Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production — NEET UG practice

1. Understand what somatic hybridisation means.

Given that somatic hybridisation is a technique used to fuse two somatic (body) cells from different plant varieties, bypassing normal sexual reproduction, in order to combine desirable traits from both parents.

2. Identify the very first step.

Since the process starts with plant material from two different varieties, the scientist must first take single cells from each variety. Hence, this corresponds to step D — Isolation of single cells from two different varieties of plants.

3. Determine what must happen before the cells can fuse.

Given that a plant cell is surrounded by a rigid cell wall, which physically prevents two cells from merging, this wall must be broken down using enzymes. Therefore, the next step is step A — Digestion of cell walls.

4. Identify what remains once the wall is removed.

Since removing the cell wall leaves behind a cell bounded only by its plasma membrane, this is called a naked protoplast. Hence, the next step is step B — Isolation of naked protoplasts.

5. Combine the protoplasts from the two varieties.

Given that naked protoplasts (without walls) can now merge freely, the protoplasts from the two different varieties are fused together to form a hybrid protoplast. So, the next step is step C — Fusion of protoplasts.

6. Regenerate a full plant.

Since a hybrid protoplast is just a single fused cell, it must be grown under suitable conditions to develop into a complete new plant, called a somatic hybrid. Hence, the final step is step E — Growing of hybrid protoplast to form a new plant.

7. Put the sequence together.

Given the reasoning above,

$$D \rightarrow A \rightarrow B \rightarrow C \rightarrow E$$

Hence, the answer is option A.

1. Recall what inbreeding means.

Given that inbreeding is the mating of closely related individuals of the same breed over several generations, it is mainly done to develop pure lines with consistent desirable traits.

2. Check option A.

Since inbreeding increases the chances of harmful recessive alleles pairing up (becoming homozygous), these alleles get exposed and can then be removed through selection. So, option A is a genuine advantage and not the answer.

3. Check option B.

Given that repeated inbreeding lets breeders retain and accumulate superior genes while removing undesirable ones, this is also considered an advantage. So, option B is correct and not the answer.

4. Check option D.

Since inbreeding actually increases homozygosity (not decreases it), stating that it 'decreases homozygosity' is factually false — but the question asks which is not an advantage, so let's evaluate this along with option C together in the next step.

5. Check option C carefully.

Given that continuous inbreeding over many generations reduces genetic variation, this often leads to inbreeding depression — a decline in fertility, vigour, and productivity of the population. Hence, this is a well-known disadvantage, not an advantage, of inbreeding.

6. Conclusion.

Since the question specifically asks for the option that is not an advantage, and decreased productivity is a harmful consequence rather than a benefit, this fits the requirement precisely.

Hence, the answer is option C.

1. Recall what MOET (Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer Technology) is used for.

Given that MOET is a breeding technique used to rapidly increase the herd size of superior cattle, it works by making one cow produce many offspring in a short time.

2. Check option B.

Since MOET allows multiple embryos from one superior cow to be transferred to several surrogate mothers, herd size can indeed increase quickly. So, option B is correct and not the answer.

3. Check option C.

Given that natural ovulation produces only one egg per cycle, the cow must first be given hormones with FSH-like activity to trigger the release of several eggs at once (super-ovulation). So, option C is correct and not the answer.

4. Check option D.

Since fertilisation must still occur after super-ovulation, this is achieved either by mating the cow with an elite bull or through artificial insemination. So, option D is correct and not the answer.

5. Check option A — the stage at which embryos are recovered.

Given that in actual MOET protocol, fertilised eggs are recovered non-surgically at the 8 to 32-cell stage, not the 4 to 6-cell stage as stated in option A. Hence, this statement is factually wrong.

6. Conclusion.

Since option A misstates the developmental stage of the recovered embryos, it is the incorrect statement.

Hence, the answer is option A.