What are transgenic plants ? Explain with any two examples.

Explanation

(1) The genetically engineered crop plants carrying desirable traits are called transgenic plants.
(2) Transgenic plants are disease resistant, insect resistant and herbicide resistant.
(3 ) Plants with greater photosynthetic activity, nitrogen fixing ability, improved storage proteins and higher vitamin contents are transgenic plants.
(4) Examples of transgenic plants: (i) Bt cotton (ii) Flavr savr tomato and (iii) Golden rice.
(i) Bt Cotton : Bt cotton is a transgenic plant. Bt toxin gene has been cloned and introduced in many plants to provide resistance to insects without the need of insecticides.
(ii) Flavr savr tomato : It is developed by introducing an additional copy of polygalactouronase. This type of tomato has a longer shelf life.
(iii) Golden rice : It is a genetically engineered rice with higher beta carotene (provitamin A) content.