Transplastomics in plant biotechnology — which statement best describes this approach and its benefits?

Introduction / Context:
Transplastomics refers to genetic engineering of the plastid (usually chloroplast) genome rather than the nuclear genome. It is used for high-level protein expression, containment advantages, and multigene operon expression.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Plastids inherit maternally in many crops, limiting gene flow via pollen.
• Chloroplasts can accumulate very high levels of recombinant proteins.
• Approach is distinct from mitochondrial engineering.

Concept / Approach:

Chloroplast transformation integrates transgenes into the plastome, enabling high expression (due to polyploidy of plastids) and, in many species, reduced transgene pollen transmission. It has practical applications in vaccine production, metabolic engineering, and trait stacking.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Peer-reviewed demonstrations show multi-percent total soluble protein accumulation of recombinant products in plastids, validating high yield claims.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Low yield is incorrect; most chloroplast transgenics are not pollinated via plastid DNA due to maternal inheritance; practical uses are abundant; mitochondria are not the main target in “transplastomics.”

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing plastid transformation with nuclear transformation or mitochondrial engineering.

Final Answer:

Targets genes in the chloroplast (plastid) genome for high-level, often maternal, expression