UPSC Prelims 2020 · Question 4 of 100
UPSC Prelims 2020 question on Germline Gene Therapy
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2020
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectScience and Technology
- TopicBiotechnology
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
Consider the following statements:
1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
2. A person's genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
Verdict
Correct statements: 1, 2 and 3 → Option (d).
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – CORRECT: Germline gene therapy targets the reproductive cells, meaning any changes made to the DNA will be passed on to the next generation. DNA is transferred into the cells that produce reproductive cells — eggs or sperm — in the body. Hence statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2 – CORRECT: Although germline gene therapy is illegal, embryonic genetic editing is different and it is possible to make genome changes to eliminate the vertical transfer (through inheritance) of certain diseases. Hence statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3 – CORRECT: Human-animal chimeras are animals bearing human cells and organs. Researchers have experimented by injecting several different forms of human stem cells into pig embryos. The cells that survived longest were intermediate human pluripotent stem cells. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Related current-affairs briefs
More questions on Biotechnology
← Full 2020 question paper · All Science and Technology questions