UPSC CSE Prelims
GM Crops and Biosafety Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for GM Crops and Biosafety with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — developing genetically modified crop plants.
Bollgard I and Bollgard II are biotechnology products developed for creating genetically modified (GM) cotton plants with insect resistance. These technologies use genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria to produce insecticidal proteins that protect cotton plants from bollworm and other lepidopteran pests, thereby reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
📝 Short Notes: Bt Cotton Technologies
| Feature | Bollgard I | Bollgard II |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction Year | 2002 (India's first approved GM crop) | 2006 |
| Bt Genes Used | Single gene (Cry1Ac) | Two genes (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) |
| Target Pests | Primarily American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) | Broader spectrum: American Bollworm, Spodoptera species, and other lepidopteran caterpillars |
| Mechanism | Bt gene produces insecticidal protein toxic to specific pests | Dual-gene technology provides enhanced and broader resistance |
| Advantages | Reduced pesticide use, increased yield | Better pest resistance, delayed resistance development, higher efficacy |
With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements :
- GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that gives the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
- GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
- GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
GM Mustard (DMH-11) is a genetically modified hybrid variety of Brassica juncea developed by Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants. It has been engineered with barnase-barstar genes to enable cross-pollination and hybridization for increased yield, not for pest-resistance.
✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: GM mustard does not contain genes for pest-resistance; it is engineered for hybridization using barnase-barstar gene system, not Bt genes from soil bacteria.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: GM mustard contains genes (barnase, barstar, and bar genes) that facilitate cross-pollination and hybridization, enabling hybrid seed production.
✅ Statement 3 – Incorrect: GM mustard was developed by Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), not jointly by IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
📝 Short Notes: GM Mustard (DMH-11)
- Full Name: Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), a genetically modified variety of Brassica juncea.
- Developed by: Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), Delhi University under Prof. Deepak Pental.
- Genetic Modification: Uses barnase-barstar gene system borrowed from soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for male sterility and fertility restoration.
- Purpose: Enables cross-pollination in naturally self-pollinating mustard to produce high-yielding hybrids; increases yield by 25-30%.
- Key Genes: Bar gene (herbicide tolerance), barnase gene (male sterility), barstar gene (fertility restoration).
- Not Bt Crop: Unlike Bt cotton/brinjal, GM mustard does not have pest-resistance traits; it is purely for hybrid development.
- Regulatory Status: Approved by GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) in 2017 but faced public and legal challenges.
With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?
- Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
- This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
- It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Genome sequencing identifies specific genetic markers linked to desirable traits such as disease resistance and drought tolerance. This enables targeted breeding programs to develop improved crop varieties with enhanced resilience.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Traditional crop breeding takes years or even decades. Genome sequencing accelerates this process by allowing precise identification of beneficial genes, enabling marker-assisted selection and reducing the time required to develop new varieties from 10-15 years to just 3-5 years.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Genome sequencing helps decode the genetic interactions between host plants and pathogens. Understanding these host-pathogen relationships enables scientists to develop targeted disease management strategies and breed crops with enhanced resistance mechanisms.
All three statements correctly describe immediate applications of genome sequencing in Indian agriculture, making it a powerful tool for crop improvement and food security.
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What are the reasons for the people’s resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India?
- Bt brinjal has been created by inserting a gene from a soil fungus into its genome.
- The seeds of Bt brinjal are terminator seeds and therefore, the farmers have to buy the seeds before every season from the seed companies.
- There is an apprehension that the consumption of Bt brinjal may have an adverse impact on health.
- There is some concern that the introduction of Bt brinjal may have an adverse effect on biodiversity.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Bt brinjal is created by inserting the Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium, not a fungus, to provide resistance against the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Bt brinjal seeds are not terminator seeds; they do not contain Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT) that prevents seed saving and reuse.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Major resistance stems from apprehensions about adverse health impacts, including concerns about allergenicity, toxicity, and lack of long-term independent safety studies on human consumption.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: India is a center of origin and diversity for brinjal; concerns exist that cross-pollination with wild and local varieties could lead to genetic contamination and loss of indigenous biodiversity.
Related Topics in Science & Technology
Genetic Engineering
Microbiology
Gene Therapy and CRISPR
Basics of Biotechnology
Biomaterials and Biomedical Applications
DNA, RNA and Genetics
Recombinant DNA Technology
Biosafety and Genetic Engineering Regulations
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Common questions about GM Crops and Biosafety in UPSC CSE PRELIMS