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Question #45172
The Question
A failure in the regulatory oversight by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) leads to the accidental release of a transgenic crop, engineered for extreme drought resistance, into a wild, resource-limited arid ecosystem. Over time, this transgenic crop acts as an invasive alien species, causing the local extinction of closely related native plants. Which of the following best explains the primary ecological mechanism behind this extinction?
Options
- A.
The transgenic crop alters the fundamental niche of the native flora through resource partitioning, leading to their gradual decline.
- B.
The fitness-enhancing gene provides a superior competitive advantage for limiting resources, leading to the elimination of native species through Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle.
- C.
The transgenic crop acts as an amensalistic species, secreting allelochemicals that destroy native flora without deriving any direct metabolic benefit.
- D.
The transgenic crop undergoes rapid horizontal gene transfer, converting all native flora into transgenic variants and eliminating the wild-type alleles.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Flavr Savr Tomato Logic|Nutrient Immobility|Humification vs Mineralization
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often confuse the genetic risks of GMOs (horizontal gene transfer/genetic pollution) with the ecological risks (competitive exclusion/super-weeds).
This question tests the synthesis of Biotechnology (GEAC's role in preventing ecological disruption) and Ecology (Gause's Law and Alien Species Invasion), requiring the student to identify the exact ecological mechanism of extinction due to niche overlap.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biotechnology and Its Applications - Class 12 |
| Concept | Flavr Savr Tomato Logic |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |