Question 36 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Science and
Technology

Question

In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term 'transcriptome', sometimes seen in the news, refers to

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism

Strategy: The question tests knowledge of core bioinformatics terminology. The term 'transcriptome' directly relates to the process of 'transcription', where genetic information from DNA is converted into RNA. Therefore, it refers to the collection of RNA molecules. Option B, 'the full range of mRNA molecules expressed by an organism', is a direct and accurate definition. Options A (enzymes for genome editing), C (mechanism of gene expression), and D (genetic mutations) describe entirely different biological concepts or tools.

Key Info: **Bioinformatics**
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data, particularly when the data sets are large and complex. As an interdisciplinary science, bioinformatics combines biology, computer science, information engineering, mathematics, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data. It plays a crucial role in genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics research.

**Transcriptome**
The transcriptome refers to the complete set of RNA transcripts produced by an organism, a cell type, or a tissue under specific conditions.
- It primarily focuses on messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, which carry genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis, but also includes other RNA types like ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and various non-coding RNAs.
- Studying the transcriptome (transcriptomics) provides insights into gene expression patterns, cellular differentiation, and responses to environmental stimuli or disease states.
- It differs from the 'genome' (the complete set of DNA) and the 'proteome' (the complete set of proteins produced by an organism).

**Genome Editing**
Genome editing (or gene editing) is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism's DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. Popular tools include CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and ZFNs, which often employ specific enzymes (like nucleases) to cut DNA.

**Gene Expression**
Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product, such as proteins or non-coding RNA. It involves two main steps: transcription (DNA to RNA) and translation (RNA to protein). The 'mechanism' refers to the biochemical pathways and regulatory processes involved.

**Genetic Mutations**
Genetic mutations are permanent alterations in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. Mutations can range from a single nucleotide change to large-scale chromosomal rearrangements and can be caused by errors during DNA replication, exposure to mutagens, or viral infections.

Answer

Option A: a range of enzymes used in genome editing

Answer

Option C: the description of the mechanism of gene expression

Answer

Option D: a mechanism of genetic mutations taking place in cells