In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation technique ?
- 1.It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature.
- 2.Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms.
- 3.Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer: C. Statement 1 is correct: bioremediation uses microbes and plants to speed up natural breakdown of pollutants. Statement 2 is wrong: heavy metals like cadmium and lead cannot be broken down; microbes can only change their form or trap them, so treatment is neither ready nor complete. Statement 3 is correct: genetically engineered microbes (like the oil-eating 'superbug') are made for this. So 1 and 3 only.
Watch for: Watch for 'any' and 'completely' in statement 2; such absolute claims are rarely true.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because statement 3 is also correct.
- B. Wrong because heavy metals cannot be completely treated by microbes.
- D. Wrong because statement 2 is false.
Source to check: NCERT Class 12 Biology, Chapter 10 'Microbes in Human Welfare' and Chapter 16 'Environmental Issues'; US EPA, Citizen's Guide to Bioremediation
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.