Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?

1. Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
2. Converting crop residues into packing material
3. Producing biodegradable plastics
4. Producing biochar from thermo-chemical conversion of biomass

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Wolbachia method is used to control the spread of viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. It involves introducing Wolbachia, a type of bacterium that can block viruses, into mosquitoes or their eggs and releasing them into the wild. This way, Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes can breed with native mosquitoes and reduce their ability to transmit diseases such as Dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Wolbachia are extremely common bacteria that occur naturally in 50% of insect species, including some mosquitoes, fruit flies, moths, dragonflies, and butterflies.

Answer: (a) Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes; Difficulty Level: Medium