Biology - Biotechnology and Its Applications Question with Solution | TestHub
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A) : Bt corn, has adverse effects on Monarch butterfly populations. Reason (R) : It has adverse effects on Monarch butterfly populations, which are not the original target of the pesticide. In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Options:
Answer:
Solution:
Assertion (A) is true because pollen from Bt corn can drift onto milkweed plants growing near cornfields. Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves, and ingestion of this pollen can lead to adverse effects such as reduced growth or mortality.
Reason (R) is also true because Monarch butterflies are non-target organisms. The primary target of the Bt toxin produced by Bt corn is specific agricultural pests, such as the European corn borer.
However, Reason (R) merely describes the status of the Monarch butterfly as a non-target organism and does not provide the biological explanation for the adverse effects. The scientific explanation for the toxicity is that the Bt protein (Cry toxin) targets lepidopteran insects in general, a group to which both the target pest and the Monarch butterfly belong. Therefore, both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
