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 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• DMH-11 GM mustard was developed by Deepak Pental's team at the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, Delhi University — not IARI and PAU, so statement 3 is wrong.
• It uses the barnase–barstar system from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to create male-sterile and restorer lines, enabling hybridisation in a normally self-pollinating crop (statement 2).
• Statement 1 is wrong: the bacterial genes give hybridisation ability, not pest resistance (that is Bt technology); a bar gene gives herbicide tolerance.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong: no pest resistance, and not IARI–PAU.
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: developed at Delhi University.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018, held on 3 June 2018. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.