Direction for the following 6 (six) items: Read the following five passages and answer the items (61-66) that follow. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only.
Genome editing is different from genome modification. Genome editing typically involves finding the part of a plant genome that could be changed to render it less vulnerable to disease, or resistant to certain herbicides, or to increase yields. Researchers use ‘molecular scissors’ to dissect the genome and repair it, which is a process that occurs naturally when plants are under attack from diseases and can throw up new mutations that enable the plant to survive future attacks. This evolutionary process can effectively be speeded up now that it is possible to examine plant genomes in detail in laboratories, and create mechanisms through which the relevant genes can be altered very precisely.
With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Genome editing does not require the transfer of genes from one plant to another.
2. Through genome editing, the chosen genes can be altered precisely in a manner akin to the natural process that helps plants to adapt to the environmental factors.
Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?
Correct Answer :
Both 1 and 2
Solution :
The correct option is Both 1 and 2.
Let us analyze the given assumptions based strictly on the passage provided:
Analysis of Assumption 1:
The passage states that "Genome editing is different from genome modification" and typically involves finding a specific part of a plant's existing genome to alter or repair using 'molecular scissors'. This is distinguished from transferring foreign genes from another plant. Thus, genome editing does not require the transfer of genes from one plant to another. Therefore, Assumption 1 is valid.
Analysis of Assumption 2:
The passage mentions that using molecular scissors to dissect and repair the genome is "a process that occurs naturally when plants are under attack from diseases..." and that "This evolutionary process can effectively be speeded up now that it is possible to examine plant genomes in detail in laboratories, and create mechanisms through which the relevant genes can be altered very precisely." This directly supports that chosen genes can be altered precisely in a manner akin to the natural evolutionary/adaptation process. Therefore, Assumption 2 is valid.
Since both assumptions 1 and 2 are valid based on the text, the correct answer is Both 1 and 2.
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