How might transferring specific genes from legumes into rice plants help reduce malnutrition?
1 Answer
The genes from legumes could increase the amount of proteins in the diet of billions of people that eat rices as main part of their diet.
Explanation:
One of the common forms of malnutrition is the lack of amino acid needed to make proteins in the diet. Without sufficient amino acids protein enzymes cannot be produced. Children can be starving with a full stomach of rice because their body lacks the enzymes needed to digest the rice. Amino acids are needed to build muscles, skin, and nerve cells.
Legumes have genes that produce vegetables amino acids. By placing the legumes genes into rice, the rice will produce necessary amino acids. Yellow rice is a GMO that places genes that make amino acids into rice. This GMO helps to reduce malnutrition in the people who consume the yellow rice that contains the transferred genes.
