AIIMS 2019 Zoology Agrobacterium and Ti-plasmid Assertion Reason Question
Assertion : Agrobacterium tumefaciens is popular in genetic engineering because this bacterium is associated with roots of all cereals and pulse crops.
Reason : A gene incorporated in the bacterial chromosomal genome gets automatically transferred to the crop with which the bacterium is associated.
If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
If assertion is true but reason is false.
If both assertion and reason are false.
Correct Answer
Detailed Explanation
Option D is correct because the assertion that Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes tumor-like growths known as crown galls is true, as these galls result from the transfer of the Ti plasmid into the plant's genome, leading to uncontrolled cell division. However, the reason stating that Agrobacterium does not infect grasses is false; while it primarily infects dicots, some strains can indeed affect certain monocots, including grasses. Other options are incorrect because both assertions cannot be true if one is false, and both cannot be false if one is true. Understanding the specificity of Agrobacterium's host range is crucial in plant pathology and genetic engineering applications.
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