Gene cloning can involve inserting genes into

A. machines.
B. humans.
C. plants.
D. protein.

this is not D, and i don't think it's A. if i had to guess, i'd pick C but i'm unsure if it could be B as well.

To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the options and eliminate the incorrect ones.

A. Machines: Gene cloning does not involve inserting genes into machines. Machines are used in the process of gene cloning, but the genes themselves are not inserted into them. Therefore, option A can be eliminated.

B. Humans: Gene cloning can involve the insertion of genes into humans, but it is not a common practice and is highly regulated for ethical reasons. It is mostly done for research purposes or in certain medical treatments, and not as a routine procedure. However, in the context of gene cloning, the primary focus is on organisms other than humans. Therefore, option B is less likely to be the correct answer.

C. Plants: Gene cloning often involves inserting genes into plants. It is a widely used approach in agricultural biotechnology, where genes are inserted into plants to enhance their traits, such as improving crop yield, resistance to pests, or tolerance to environmental conditions. This technique has been extensively used in genetically modified (GM) crops. Therefore, option C is a plausible answer.

D. Protein: Gene cloning is not about inserting genes into proteins. Proteins are the products of genes and are synthesized by cellular machinery using the information encoded in genes. While gene cloning can help produce proteins of interest in large quantities, it involves isolating and inserting genes into organisms, not inserting genes into proteins directly. Thus, option D is incorrect.

Based on this analysis, the most likely correct answer is C. Gene cloning often involves inserting genes into plants.