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A transgenic food crop which may help in solving the problem of night-blindness in developing countries is:
A
Bt. Soybean
B
Golden rice
C
Flavr Savr tomatoes
D
Starlink maize
Detailed Solution
Night-blindness is caused by the deficiency of vitamin A (retinol), which is needed to form the visual pigment rhodopsin.
Golden rice is a transgenic variety of rice (Oryza sativa) that contains genes for the biosynthesis of $\beta$-carotene (provitamin A) in the endosperm.
The $\beta$-carotene gives the grains a golden yellow colour and is converted into vitamin A in the human body.
Since rice is the staple food in many developing countries, golden rice can help in solving the problem of vitamin A deficiency and night-blindness.
Bt soybean and Starlink maize are insect-resistant crops carrying Bt toxin genes, and Flavr Savr tomato has a longer shelf life due to delayed softening.
So the transgenic food crop is golden rice.
Golden rice is a transgenic variety of rice (Oryza sativa) that contains genes for the biosynthesis of $\beta$-carotene (provitamin A) in the endosperm.
The $\beta$-carotene gives the grains a golden yellow colour and is converted into vitamin A in the human body.
Since rice is the staple food in many developing countries, golden rice can help in solving the problem of vitamin A deficiency and night-blindness.
Bt soybean and Starlink maize are insect-resistant crops carrying Bt toxin genes, and Flavr Savr tomato has a longer shelf life due to delayed softening.
So the transgenic food crop is golden rice.
