It's all in the Genes Reading Answers

Feb 18, 2023

It's all in the Genes Reading Answers is an academic reading topic comprising a total of 13 questions. This IELTS reading topic; It's all in the Genes Reading Answers comprises question types such as; choose the correct word, and yes/no/Not Given. To solve these questions in the IELTS reading topic, candidates must go through the passage carefully and identify the major keywords. It's all in the Genes Reading Answers are to be solved by the candidates within a timeframe of 20 minutes which remains the same for all the IELTS Reading assessments. To practice more such IELTS reading topics, candidates can refer to the book Practice Tests for IELTS 2 - Volume 2. Moreover, candidates might consider IELTS Reading practice papers to practice such relevant questions.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the following questions

It's all in the Genes Reading Answers

What is genetic engineering? It means a direct manipulation of the DNA to alter the characteristics of an organism. Jack Williamson first considered the term ‘genetic engineering’ for his sci-fi novel ‘Dragon’s Island. A year later Martha Chase and Alfred Hershey confirmed that DNA plays a role in heredity. The next year, in 1953, the double helix structure of DNA was finally discovered but, the concept of manipulation of genes was explored much before in 1936 in Stanley Weinbaum’s ‘Proteus Island’. When science fiction explored this theme, it was mostly in manipulating genes in a way that may lead to a mutation or the formation of some rare species. However, science has been most concerned about using genetic engineering as a means of either improving life or health. We may not yet have fully explored the potential that genetic engineering has to offer, but what we do have at present has proved useful.

Gene manipulation has been studied mainly in animal husbandry, improving health and strength in animal breeds. This is because natural selection deals with the rule of the fittest and strongest as the best subjects to propagate their breed. Genetic engineering has been applied in agricultural practices as well. Plants and especially vegetables were a whole new ball game altogether and hence, with the advent of gene manipulation, a new frontier found itself in the horizon.

Through gene manipulation, we have our super crops and have also solved to some extent one problem that continually resurfaces with the expansion of human population; how can a limited amount of area feed a growing number of mouths? We need to optimise available resources by having only the best seeds used. Thus, we reduce the chances of a weak crop and also have a more flourishing one.

Agriculture is not the only area with the scope for gene modification. One of the rising health problems of our sedentary lifestyle is increasing type-one diabetes, which is insulin-dependent. Where does this insulin come from? Insulin is a type of protein that helps in the process of the regulation of the levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes causes problems in insulin production, and so injections are needed for the same. Interestingly yeast and bacteria, that too the E. coli bacteria, has been used to make the insulin that matches our own and thus, can be used by diabetic people. Therefore, through genetic engineering, such people can have the chance of living a healthy life.

A third area is the industries. Oil spills have been cleared by using the bacteria which have been genetically modified to serve this specific purpose.

There have been several controversies over the years about safety and ethics in the use of genetic engineering. There are fears that genetic manipulation can lead to the cloning of human beings and create designer babies, handing over a vulnerable tool for manipulation to the rich and powerful. There is also fear that we may disturb the balance of nature by letting loose a species that may create havoc with mankind and threaten our very existence.

However, it seems so far, at least, the pros outweigh the cons. Fortunately, till date, there have been no negative findings to raise concern as countries are making stringent laws to control genetic engineering. Every discovery comes with its risks. It is up to us to use it to our best advantage without harming ourselves.

There was a time when genetic engineering would have seemed a miracle, but science has turned miracles into reality by modifying the systems of the natural world. With further research in DNA and genes, we will be better able to understand not only the functions of the human body but also of flora and fauna of the world around us.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 27-32

Choose YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer of the passage, choose NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer, or choose NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.

Chase and Hershey adopted the term genetic engineering from the fiction Dragon’s Island.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information mentioned in the reading passage with respect to the given question. Thus, the answer to this question is not given.

Scientists and novelists exploited the idea of altering the genome to produce unusual living forms.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: When science fiction explored this theme, it was mostly in manipulating genes in a way that may lead to a mutation or the formation of some rare species. However, science has been most concerned about using genetic engineering as a means of either improving life or health.
Keywords: science fiction, manipulating, mutation, rare species
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, lines 6-9
Explanation: It has been explained in the reading passage that when science got involved with genetics, it was into manipulating genes. These manipulations lead to mutation and formation of rare species. Thus, the answer to this question is ‘no.’

Our achievements in genetic engineering are yet too small to be fruitful.

Answer: No
Supporting Sentence: We may not yet have fully explored the potential that genetic engineering has to offer, but what we do have at present has proved useful.
Keywords: fully, explored, genetic engineering
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, lines 9-10
Explanation: The line 9-10 in paragraph 1 quotes that science in today’s era has explored all the necessary scopes with respect to genetic engineering.

