Reading a crop’s entire genetic code used to take years. Now it’s routine, and it’s already changing how India breeds its wheat and rice.
🏛️ Must Know
What Genome Sequencing Can Do for Indian Agriculture
- Finds Genetic Markers Genome sequencing genuinely can identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in crop plants.
- Speeds Up Breeding It genuinely helps reduce the time needed to develop new crop varieties, compared to traditional breeding alone.
- Decodes Host-Pathogen Links It genuinely can be used to decipher how crops and the pathogens that attack them interact at a genetic level.
- Correct Answer All three uses are genuine. The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.
Good to Know
📘 Good to Know
How Genome Sequencing Actually Speeds Up Crop Breeding
- Marker-Assisted Selection Once a genetic marker for a trait is known, breeders can screen young plants for that marker directly, instead of waiting for the plant to mature.
- Whole-Genome Data Sequencing the whole genome, not just a few genes, lets breeders track many traits at once across thousands of plant lines.
- Used in Indian Crops Genome sequencing has already been applied to Indian staples including rice, wheat, and chickpea, to speed up variety development.
📝 Previous Year Questions
UPSC CSP 2017 — What Genome Sequencing Can Do for Crops
- UPSC 2017 Genome sequencing can identify disease-resistance and drought-tolerance markers, speed up new-variety development, and decode host-pathogen relationships in crops. See UPSC CSP 2017 GS Paper I, Q45. View this question.
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Great to Know
🌟 Great to Know
Why Genome Data Matters Beyond a Single Season
- Building Reference Genomes Scientists have sequenced reference genomes for many crops, creating a map that future breeding work can compare against.
- Ancient DNA Adds Context Sequencing DNA from old plant remains has even helped researchers trace how today’s crops evolved from their wild ancestors.
- Connects to Other PYQ Facts This same genome-based approach also underlies UPSC questions on gene-edited crops and genetically modified organisms.
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IndEco0024 — Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in IndiaSciTech0127 — Genome India ProjectUPSC CSP 2017 — General Studies Paper I (Full Question Paper)SciTech0134 — Genetic Medicine: How Gene Therapy WorksUPSC CSP 2018 — General Studies Paper I (Full Question Paper)❓ Practice this topic
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