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RAS question

Genome sequencing helps in understanding diseases by:

Correct answer: (A) Identifying genetic mutations linked to diseases and enabling precision medicine.

Genome sequencing helps in understanding diseases by identifying disease-linked genetic mutations and enabling precision medicine.

  1. (A)

    Identifying genetic mutations linked to diseases and enabling precision medicine

  2. (B)

    Producing vaccines

  3. (C)

    Killing pathogens directly

  4. (D)

    Replacing damaged organs

Explanation

Genome sequencing reveals the complete DNA sequence, so it helps connect variations in DNA with disease risk, diagnosis and treatment choice. It identifies disease-causing mutations, supports pharmacogenomics for predicting drug response, tracks pathogen evolution such as COVID variants, and enables precision or personalised medicine. World Health Organization describes genomics as the study of complete genomes and their function; it has reshaped understanding of the genetic basis of complex diseases and is used in risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment selection, disease monitoring and pathogen surveillance. That is why option A is the best answer. Sequencing is not mainly a factory process for making vaccines, a direct antimicrobial treatment, or a surgical replacement method; it is an information tool that improves how disease is understood and managed.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) Producing vaccines is a separate biomedical process; genome sequencing can inform disease understanding and surveillance, but the question asks how sequencing helps understand diseases.
  • (C) Sequencing reads and analyses genetic information; it does not directly kill pathogens like an antimicrobial drug or immune response would.
  • (D) Replacing damaged organs is transplant surgery, whereas genome sequencing supports risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment selection and monitoring through genetic information.

Concept

This tests genomics under Science and Technology, especially its medical applications in diagnosis, pharmacogenomics, pathogen surveillance and precision medicine. RAS repeatedly asks such topics because they connect biotechnology basics with public health policy and recent Indian initiatives such as IndiGen.

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