UPSC Prelims 2019 – Question 96

Here is Question No. 96 a part of our series on UPSC Prelims 2019

Q96. 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 virtual pathogens.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 4 only

Answer: A

• Statement 1 is correct: Gene silencing is a modern gene-editing technique. Using techniques like RNA interference, CRISPRCAS9 and antisense RNA technique, a gene of our interest can be suppressed, or its expression is controlled. It is used in developing gene-silencing therapies.
• Statement 2 is correct: RNAi is used in functional genomics (systematic analysis of loss-of-function phenotypes induced by RNAi triggers) and developing therapies for the treatment of viral infection, dominant disorders, neurological disorders, and many types of cancers (in vivo inactivation of gene products linked to human disease progression and pathology).
• Statement 3 is not correct: Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment for women who have low hormone levels like Women going through menopause (menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children). It is also called estrogen replacement therapy. The RNA interface cannot be used to develop hormone replacement therapies.

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