Golden rice is engineered to produce and store which nutrient in the grain?

• A. Vitamin C
• B. Beta carotene
• C. Iron
• D. Protein

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is biofortification—putting a nutrient into a staple crop so people can get it from eating it. Golden rice is engineered to make beta-carotene, a carotenoid, in the edible part of the grain. The beta-carotene gives the rice its golden color and acts as a precursor to vitamin A in the body, meaning the body can convert it to vitamin A as needed. This helps address vitamin A deficiency, which is a major health issue in some populations.

Vitamin C, iron, and protein aren’t produced in this way in the grain, so they aren’t what Golden Rice is designed to store.