Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferredacross different spec

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2013 UPSC Prelims Science & Technology paper.

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Question

Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferredacross different species of plantsfrom animals to plantsfrom microorganisms to higher organismsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — 1, 2 and 3Step-by-step Solution:Recombinant DNA technology (rDNA/Genetic Engineering) involves the artificial manipulation of DNA — cutting DNA from one organism and inserting it into the genome of another organism. The fundamental principle is that DNA is chemically the same across all life forms (the same four nucleotide bases — A, T, G, C), meaning genes can theoretically be transferred between any organisms regardless of taxonomic distance.Statement 1 — Transfer across different species of plants: Correct. Genes can be transferred from one plant species to another. Examples: the Bt gene from Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria was inserted into cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to create Bt Cotton, India's only commercially approved GM crop; the chitinase gene from rice was transferred to other plant species for fungal resistance; drought-tolerant genes from wild plant relatives are being transferred to crop plants. ✓Statement 2 — Transfer from animals to plants: Correct. Genes can be transferred from animals to plants. Example: A synthetic gene derived from the rat interferon gene has been transferred to plants to confer virus resistance; sequences from animal proteins with antibacterial properties have been used to develop disease-resistant crop varieties. While less common than plant-to-plant or microorganism-to-plant transfer, animal-to-plant gene transfer is technically feasible and has been demonstrated. ✓Statement 3 — Transfer from microorganisms to higher organisms: Correct. This is one of the most commonly practised forms of genetic engineering. Examples: Bt gene (from Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria) → Bt Cotton, Bt Brinjal; Human insulin gene → E. coli bacteria (to produce insulin pharmaceutically); Somatostatin gene → bacteria; Hepatitis B vaccine produced in yeast; genes from various bacteria transferred to crop plants for nitrogen fixation improvement, disease resistance, etc. ✓Key Concept: Recombinant DNA technology tools: restriction enzymes (cut DNA at specific sequences — molecular 'scissors'); DNA ligases (join DNA fragments — molecular 'glue'); vectors (plasmids, viruses — carry foreign DNA into host cells); transformation methods (Agrobacterium-mediated, biolistics/gene gun, electroporation, microinjection). Applications: Agriculture (GM crops — Bt Cotton, Golden Rice, GM Mustard); Medicine (insulin, erythropoietin, human growth hormone, vaccines — Hepatitis B, HPV); Forensics (DNA fingerprinting); Research (knockout mice, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing). GM crop regulation in India: GEAC under Ministry of Environment approves environmental release; Bt Cotton (approved 2002) is the only commercially cultivated GM crop; GM Mustard (DMH-11) approved by GEAC 2022 but awaiting final government clearance as of 2023-24. The universality of the genetic code (DNA uses same codons for same amino acids across all life) is what makes cross-species gene transfer possible.

Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferredacross different species of plantsfrom animals to plantsfrom microorganisms to higher organismsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:

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Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferredacross different species of plantsfrom animals to plantsfrom microorganisms to higher organismsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:

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