Q.Find out from internet what is golden rice.

Golden Rice is a genetically modified organism (GMO), specifically a variety of rice engineered to address Vitamin A deficiency, a significant public health issue in many developing countries.

• It is modified to synthesize beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, directly in its endosperm, which is the edible part of the grain.
• The genetic modification involves introducing specific genes from a daffodil plant and a common soil bacterium into the rice genome.
• The accumulation of beta-carotene gives the rice grains their distinctive golden-yellow colour. …

To understand Golden Rice, we first need to place it within the broader context of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). In biology, genetic engineering allows scientists to alter the genetic makeup of an organism by introducing, deleting, or modifying specific genes. When this technique is applied to plants, the resulting organisms are called genetically modified crops or transgenic crops. The primary goal is often to introduce desirable traits that do not naturally occur in the plant, such as resistance to pests, tolerance to herbicides, or enhanced nutritional value.

Golden Rice is a prime example of a genetically modified crop developed with a specific nutritional enhancement in mind. It is a variety of Oryza sativa, the common rice species, that has been bioengineered to synthesize beta-carotene in its edible parts, specifically the endosperm. Beta-carotene is a carotenoid pigment that gives many fruits and vegetables their yellow or orange colour. Crucially, it is a precursor to Vitamin A in the human body.

The development of Golden Rice involved inserting two key genes into the rice genome:

• One gene from the daffodil plant (Narcissus pseudonarcissus).
• Another gene from a common soil bacterium, Erwinia uredovora.

These genes work together to enable the rice plant to produce beta-carotene in the endosperm, the part of the rice grain that is consumed. Regular rice naturally produces beta-carotene in its leaves, but not in the grain itself. The genetic modification effectively "switches on" this pathway in the grain, leading to the accumulation of beta-carotene, which gives the rice its characteristic golden-yellow hue, hence the name "Golden Rice."

The significance of Golden Rice lies in its potential to address Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), a widespread nutritional disorder affecting millions globally, especially children and pregnant women in parts of Asia and Africa. VAD can lead to severe health issues, including:

• Night blindness and irreversible blindness: It is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness.
• Weakened immune system: Making individuals more susceptible to infectious diseases like measles and diarrhoea.
• Impaired growth and development: Affecting overall health and well-being. …

Method — answer the "what, why, how" triangle

• What: a genetically engineered rice variety.
• Why: to fight Vitamin-A deficiency (a real public-health problem where rice is a staple). …