Question

Choose the correct statements regarding Agrobacterium tumefaciens -
A. It is a gram positive round shaped bacterium
B. It is a gram negative rod shaped bacterium
C. It is a photosynthetic spiral bacterium
D. It is also known as 'Natural genetic Engineer'
E. It is capable of naturally transferring DNA into plant genome
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

• A. A, B and C Only
• B. B, D and E Only
• C. B, C and D Only
• D. A, D and E Only

Hint:

Remember {Agrobacterium tumefaciens} for its main role: it's the "Natural Genetic Engineer" because it naturally injects a piece of its plasmid DNA into plant chromosomes. This makes it a perfect tool for creating GMOs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the correct characteristics of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which is widely used in plant biotechnology.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
A. It is a gram positive round shaped bacterium. This is incorrect. A. tumefaciens is Gram-negative and rod-shaped.
B. It is a gram negative rod shaped bacterium. This is correct. It is a Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped soil bacterium.
C. It is a photosynthetic spiral bacterium. This is incorrect. It is not photosynthetic and not spiral-shaped.
D. It is also known as 'Natural genetic Engineer'. This is correct. It earned this title because of its unique, natural ability to transfer a specific segment of its DNA (the T-DNA from its Ti plasmid) into the host plant's genome.
E. It is capable of naturally transferring DNA into plant genome. This is correct. This is the mechanism by which it causes crown gall disease and is the reason it is used as a vector for creating transgenic plants.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct statements are B, D, and E.