Prelims 2017 · Science and Technology · Question 70
With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future? 1. Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants. 2. This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants. 3. It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer
1, 2 and 3
1. Correct. Genome sequencing helps identify genes/genetic markers linked to traits like disease resistance and drought tolerance in crops. This is widely used in marker-assisted breeding.
2. Correct. Once useful markers/genes are known, breeders can screen plants faster, reducing the time needed to develop improved crop varieties.
3. Correct. Sequencing of both crop and pathogen genomes helps understand host-pathogen interactions, including how infection occurs and how resistance works.
Therefore, all three statements are correct.