UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I
Question 96: Science and Technology
‘RNA interference (RNAi)’ technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why?
- 1.It is used in developing gene silencing therapies.
- 2.It can be used in developing therapies for the treatment of cancer.
- 3.It can be used to develop hormone replacement therapies.
- 4.It can be used to produce crop plants that are resistant to viral pathogens.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. RNA interference silences specific genes by degrading their messenger RNA, so it is used in gene silencing therapies, in developing treatments for cancer by silencing genes that drive tumours, and in crop plants engineered to resist viral pathogens. It is not used to develop hormone replacement therapies, which supply hormones and do not silence genes.
- 1. RNAi is the basis of gene silencing therapies.
- 2. RNAi can silence genes that drive cancer.
- 3. Hormone replacement supplies hormones; RNAi silences genes.
- 4. RNAi can make crops resistant to viral pathogens.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: RNAi is the basis of gene silencing therapies.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: RNAi can silence genes that drive cancer.
Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 3 or 4.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Correct: statements 1, 2 and 4 hold.
- (b) Statement 3 is false and statement 1 is left out.
- (c) Statement 3 is false.
- (d) Statement 2 is also correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.