Official UPSC Format

Which of the following statements with regard to genetic medicine is/are correct ?
1. Genetic medicines correct/compensate for the faulty genes responsible for disease.
2. Engineered viruses and lipid nanoparticles are used as carriers of the genetic medicine.
3. Genetic medicines alter the entire DNA sequence.
Select the answer using the code given below :

1. Genetic medicines correct/compensate for the faulty genes responsible for disease.

2. Engineered viruses and lipid nanoparticles are used as carriers of the genetic medicine.

3. Genetic medicines alter the entire DNA sequence.

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

Genetic medicines, such as CRISPR-Cas9 therapies, treat diseases by targeting and correcting specific faulty genes. They do not alter the entire DNA sequence. Because genetic material cannot enter cells independently, it is delivered using carriers like engineered viruses or Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs).

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option C
Let us examine the biochemical principles of Genetic Medicine:
  • Statement 1 is Correct: The fundamental purpose of genetic medicine (including gene therapy and gene editing) is to treat diseases at their molecular root. It does this by introducing, disabling, or modifying genetic material to compensate for or correct faulty or missing genes.

  • Statement 2 is Correct: Genetic payloads cannot survive in the bloodstream or penetrate cells on their own. They require "vectors" (carriers). Scientists use engineered viruses (stripped of their disease-causing ability) or non-viral Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs)—which wrap the genetic material in a protective fat bubble—to safely deliver the therapy into the target cells.

  • Statement 3 is Incorrect: The human genome is vast (over 3 billion base pairs). Genetic medicine is designed to be hyper-precise; it targets only specific, localized sequences or single defective genes (like targeting a typo on one page of an encyclopedia). It absolutely does not alter the entire DNA sequence.
    • Conclusion: Statements 1 and 2 represent accurate modern biotechnology.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    Statement 3 plays on sci-fi fears and common misconceptions that gene editing "mutates" a person completely. The examiner tests if candidates understand that gene therapies are highly targeted molecular scissors, not whole-genome re-writers.

    Active Recall Flashcard

    Tap to Flip

    What two primary types of 'vectors' or carriers are used to deliver genetic medicine into human cells?

    Engineered viruses and Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs).

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Genetic Medicine
    Corrects
    Faulty Genes
    Lipid Nanoparticles
    Deliver
    Genetic Material
    Genetic Medicine
    Does Not Alter
    Entire DNA Sequence

    Logic Quest

    "Why do genetic medicines need 'carriers' like Lipid Nanoparticles?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Precision Biotechnology and Delivery Vectors through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable Science & Technology questions for your upcoming Prelims.