Q. Researchers were able to use stem cells to gauge the neurotoxic effects of the environmental pollutants Bisphenol A (BPA).
They used a combination of biochemical and cell-based assays to examines the gene expression profile during the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells upon treatment with BPA, a compound known to cause heart diseases, diabetes, and developmental abnormalities in humans. They were able to detect and measure BPA toxicity towards the proper specification of primary germ layers, such as endoderm and ectoderm, and the establishment of neural progenitor cells.
Q 1. On the basis of the passage given above, the following assumptions have been made:
1. BPA may alter embryonic development in vivo.
2. Biochemical and cell-based assays are useful in finding out treatments for pollution-induced diseases.
3. Embryonic stem cells could serve as a model to evaluate the physiological effects of environmental pollutants.
Which of the above assumptions are valid?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Q1: Correct Answer – (c) 1 and 3 only
Explanation – Based on the information given in the passage, assumptions 1 and 3 are valid. The passage states that BPA is known to cause developmental abnormalities in humans and that researchers were able to detect and measure BPA toxicity towards the proper specification of primary germ layers during embryonic development. This supports assumption 1 that BPA may alter embryonic development in vivo. The passage also mentions that researchers used stem cells to gauge the neurotoxic effects of BPA and were able to establish neural progenitor cells. This supports assumption 3 that embryonic stem cells could serve as a model to evaluate the physiological effects of environmental pollutants.
However, there is no information given in the passage to support assumption 2 that biochemical and cell-based assays are useful in finding out treatments for pollution-induced diseases. While these assays were used to examine gene expression profiles during differentiation upon treatment with BPA, there is no mention of their use in finding treatments for pollution-induced diseases.
Therefore, based on the information given in the passage, assumptions 1 and 3 are valid while assumption 2 is not supported by evidence from the text.