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Tobacco plants resistant to a nematode have been developed by the introduction of DNA that produced (in the host cells)
A
A toxic protein
B
Both sense and anti-sense RNA
C
A particular hormone
D
An antifeedant
Detailed Solution
The nematode $Meloidogyne\ incognita$ infects the roots of tobacco plants and reduces the yield.
To prevent this, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plant using $Agrobacterium$ vectors.
The introduced DNA was such that it produced both sense and anti-sense RNA in the host cells.
These two RNAs, being complementary to each other, formed a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that initiated RNA interference (RNAi).
RNAi silenced the specific mRNA of the nematode, so the parasite could not survive in the transgenic host.
A toxic protein is the strategy of Bt crops, not of this nematode-resistant tobacco.
Hence the introduced DNA produced both sense and anti-sense RNA.
To prevent this, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plant using $Agrobacterium$ vectors.
The introduced DNA was such that it produced both sense and anti-sense RNA in the host cells.
These two RNAs, being complementary to each other, formed a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that initiated RNA interference (RNAi).
RNAi silenced the specific mRNA of the nematode, so the parasite could not survive in the transgenic host.
A toxic protein is the strategy of Bt crops, not of this nematode-resistant tobacco.
Hence the introduced DNA produced both sense and anti-sense RNA.