Question

Choose the most appropriate problem(s) associated with traditional hybridisation processes that can be overcome by genetic engineering.

• A. Traditional hybridisation procedures often lead to inclusion and multiplication of undesirable genes along with the desired genes
• B. Traditional hybridisation procedures always lead to inclusion and multiplication of desired genes
• C. It is not certain that the hybrids produced through traditional hybridisation will have all the desired traits
• D. Both a and c

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both a and c

Traditional hybridisation is a form of intentional human-mediated hybridisation which involves the crossing of individuals of different species (interspecific hybridisation) or genetically divergent individuals from the same species (intraspecific hybridisation).

These procedures used in plant and animal breeding, very often lead to inclusion and multiplication of undesirable genes along with the desired genes. Hence, it is not certain that the hybrids (offspring) produced through traditional hybridisation will have all the desired traits.

Genetic engineering includes the techniques involved in altering the chemistry of genetic material (DNA and RNA) and introducing them into host organisms and thus changing the phenotype of the host organism. It includes creation of recombinant DNA, use of gene cloning and gene transfer.

Genetic engineering is used to overcome the limitation of traditional hybridisation and allows us to isolate and introduce only one or a set of desirable genes without introducing undesirable genes into the target organism.