Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
- A.clonal propagation of crop plants
- B.developing genetically modified crop plants
- C.production of plant growth substances
- D.production of biofertilizers
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, developing genetically modified crop plants. Bollgard I and Bollgard II are Bt cotton technologies that make the cotton plant resistant to bollworms.
Bt cotton carries genes taken from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which make Cry proteins that are toxic to the larvae of bollworms. Bollgard I has a single gene, cry1Ac, while Bollgard II has two genes, cry1Ac and cry2Ab, which gives wider protection and makes it harder for pests to develop resistance. Bollgard I was approved in India in 2002 and Bollgard II in 2006, and Bt cotton is still the only genetically modified crop approved for commercial cultivation in India. Over time the pink bollworm has developed resistance even to Bollgard II.
A is wrong because clonal propagation uses tissue culture or cuttings, not new genes. C is wrong because plant growth substances are hormones such as auxins and gibberellins. D is wrong because biofertilisers are living microbes such as Rhizobium and Azotobacter.
Exam tip: Bollgard I = cry1Ac (2002); Bollgard II = cry1Ac + cry2Ab (2006); Bt cotton is India's only commercial GM crop.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms?
- A.Astra
- B.Akash
- C.Nirbhay
- D.Shankhnaad
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Nirbhay is the long-range subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the DRDO. Nirbhay was developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.
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- A.The college students studying in the undergraduate programme in the age group of 19 - 25 years.
- B.The research scholars in recognized research laboratories of national importance.
- C.The college teachers of the country.
- D.The school children studying in classes 6 - 10 in the age group of 10 - 15 years.
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INSPIRE-MANAK is the school-level part of INSPIRE. INSPIRE is run by the Department of Science and Technology to draw young talent into science.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is not correct?
- A.BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile made by India and Russian Federation.
- B.The name BrahMos came from two rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
- C.Indian military scientists were capable of integrating BrahMos cruise missile with Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
- D.Defence Research and Development Organization is the manufacturer of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
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The Sukhoi-30 MKI is not made by DRDO; it was designed by Russia's Sukhoi bureau and is built in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Nashik.
Read the full explanation →'Tejas' is the name of which one of the following?
- A.Main battle tank
- B.Nuclear submarine
- C.Light combat aircraft
- D.Aircraft carrier
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Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine light combat aircraft built for the Indian Air Force. The Light Combat Aircraft programme was started in the 1980s to replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is an indigenous assault rifle developed by DRDO?
- A.Heckler
- B.T91
- C.Tikka
- D.Ugram
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Ugram is a 7.62 mm assault rifle designed in India by DRDO for the armed forces and police. Ugram was developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a DRDO laboratory, together with a private Hyderabad firm, Dvipa Armour India, and it was unveiled in January 2024.
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