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Question #45157
The Question
Golden Rice is a transgenic variety of Oryza sativa engineered to accumulate β-carotene in its endosperm. From the perspective of ecosystem energetics and metabolic resource allocation, which of the following is the most likely ecological consequence when comparing a population of Golden Rice to its wild-type counterpart under identical environmental conditions?
Options
- A.
Its Net Primary Productivity (NPP) measured as starch biomass may decrease, as metabolic energy and carbon skeletons are diverted toward carotenoid biosynthesis.
- B.
Its Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) will significantly increase because the accumulation of β-carotene in the endosperm enhances overall light-harvesting efficiency.
- C.
The energy transfer efficiency to primary consumers will exceed the standard 10% due to the higher calorific value of provitamin A compared to carbohydrates.
- D.
Its respiratory loss (R) will be lower than the wild-type because the introduced transgenic pathway operates independently of cellular ATP and NADPH.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
10%_Law|Secondary_Productivity|Transgenic_Cost
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Integrating Biotechnology with Ecosystem Energetics.
Students often harbor the misconception that 'genetically improved' crops are universally superior in all metrics.
They fail to account for the 'metabolic cost of expression'—the biological reality that synthesizing novel secondary metabolites (like beta-carotene) diverts ATP, NADPH, and carbon skeletons away from primary biomass (starch) production, thereby affecting NPP.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biotechnology and Its Applications - Class 12 |
| Concept | Golden Rice Nutrition |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |