Q. Genome editing is different from genome modification.
Genome editing typically involves finding the part of a plant genome that could be changed to render it less vulnerable to disease, or resistant to certain herbicides, or to increase yields. Researchers use ‘molecular scissors’ to dissect the genome and repair it, Which is a process that occurs naturally when plants are under attack from diseases and can throw up new mutations that enable the plant to survive future attacks. This evolutionary process can effectively be speeded up now that it is possible to examine plant genomes in detail in laboratories, and create mechanisms through which the relevant genes can be altered very precisely.
Q1. With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Genome editing does not require the transfer of genes from one plant to another.
2. Through genome editing, the chosen genes can be altered precisely in a manner akin to the natural process that helps plants to adapt to the environmental factors.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
The passage supports both assumptions. It explicitly mentions that researchers use “molecular scissors” to dissect the genome and repair it, which implies that there is no transfer of genes from one plant to another (assumption 1). The passage also mentions that the natural process of creating mutations that enable plants to survive future attacks can effectively be sped up through genome editing, which implies that the chosen genes can be altered precisely in a manner akin to the natural process (assumption 2). Therefore, the correct answer is (c) Both 1 and 2.
