Biotechnological Applications In Agriculture

Golden Rice is a genetically modified variety of rice engineered to accumulate beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible endosperm, an application discussed in the context of NCERT Class 12, Chapter 11 (Biotechnology and its Applications). Vitamin A deficiency is a major cause of preventable blindness and weakened immunity in many developing regions where rice is a staple, so enriching rice with provitamin A addresses this public health problem at its dietary source. The grain appears golden because of the accumulated carotenoid pigment, giving the crop its name. Vitamin C is associated with citrus fruits and the prevention of scurvy, not with this rice. Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin under sunlight and is linked to calcium metabolism, unrelated to Golden Rice. Vitamin K is involved in blood clotting and is not the target nutrient here. A consistency check supports the answer: the golden colour arises from beta-carotene, and beta-carotene is specifically converted by the body into vitamin A.