RNA interference is used for which of the following purposes in the field of biotechnology?
to develop a plant tolerant to abiotic stresses
to develop a pest-resistant plant against infestation by nematode
to enhance the mineral usage by the plant
to reduce post-harvest losses
RNA interference (RNAi) is a method of cellular defense in eukaryotes that involves silencing specific mRNA. In biotechnology, this strategy was adopted to prevent infestation by the nematode Meloidegyne incognitia in tobacco plants. Nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plant to produce dsRNA, which initiated RNAi and silenced the specific mRNA of the nematode, making the plant resistant to the pest , , .
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