Key facts

  • PCPNDT Act, 1994 regulates prenatal diagnostics and prohibits sex selection; it is central to genetics ethics in India.
  • GEAC clearance under 1989 Rules is mandatory for environmental release of GM crops in India.
  • Puttaswamy, 2017 makes genomic data a privacy issue because DNA can reveal identity, health risk and family information.
  • GenomeIndia's 10,000 whole-genome dataset is important for Indian reference genomics and personalised medicine research.

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    Cell structure explains function: membrane regulates exchange, nucleus stores DNA, ribosomes make proteins, mitochondria generate ATP.

  2. 2

    DNA generally codes RNA and RNA codes protein; reverse transcription is an important exception in retroviruses.

  3. 3

    Mitosis preserves chromosome number; meiosis halves it and creates variation through crossing over and independent assortment.

  4. 4

    Mendelian ratios need assumptions; linkage, codominance, incomplete dominance and polygenic traits alter simple patterns.

  5. 5

    PCPNDT Act, 1994 regulates prenatal diagnostics and prohibits sex selection; it is central to genetics ethics in India.

  6. 6

    GEAC clearance under 1989 Rules is mandatory for environmental release of GM crops in India.

  7. 7

    Puttaswamy, 2017 makes genomic data a privacy issue because DNA can reveal identity, health risk and family information.

  8. 8

    GenomeIndia's 10,000 whole-genome dataset is important for Indian reference genomics and personalised medicine research.

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Scope, definitions and public-law frame

Biology questions in UPSC Prelims usually test whether a candidate can connect a basic NCERT fact with regulation, ethics or current science.

  • Cell biology: the cell is the structural and functional unit of life; a plasma membrane regulates exchange, cytoplasm hosts many reactions, and genetic material controls inheritance and protein synthesis.
  • Genetics: genetics studies genes, heredity and variation. A gene is a functional segment of DNA; a chromosome is a DNA-protein structure carrying many genes; the genome is the full genetic content of an organism.
  • Heredity: heredity is transmission of traits from parents to offspring. Variation arises through independent assortment, crossing over, mutation, recombination and environmental influence on gene expression.
  • Constitutional basis in India: Article 21 matters because bodily integrity, informed consent, reproductive choice and informational privacy are tied to life and personal liberty; Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017, recognised privacy as a fundamental right.
  • Scientific temper: Article 51A(h) makes it a fundamental duty to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform. This is not an enforceable right, but UPSC uses it to link science policy with constitutional culture.
  • Equality and non-discrimination: Articles 14 and 15 become relevant when genetic screening, disability risk, sex selection or access to advanced therapy can create unequal treatment.
  • Key laws and rules: PCPNDT Act, 1994 regulates prenatal diagnostic techniques and prohibits sex selection; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules, 1989 regulate genetically engineered organisms; ART Act, 2021 regulates assisted reproduction; DPDP Act, 2023 governs digital personal data including health-related data when digitised.
  • Forensic genetics: Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 allows collection of measurements from specified persons; debates focus on biological samples, retention, proportionality and privacy.
  • Exam trap: biology is not only a lab topic. A DNA question may be about central dogma, a privacy case, a forensic database, a GM crop approval or a sex-selection prohibition.

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PredictedPredicted Questions

Use these prompts to test answer structure before moving to practice.

1MCQConsider the following statements: 1. In eukaryotes, transcription and translation occur in the same cellular compartment. 2. DNA replication is semi-conservative. 3. The genetic code is read in triplets. Which of the statements given above are correct?1 marks · 50 words
  1. A1 and 2 only
  2. B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
  3. C1 and 3 only
  4. D1, 2 and 3

Explanation

In eukaryotes transcription occurs in the nucleus and translation in cytoplasm; replication is semi-conservative and codons are triplets.

~50 words · 1 marks