Increasing the yield of land by gene manipulation is possible.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Sentence: Through gene manipulation, we have our super crops and have also solved to some extent one problem that continually resurfaces with the expansion of human population; how can a limited amount of area feed a growing number of mouths?
Keywords: gene manipulation, super crops, resurfaces, expansion
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 1-3
Explanation: It has been explained in the above mentioned supporting sentence that it is possible to increase yield of land by gene manipulation.

Type one diabetes can be completely cured by injecting insulin produced from bacteria.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information mentioned in the reading passage with respect to the given question. Thus, the answer to this question is not given.

Gene modification is the only effective solution to oil spills.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: There has been no relevant information mentioned in the reading passage with respect to the given question. Thus, the answer to this question is not given.

Questions 33-40

Complete the summary using the list of words. Choose the correct word

The benefits of gene manipulation have been explored in various fields. It has been used to breed healthier 33 ____________ as well as to have improved crops. Partially, it has provided a solution to the 34 __________ problem of feeding the 35 ___________ population. But, this is not all. Insulin, which is inoculated in Type-1 diabetic patients to 36 ___________ the blood sugar level, has been obtained from a 37_____________ bacteria by the application of genetic engineering.

However, there are 38 ____________ about the misuse of gene manipulation to 39 ___________ humans and producing designer babies. But, with nations working on strict regulation, no 40 ____________ of such abuse has been found yet.

Livestock

Replicate

Evidence

Controversies

Reduce

Frequently Recurrent

Increasing

Apprehensions

Specific

Chances

Plants

Modify

Decreasing

Control

Question 33.

Answer: livestock
Supporting Sentence: Gene manipulation has been studied mainly in animal husbandry, improving health and strength in animal breeds. This is because natural selection deals with the rule of the fittest and strongest as the best subjects to propagate their breed.
Keywords: Gene manipulation, animal husbandry, health, animal breeds
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 1-3
Explanation: It has been highlighted in the above-mentioned supporting sentence that gene manipulation has been a key part of study in animal husbandry. It has proved to be beneficial in accordance with improving health and strengthening animal breeds.

Question 34.

Answer: recurrent
Supporting Sentence: Through gene manipulation, we have our super crops and have also solved to some extent one problem that continually resurfaces with the expansion of human population; how can a limited amount of area feed a growing number of mouths?
Keywords: gene manipulation, super crops, human population
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 1-3
Explanation: It has been explained in the above mentioned supporting sentence that it is possible to increase yield of land by gene manipulation.

Question 35.

Answer: increasing
Supporting Sentence :Through gene manipulation, we have our super crops and have also solved to some extent one problem that continually resurfaces with the expansion of human population; how can a limited amount of area feed a growing number of mouths?
Keywords: gene manipulation, super crops, human population
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 1-3
Explanation: It has been explained in the above mentioned supporting sentence that it is possible to increase yield of land by gene manipulation.

Question 36.

Answer: control
Supporting Sentence: Insulin is a type of protein that helps in the process of the regulation of the levels of sugar in the blood.
Keywords: Insulin, protein, regulation, sugar
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, lines 3-4
Explanation: It has been explained in the reading passage that insulin helps in controlling and maintaining blood-sugar level.

Question 37.

Answer: specific
Supporting Sentence: Interestingly yeast and bacteria; that too the E. coli bacteria has been used to make the insulin that matches our own and thus, can be used by diabetic people.
Keywords: yeast, bacteria, E. coli bacteria, insulin, diabetic
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, lines 5-7
Explanation: It has been made evident in the above mentioned supporting sentence that the insulin is prepared from a bacteria. The bacteria that involves the making of this insulin is E. coli. This bacterial insulin helps in maintaining blood-sugar level.

Question 38.

Answer: apprehensions
Supporting Sentence: There are fears that genetic manipulation can lead to the cloning of human beings and create designer babies, handing over a vulnerable tool for manipulation to the rich and powerful.
Keywords: fears, genetic manipulation, cloning, babies, vulnerable tool
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, lines 2-4
Explanation: The above given reading passage quotes that there are challenges that might occur while considering gene manipulations. Inappropriate use or rather criminal use can lead to cloning of human beings and create designer babies.

Question 39.

Answer: replicate
Supporting Sentence: There are fears that genetic manipulation can lead to the cloning of human beings and create designer babies, handing over a vulnerable tool for manipulation to the rich and powerful.
Keywords: fears, genetic manipulation, cloning, babies, vulnerable tool
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, lines 2-4
Explanation: The above given reading passage quotes that there are challenges that might occur while considering gene manipulations. Inappropriate use or rather criminal use can lead to cloning of human beings and create designer babies.

Question 40.

Answer: evidence
Supporting Sentence: Fortunately, till date, there have been no negative findings to raise concern as countries are making stringent laws to control genetic engineering.
Keywords: negative, countries, stringent laws
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, lines 1-3
Explanation: It has been explained in the above-mentioned reading passage that there are no negative consequences till date. Moreover, countries have made strict laws with respect to genetic engineering.

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