RNA interference and nematode resistance — NEET & JEE Questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

What does RNA interference primarily do?

• A. It increases translation of every mRNA
• B. It changes the genetic code globally
• C. It converts RNA into protein directly
• D. It silences a matching RNA target

Question 2 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Why is double-stranded RNA important in RNA interference?

• A. It triggers silencing of complementary RNA
• B. It acts as a ribosomal protein
• C. It permanently removes all DNA
• D. It converts the target gene into a plasmid

Question 3 · difficulty L2 · understanding

In the NCERT example of nematode-resistant tobacco, which organism is the target pest?

• A. Bacillus thuringiensis
• B. Meloidogyne incognita
• C. Plasmodium vivax
• D. Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

RNA interference reduces expression of a target gene mainly by using

• A. double-stranded RNA complementary to the target transcript
• B. extra copies of the target protein
• C. lipids that destroy DNA nonspecifically
• D. antibodies that enter the nucleus

Question 5 · difficulty L3 · application

A plant produces RNA complementary to an essential nematode mRNA. What is the expected direct effect in the nematode?

• A. The nematode DNA is converted into plant DNA
• B. Every nematode gene is activated
• C. The matching nematode gene is silenced
• D. The plant loses all its own mRNA

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · application

Why is RNAi described as sequence-specific?

• A. The process works only in specialised bacterial cells that alone contain RNA
• B. Only one cell type contains RNA
• C. All RNAs have identical sequences
• D. Base pairing directs silencing to matching RNA

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · application

A nematode gene changes enough that its mRNA is no longer complementary to the RNAi trigger produced by a crop. What is most likely?

• A. The plant must stop photosynthesis
• B. Silencing efficiency may decrease
• C. All nematode genes become silent
• D. The crop automatically produces a new matching RNA

Question 8 · difficulty L3 · application

A transgenic plant produces both sense and antisense RNA corresponding to an essential nematode gene. What is the key consequence?

• A. The complementary RNAs can form double-stranded RNA and trigger gene silencing
• B. The two RNAs always produce twice as much protein
• C. The plant genome is deleted
• D. The nematode gains the plant gene

Question 9 · difficulty L4 · analysis

A transgenic plant expresses both sense and antisense RNA from a nematode gene sequence. What useful product can form?

• A. Double-stranded RNA
• B. A new chromosome pair
• C. A Bt crystal protein automatically
• D. A bacterial plasmid without replication

Question 10 · difficulty L4 · application

In the classic nematode-resistant transgenic plant strategy, RNAi protects the plant chiefly by

• A. silencing an essential nematode gene after the nematode feeds on the plant
• B. making the plant produce broad-spectrum antibiotics only
• C. preventing all root growth
• D. converting nematodes into harmless bacteria