Minimalist IAS
Prelims 2020 paper

UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I · Question 37 · Biotechnology & genetics

मानव प्रजनन तकनीकी में अभिनव प्रगति के संदर्भ में, “प्राक्केन्द्रिक स्थानान्तरण” (Pronuclear…

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Question 37 — Biotechnology & genetics.

Prelims 2020 · Q37

Biotechnology & genetics Medium

मानव प्रजनन तकनीकी में अभिनव प्रगति के संदर्भ में, “प्राक्केन्द्रिक स्थानान्तरण” (Pronuclear Transfer) का प्रयोग किस लिए होता है ?

Read this question in English

In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, "Pronuclear Transfer" is used for

(a) fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm · (b) genetic modification of sperm producing cells · (c) development of stem cells into functional embryos · (d) prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) संतान में सूत्रकणिका वाले रोगों का निरोध

Pronuclear transfer is a form of mitochondrial donation, used to stop a mother from passing a serious mitochondrial disease to her child. The nuclear DNA of her fertilised egg is moved into a donor egg that has healthy mitochondria, so the baby gets the parents' genes but the donor's healthy mitochondria.

  • ✗ (a) Fertilising an egg in the lab with donor sperm is ordinary IVF. Pronuclear transfer is an extra step done on embryos, not a way of fertilising an egg.
  • ✗ (b) The technique does not modify sperm-producing cells or edit genes; it swaps whole nuclear material between embryos.
  • ✗ (c) It does not turn stem cells into embryos. It moves the nuclear genetic material of one embryo into another embryo whose own nucleus has been removed.
  • ✓ (d) Mitochondrial donation treatment lets people with severe mitochondrial disease avoid passing it to their children. Pronuclear transfer is one of the two approved techniques, the other being maternal spindle transfer.

Remember · Pronuclear transfer = swap the nuclear DNA of an embryo into a donor embryo with healthy mitochondria, to prevent mitochondrial disease.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2020, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE Prelims 2020, Q37 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/prelims/2020/q37

In the UPSC syllabus: Biotechnology & genetics › Stem cells, cloning & new therapies See it and tick it covered →

Timed · 30 minutes Take Science & technology · Set 2 as a test This question is in it — with UPSC's marking and an instant score. Start the set Or the whole 2020 paper →

More on Biotechnology & genetics

All Biotechnology & genetics questions →

Same topic in the Mains syllabus