UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 22
'RNA interference (RNAi)' technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why?
- It is used in developing gene silencing therapies.
- It can be used in developing therapies for the treatment of cancer.
- It can be used to develop hormone replacement therapies.
- It can be used to produce crop plants that are resistant to viral pathogens.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
RNA interference uses small RNA molecules to silence expression of selected genes. This supports experimental cancer treatment and virus-resistant crops; replacement of deficient hormones is a different therapeutic approach.
Statement / Pair Analysis:
1 (Correct): RNAi is a gene-silencing mechanism used to suppress targeted transcripts.
2 (Correct): Cancer therapies may use RNAi to downregulate disease-promoting genes.
3 (Incorrect): Hormone replacement gives missing hormones rather than silencing their genes.
4 (Correct): Engineered RNAi can target viral sequences, making crops more virus-resistant.
Option-wise Analysis:
A (Correct): Includes all and only the true statements/pairs.
B (Incorrect): It includes false item 3 (Hormone replacement gives missing hormones rather than silencing their genes); omits true item 1 (RNAi is a gene-silencing mechanism used to suppress targeted transcripts); omits true item 4 (Engineered RNAi can target viral sequences, making crops more virus-resistant).
C (Incorrect): It includes false item 3 (Hormone replacement gives missing hormones rather than silencing their genes); omits true item 2 (Cancer therapies may use RNAi to downregulate disease-promoting genes); omits true item 4 (Engineered RNAi can target viral sequences, making crops more virus-resistant).
D (Incorrect): It omits true item 2 (Cancer therapies may use RNAi to downregulate disease-promoting genes).