Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 2...

Read the passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

Lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated meat, represents a paradigm shift in food production, moving it from farms to bioreactors. This innovative process begins with a small biopsy of animal cells, which are then placed in a controlled environment mimicking the body’s natural conditions. Fed a nutrient-rich medium of amino acids, sugars, and growth factors, these cells proliferate exponentially, forming muscle tissue indistinguishable at a cellular level from its conventional counterpart. The primary motivation is to address the colossal environmental footprint of traditional livestock farming, a major contributor to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.

The technological journey from concept to consumable product is fraught with intricate challenges. Scaling production from laboratory petri dishes to industrial-scale bioreactors necessitates solving complex engineering puzzles. A paramount hurdle is formulating a cost-effective and animal-free growth medium; fetal bovine serum, traditionally used, is ethically and economically untenable for mass production. Moreover, achieving the complex texture and mouthfeel of whole-cut meats like steaks, beyond simpler ground products, requires advanced scaffolding techniques to guide tissue structure.

Despite these hurdles, regulatory and commercial landscapes are evolving rapidly. In 2023, the United States granted its first approvals for the sale of cultivated chicken, marking a watershed moment for the industry. Concurrently, significant venture capital continues to flow into the sector, underscoring a belief in its long-term viability. However, securing widespread consumer acceptance remains a critical, uncertain frontier, entangled with perceptions of naturalness and taste.

The ultimate promise of this technology extends beyond environmental benefits. Proponents envision a future with a more resilient and ethical food system, potentially reducing zoonotic disease risks and antibiotic use prevalent in concentrated animal farming. As research intensifies and production costs are projected to plummet, cultivated meat could transition from a novel alternative to a mainstream staple, fundamentally altering humanity’s relationship with protein.

(Adapted from https://edition.cnn.com)

Question 23. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 1 as a component of the nutrient-rich medium?

A. Growth factors        B. Amino acids        C. Sugars                D. Minerals