is estimated to kill 670,000 children under the age of 5[3] and cause an additional 500,000 cases of irreversible childhood blindness.[4] Rice is a staple food crop for over half of the world's population, making up 30–72% of the energy intake for people in Asian countries, making it an excellent crop for targeting vitamin deficiencies.[5]