'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 viral pathogens. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1, 2 and 4 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) 1 and 4 only
Why the answer is (a)
• RNA interference uses small RNAs (siRNA/miRNA) to bind messenger RNA and block translation, silencing a specific gene (item 1).
• RNAi therapies are being developed to silence oncogenes and cancer-related genes (item 2); the first approved RNAi drug, patisiran (2018), treats a rare hereditary disease.
• In agriculture, RNAi confers resistance to viral pathogens, e.g. virus-resistant papaya and cassava developed through gene silencing (item 4).
• Item 3 is wrong: hormone replacement therapy supplies hormones and has nothing to do with gene silencing.
• Hence 1, 2 and 4, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3
- Item 3 is wrong: RNAi is unrelated to hormone replacement.
- (c) 1 and 3
- Item 3 is wrong; items 2 and 4 are correct.
- (d) 1 and 4 only
- Item 2 (cancer therapy) is also a valid use.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.