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Q45 (IAS/2017) Science & Technology › Biotechnology & Health › Genomics and DNA technologies Official Key

With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future ? 1. Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants. 2. This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants. 3. It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  Âˇ  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D because all three statements are valid applications of genome sequencing in agriculture.

**Statement 1 is correct**: Plant genome sequencing for crop improvement enables the discovery of genes and molecular markers associated with diverse agronomic traits[1], including disease resistance and drought tolerance. Research has identified key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with drought tolerance in crops like rice and wheat[2], demonstrating practical application of this technique.

**Statement 2 is correct**: Gene editing can reduce the breeding time needed to produce a new variety or breed and reduce research and development costs[3]. More specifically, marker-assisted selection can reduce the breeding cycle by up to 30% compared to traditional methods[4], showing how genome sequencing accelerates variety development.

**Statement 3 is correct**: Genome sequencing provides the foundational data needed to understand disease mechanisms in crops. Gene editing a critical site in the rice genome enables generation of new rice varieties with durable rice blast resistance, and a small, targeted[5] deletion edit in the rice genome results in superior improved resistance[5] to bacterial blight, illustrating how genomic understanding helps decipher host-pathogen relationships.

Sources
  1. [1] https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/87f4a4f0-59e0-4e15-8039-6bda2802370b/content
  2. [2] https://ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD1711018.pdf
  3. [3] https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/050929c7-2d10-4f2c-97d4-eb2294b095a1/content
  4. [4] https://ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD1711018.pdf
  5. [5] https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/050929c7-2d10-4f2c-97d4-eb2294b095a1/content
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news, be used in the immediate fu…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 ¡ 10/10
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This is a classic 'Science Logic' question, not a 'Book Memory' one. Standard books (Geography/Economy) describe the *problems* (drought, pests, slow breeding), while Science Current Affairs provides the *solution* (Genomics). If a technology is revolutionary, its applications are usually broad and positive; don't hunt for these specific sentences in a textbook.

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
Can genome sequencing be used in Indian agriculture to identify genetic markers for disease resistance in crop plants?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In summary, plant genome sequencing for crop improvement enables the discovery of genes and molecular markers associated with diverse agronomic traits."
Why this source?
  • Directly states that plant genome sequencing enables discovery of genes and molecular markers for crop improvement.
  • Implies sequencing can be used to find markers linked to agronomic traits such as disease resistance.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Advanced genomic tools allowed us to accelerate gene identification—thanks to the growing availability of genome sequence data—and to determine a more precise location of the"
Why this source?
  • Explains that availability of genome sequence data accelerates identification of genes/loci for disease resistance.
  • Shows that advanced genomic tools improve precision in locating resistance loci, which supports marker identification.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"in some Oryza nivara accessions from Madhya Pradesh Molecular tagging of a recessive gene, Xa-5, conferring resistance to bacterial blight of rice"
Why this source?
  • Provides India-relevant examples of genetic mapping and molecular tagging in rice (e.g., accessions from Madhya Pradesh).
  • Specifically mentions molecular tagging of the Xa-5 gene conferring resistance to bacterial blight of rice, showing practical marker identification.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > 9.3.3. Crop genetic diversity > p. 158
Strength: 5/5
“Agriculture remains one of the dominant drivers and mainstay of economic growth in India. The large mosaic of distinct agro-ecosystems, characterized by variations in edaphic, climatic and geographic features, has contributed to diverse cropping patterns and systems across the country. India stands seventh in the world in terms of contribution of species to agriculture and animal husbandry. The national gene bank at National Bureau Of plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Delhi is primarily responsible for conservation of unique accessions on long-term basis, as base collections for posterity, predominantly in the form of seeds.”
Why relevant

Describes crop genetic diversity and the national gene bank (NBPGR) that conserves accessions as base collections.

How to extend

A student could reason that conserved diverse accessions are targets for analysis (e.g., sequencing) to find alleles/markers associated with desirable traits like disease resistance.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.8 Genetically Modified (GM) Crops > p. 342
Strength: 5/5
“GM crops are plants whose DNA (a molecule that encodes the Genetic Information) has been modified using Genetic Engineering. The following are some benefits of GM crops: • More nutritional value• Resistance to bacteria, virus and other components that can damage the plant• Longer shelf life• Less costly GM foods and higher yields The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body for regulating GM crops, in the Ministry of Environment and Forest under the Environment Protections Act 1986. At present, the government allows commercial production of only one GM crop which is BT cotton and is allowed since 2002.”
Why relevant

Defines GM crops as plants whose DNA has been modified and lists 'resistance to bacteria, virus and other components' as a benefit.

How to extend

Combining this with basic knowledge that DNA-level information (from sequencing) guides genetic modification suggests sequencing could reveal candidate resistance genes/markers for breeding or engineering.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 3. Plant Protection Chemicals > p. 48
Strength: 4/5
“substantially. The danger of pests and insects may be reduced by using plant protection chemicals. The problem may be tackled either by developing the disease resistant seeds or by spraying insecticides and pesticides at the appropriate time prescribed or advised for different crops. The problems of crop disease and pests may also be tackled by timely application of insecticides and pesticides. Thus, the farmer must have adequate knowledge of plant disease and their controlling chemicals. At the outbreak of a disease in the crop, the entire area should be sprayed. If the timely spray of the insecticides and pesticides is not done, the crop of the entire village/region may vanish.”
Why relevant

States that crop disease problems may be tackled by developing disease-resistant seeds (as an alternative to chemicals).

How to extend

A student could infer that identifying genetic bases of resistance (via sequencing/markers) is a logical scientific route to develop such resistant seeds.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Rice Production in India > p. 293
Strength: 4/5
“9.7 Agriculture urgent need for developing more nitrogen use-efficient varieties and rice production technologies demanding lesser water, labour, nitrogen and pesticides. • Same nature of cultivation pattern is another challenge. ٠• Low soil fertility due to soil erosion resulting in loss of plant nutrients and moisture. • New virulence of diseases.”
Why relevant

Highlights the urgent need for developing more efficient varieties and notes 'new virulence of diseases' as a challenge.

How to extend

This motivates use of modern tools (e.g., sequencing to find resistance alleles) to respond to emerging disease threats.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 25: Agriculture > Beneficial effects of weeds > p. 365
Strength: 3/5
“Colonum occurs in rich soils while Cymbopogon denotes poor light soil and Sedges are found in ill-drained soils Genetically modified crops (GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering techniques, which are then used in agriculture.”
Why relevant

Repeats that GM crops involve modification of DNA for agricultural use.

How to extend

Implies that DNA-level knowledge is central to crop improvement, so sequencing to discover useful genetic variants is a plausible method to pursue.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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