With reference to the genetic toolkit developed by CSIR-CCMB, consider the following statements: 1. The system was successfully tested in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 2. Fluorescent markers including GFP and mCherry are used to identify protein locations. 3. The toolkit utilizes 40 new shuttle vectors to track proteins. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CCMB director and student develop genetic toolkit to track Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Biotechnology & health research· Prelims· 16 October 2026

Biotechnology and genetic engineering applications in pathogen tracking: a GS3 Science & Technology topic.

Why in news

Director of CSIR-CCMB and a student developed a genetic toolkit using 40 new shuttle vectors to track Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins.

Background

The toolkit utilizes fluorescent markers including Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and ‘mCherry’ to identify protein locations and interactions. The system was successfully tested in Mycobacterium smegmatis and published in the Journal of Bacteriology on October 16, 2026.

Facts for Prelims

S&TCCMB: CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
S&TGFP and mCherry: Fluorescent markers used in the genetic toolkit
Fact40 new shuttle vectors were developed for the toolkit

Prelims practice question

With reference to the genetic toolkit developed by CSIR-CCMB, consider the following statements:

The system was successfully tested in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Fluorescent markers including GFP and mCherry are used to identify protein locations.
The toolkit utilizes 40 new shuttle vectors to track proteins.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The system was successfully tested in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

For Mains

Q. Discuss how advancements in genetic engineering and molecular biology can enhance the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases like Tuberculosis in India.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Diagnostic precision: Enhanced protein tracking to identify drug-resistant strains
R&D infrastructure: Role of CSIR labs in developing indigenous biotechnological tools
Public health impact: Accelerating the transition from observational to molecular-level pathology

Keywords: Genetic Engineering · Molecular Biology · Mycobacterium tuberculosis · Biotechnology · Pathogen Tracking

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: The Hindu ↗Also: GS2 · Health policy & public health

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