Read the passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
Pest Resistance Plants
Various nematodes parasitize a wide variety of plants and animals, including human beings. A nematode Meloidogyne incognitia, infects the roots of tobacco plants and causes a great reduction in yield. A novel strategy was adopted to prevent this infestation which was based on the process of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi takes place in all eukaryotic organisms as a method of cellular defense. This method involves silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA (silencing). Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). GM plants have been useful in many ways. Genetic modification has: (i) made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat). (ii) reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops). (iii) helped to reduce post harvest losses. (iv) increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants (this prevents early exhaustion of fertility of soil). (v) enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g. golden rice, i.e., Vitamin 'A' enriched rice. Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredictable results when such organisms are introduced into the ecosystem. Therefore, the Indian Government has set up organisations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which will make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services. Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce proteins that kill certain insects such as lepidopterans (tobacco budworm, armyworm), coleopterans (beetles) and dipterans (flies, mosquitoes).
Genetic modification does not include -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Helped to increase the post harvest losses
Option (1) Increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants — A benefit of genetic modification. GM plants use minerals better, which prevents early exhaustion of soil fertility.
Option (2) Reduced reliance on chemical pesticides — A benefit of genetic modification. Pest-resistant crops such as Bt cotton need less spraying.
Option (3) Helped to increase the post harvest losses — Not a benefit of genetic modification. GM has helped to reduce post-harvest losses. NTA changed one word of the passage, ‘reduce’ to ‘increase’, and a true line became false. Read every word before you mark the answer.
Option (4) Enhanced nutritional value of food — A benefit of genetic modification. Golden rice, rich in vitamin A, is the example.
Note: The passage is taken from NCERT. NTA has put lines of the NCERT text together to make it. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.