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Question #45395
The Question
The first transgenic cow, 'Rosie', produced milk enriched with human alpha-lactalbumin (2.4 g/L), making it nutritionally more balanced for human babies than natural cow milk. However, if a neonate is fed exclusively on this transgenic milk, it will still lack the complete protective profile of natural human colostrum. Which of the following best explains this biological limitation?
Options
- A.
The transgenic milk lacks secretory IgA, as its secretion requires complex transcytosis from maternal plasma cells, which a single nutritional transgene cannot replicate.
- B.
The transgenic milk fails to provide active immunity because bovine mammary glands cannot synthesize human memory B-cells.
- C.
The human alpha-lactalbumin produced in the bovine bioreactor acts as an immunosuppressant, neutralizing the neonate's innate immunity.
- D.
Transgenic bovine mammary glands lack the specific promoter regions required to express human immunological proteins during lactation.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Colostrum|Alpha-lactalbumin|Gene_Therapy
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often conflate the nutritional enhancement of transgenic milk (Rosie) with a complete functional replacement of maternal milk.
The trap lies in failing to distinguish between simple single-gene protein expression (alpha-lactalbumin) and complex, multi-cellular immunological processes (IgA secretion).
Option B also employs a classic NEET word-play trap by substituting 'passive immunity' with 'active immunity'.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Human Reproduction - Class 12 |
| Concept | Colostrum vs. Mature Milk |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |