Q63 · UPSC Prelims 2018 · Set A · Current Affairs and GK

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With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:1.GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.2.GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.3.GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A 1 and 3 only
B 2 only
C 2 and 3 only
D 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: (b) 2 only

Explanation

  1. A

    1 and 3 only

    (a) 1 and 3 only. DMH-11 mustard is not a Bt-style wide pest-resistance crop; barnase/barstar/bar genes are a hybridisation system, not a general insecticide. It was developed at the University of Delhi South Campus (Deepak Pental group), not jointly by IARI and PAU. Both 1 and 3 are false. This option is not the key.

  2. B

    2 only

    (b) 2 only. GM mustard uses the barnase-barstar male-sterility/restorer toolkit so that the plant can be cross-pollinated and hybrids produced at scale. That is statement 2. Statements 1 and 3 do not hold. This option is the official key.

  3. C

    2 and 3 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only. Statement 2 is correct, but IARI–PAU joint development is not. This option is not the key.

  4. D

    1, 2 and 3

    (d) 1, 2 and 3. Pest-resistance and the IARI–PAU claim are wrong, so the full set fails. This option is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (b) 2 only. Indian GM mustard (DMH-11) is a hybrid-seed technology: soil-bacterium genes create male sterility and restoration so breeders can enforce cross-pollination. It is not a broad-spectrum pest-resistant Bt mustard, and it was not a joint IARI–Punjab Agricultural University product. Only statement 2 is therefore correct. That maps to option (b).