Which of the following facts are not true about GM crops?
(A) They are more tolerant to abiotic stress (cold, drought, heat, salinity, etc.).
(B) They are pest-resistant.
(C) They cause early exhaustion of soil fertility.
(D) The food produced has decreased nutritional value.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (C) and (D) only
Genetically modified (GM) crops are crops whose genes have been altered by manipulation, for example by putting in a useful gene from another organism.
(A) They are more tolerant to abiotic stress (cold, drought, heat, salinity, etc.). True about GM crops. Abiotic stresses come from non-living factors. Genetic modification has made crops more tolerant to them.
(B) They are pest-resistant. True about GM crops. Bt cotton and Bt corn carry a Bt toxin gene, so they kill the insects that feed on them. This reduces the use of chemical pesticides.
(C) They cause early exhaustion of soil fertility. Not true about GM crops. The fact is reversed. GM crops use minerals more efficiently, and this prevents early exhaustion of the fertility of the soil.
(D) The food produced has decreased nutritional value. Not true about GM crops. This is reversed too. GM has enhanced the nutritional value of food, as in golden rice, which is rich in vitamin A.
NCERT Extract:
Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture – …
