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Q45·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2017

Genome Sequencing in Agriculture

S&TAgricultural biotechnology and genomicsStatement-basedMediumHybrid

Question

With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?

1Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
2This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
3It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1.

    Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.

  2. 2.

    This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.

  3. 3.

    It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.

Options

a

1 only

b

2 and 3 only

c

1 and 3 only

d

1, 2 and 3

Answer

Explanation

All three statements are correct regarding genome sequencing applications in agriculture. Statement 1 is accurate: genome sequencing identifies genetic markers linked to desirable traits like disease resistance and drought tolerance, enabling marker-assisted selection. Statement 2 is correct: by identifying beneficial genetic variants quickly, breeders can reduce the time needed for developing new crop varieties compared to traditional breeding methods. Statement 3 is also accurate: genome sequencing helps understand genetic interactions between host plants and pathogens, informing disease resistance breeding strategies. These are all practical, immediate applications of genomic technology in agricultural improvement, particularly relevant for India's agricultural challenges. > Key insight: Genome sequencing accelerates crop improvement through rapid identification of beneficial genes, disease resistance markers, and host-pathogen relationships. Answer: (d).

Question details

Year

2017

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q45

Subject

Science & Technology

Sub-topic

Agricultural biotechnology and genomics

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Hybrid

Source hint

Agricultural biotechnology - Current developments

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