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Q31 (IAS/2016) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Genomics and DNA technologies Official Key

In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term 'transcriptome', sometimes seen in the news, refers to

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B because the transcriptome refers to the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism. The term "transcriptome" is derived from "transcript" (referring to RNA transcripts) and represents the complete set of RNA molecules, particularly messenger RNA (mRNA), that are produced by the genome under specific circumstances or in a specific cell. This is distinct from the genome (the complete DNA sequence) as the transcriptome reflects which genes are actually being expressed at any given time.

Option A is incorrect because genome editing uses enzymes like CRISPR-Cas9, not the transcriptome itself. Option C is incorrect because while the transcriptome is related to gene expression, it is not a description of the mechanism but rather the actual collection of expressed RNA molecules. Option D is incorrect because the transcriptome does not refer to genetic mutations; it represents normal gene expression patterns in cells and can vary based on cell type, developmental stage, or environmental conditions.

Sources
  1. [1] https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/KCW-FINAL.pdf
  2. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2001037020302993
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Q. In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term 'transcriptome', sometimes seen in the news, refers to [A] a range of enz…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10
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This question is a classic 'Term in News' that rewards etymological common sense over deep technical knowledge. If you know 'Transcription' (DNA → RNA) from basic NCERT Biology, the suffix '-ome' (meaning 'complete set') makes the answer obvious. It is fair because it relies on the fundamental 'Central Dogma' of biology.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In the context of developments in bioinformatics, what does the term "transcriptome" refer to?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"has been adapted to transcriptomics data. Transcriptional BMDLs, derived from short-term animal bioassays, can be linked to biological processes, including pathways and gene ontologies"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly uses the term "transcriptomics data" and "Transcriptional BMDLs", tying the concept to transcriptional measurements.
  • Connects these transcriptional data to biological processes, pathways and gene ontologies, indicating the transcriptome represents gene-expression (RNA) information.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"deciphering the epitranscriptomes, including epitranscriptome data analysis techniques, RNA"
Why this source?
  • Refers to "epitranscriptomes" and bioinformatics approaches to decipher them, directly associating the term with RNA-related data.
  • Places transcriptome-related analysis within bioinformatics techniques for RNA and its modifications, supporting that transcriptome pertains to RNA transcripts.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 16: Conservation Efforts > r6.r7.t. Programs pf iBOL > p. 248
Strength: 4/5
“BARCODE 500K, compiled. in ,o,5,:i"n, the foundation that established the sequencing facilities,-analytical protocols, informatics platforms, and international collaboration needed to build the DI.JA barcode reference libraries. Building on this success, BIOSCAN launched in -|une zorg with an intent to complete by zaz6 to scan life and codify species interactions whiie expanding the reference library and demonstrating its utility AI Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without permission in writing.”
Why relevant

Mentions sequencing facilities, analytical protocols and informatics platforms used to build reference libraries — indicating large-scale sequencing and informatics efforts in biology.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the basic fact that sequencing can read RNA-derived data to infer that a 'transcriptome' might be a dataset produced and analysed by such sequencing/informatics pipelines.

Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Heredity > 8.2.3 How do these Traits get Expressed? > p. 131
Strength: 5/5
“How does the mechanism of heredity work? Cellular DNA is the information source for making proteins in the cell. A section of DNA that provides information for one protein is called the gene for that protein. How do proteins control the characteristics that we are discussing here? Let us take the example of tallness as a characteristic. We know that plants have hormones that can trigger growth. Plant height can thus depend on the amount of a particular plant hormone. The amount of the plant hormone made will depend on the efficiency of the process for making it. Consider now an enzyme that is important for this process.”
Why relevant

Explains that cellular DNA provides information for making proteins and that genes code for proteins — establishes the flow from genetic information to functional molecules.

How to extend

Using the basic knowledge that genes are transcribed into RNA before translation, a student could infer the transcriptome relates to those RNA products derived from genes.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 13: Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet > 13.5 What Keeps Life from Disappearing? > p. 220
Strength: 4/5
“called genetic material or genes, are stored inside every cell of a living being. You can think of genes as a detailed instruction manual inside each cell. Some instructions tell the cell how to make blood, while others guide the formation of bones, muscles, or skin. Together, these instructions ensure that a calf grows into a cow, or a kitten grows into a cat. But reproduction does more than just create more of the same kind of living beings. It also allows for small changes in the instructions that are passed down from parents to offpsrings. Sometimes, these changes help a plant or animal survive better in a new environment.”
Why relevant

Describes genes as instruction manuals stored in cells and mentions changes in hereditary instructions — emphasises the concept of gene-based information within cells.

How to extend

A student could extend this by noting that the active expression of those instructions involves RNA molecules, suggesting the transcriptome catalogs expressed genetic instructions (RNA) in cells.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) CROPS > p. 301
Strength: 3/5
“• According to WHO, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are the plants, animals or microorganisms in which the hereditary material (DNA) is altered in a manner that does not happen normally by mating or potentially regular recombination. It is also known as modern biotechnology/gene technology.• When genetic modification of a plant is performed, foreign gene (transgene) or gene of some other organism is artificially inserted into the plant's own genes. This is gene modification.”
Why relevant

Defines genetic modification as deliberate alteration of hereditary material (DNA) and mentions insertion of genes — highlights the centrality of genes/DNA in molecular biology.

How to extend

Coupling this with standard knowledge that altered genes produce altered RNA outputs, a student might deduce that studying the transcriptome would reveal expression changes from such modifications.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > 29.3.4. Greeenwashing > p. 422
Strength: 3/5
“In animals, this is the freezing of sperm and eggs in zoological freezers until further need. • Biobank is a cryogenic storage facility used to archive biological samples for use in research and experiments. • Xero*ere is a plant succession which is limited by water availability. It includes the different stages in a research succession. All Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing.”
Why relevant

Mentions biobanks that archive biological samples for research — points to availability of material (RNA/DNA) used in large-scale molecular studies.

How to extend

A student could reason that transcriptome studies require biological samples (for extracting RNA) stored in such biobanks and then analysed via sequencing/informatics.

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