Topic Explorer · Paper I
Human Genetics & Human Biology Questions in UPSC Anthropology Optional Mains
The biological half of Paper I — Mendelian and population genetics, chromosomal disorders, blood group and genetic polymorphisms, the race concept, and human growth, adaptation, nutrition and demography.
Filter
Answer available
109 questions · 89 answered
Syllabus context
Paper I 6–9 — Human Genetics, Variation, Growth, Ecology, Nutrition and Demography
All year-wise Human Genetics & Human Biology questions
2026
In what manner is our understanding of serogenetics and cytogenetics useful in reproductive biology? What are the major ethical issues involved in reproductive technology?
Answer
2026
Why the classifications of Indian populations, based on somatometric and somatoscopic characteristics failed to develop a common understanding of the population diversity?
Soon
2026
Canalization and catch-up growth.
Answer
2026
Genetic polymorphism and natural selection.
Answer
2026
Numerical chromosomal aberrations can be due to abnormalities in autosomes as well as sex chromosomes. Elaborate in terms of the effects these have on human body, giving suitable examples.
Answer
2026
Distinguishing features of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
Answer
2026
How would you find out that a particular disease/disorder is inherited and, if so, in which manner? Elaborate with suitable examples.
Answer
2026
What do you understand by fertility and mortality? How are these influenced by biological and socio-ecological factors?
Answer
2025
How political economy is integrated with ecological and adaptability perspectives in bio-cultural anthropology?
Answer
2025
How anthropologists assess the nutritional status of a community? Discuss the significance of intersectionality of ecology, culture, and social inequality in the study of nutritional anthropology.
Answer
2025
Evolutionary significance of menopause.
Answer
2025
Foetal origin of adult diseases and contribution of David Barker.
Answer
2025
What are genetic markers? Discuss their applications in understanding population variation, disease association and forensics.
Answer
2025
'Genome-wide Disease Association Studies (GWAS) advanced our understanding of health and disease.' Discuss.
Answer
2025
Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits.
Answer
2024
Heritability and its estimation
Answer
2024
Single-gene mutation disorders in man
Answer
2024
What is a multifactorial trait? Illustrate your answer with suitable human examples.
Answer
2024
Describe the genetics and inheritance patterns of the ABO and Rh blood groups in man.
Answer
2024
Lethal and sublethal genes
Answer
2024
Hemoglobin in health and disease
Answer
2024
Critically comment on the lifestyle diseases and their impact on human health.
Answer
2024
What is meant by karyotype? How does its analysis help in diagnosis of the chromosomal aberrations in man?
Answer
2023
Polygenic Inheritance
Answer
2023
Menopausal symptoms
Soon
2023
What assumptions must be met for a population to be in genetic equilibrium ? Explain the importance of genetic equilibrium.
Answer
2023
Describe the causes of structural abnormalities of chromosomes with suitable examples.
Answer
2023
Race and Ethnicity
Answer
2023
Gene expression
Answer
2023
What is mixed-longitudinal method of studying human growth ? Discuss its merits and demerits.
Answer
2022
Balanced and transient genetic polymorphism.
Soon
2022
Genetic imprinting in human diseases.
Soon
2022
Stages of human pre-natal development.
Soon
2022
What is meant by health ? Is the burden of life style diseases on the rise ? Justify your answer with suitable examples.
Soon
2022
Critically evaluate the reasons of reduction in age at menarche in human females over the successive generations.
Soon
2022
Discuss the role of evolutionary forces in creating human diversity.
Soon
2022
Discuss the contemporary population problems in the light of various socio-cultural demographic theories.
Soon
2022
What do you understand by blood group systems ? How is HLA system different from those based on red cell antigens ?
Soon
2022
Pedigree analysis in genetic counselling
Soon
2022
Why Heath and Carter used anthropometric measurements instead of photographs of an individual to assess the somatotype ? Elaborate their method.
Soon
2021
Explain the genetic mechanisms of micro and macro evolution.
Answer
2021
“Chromosomal aberrations can play havoc with the human body and mind.” Explain with suitable examples.
Answer
2021
Human adolescent growth spurt
Answer
2021
Is race a valid and biologically meaningful concept ?
Answer
2021
What is acclimatization ? Discuss adaptive responses to high altitude and cold climate.
Answer
2021
Discuss the bio-social determinants of fertility and fecundity.
Answer
2021
Discuss the physiological and evolutionary theories of aging.
Answer
2020
Describe the biocultural responses to extreme climatic events.
Answer
2020
How do marriage rules impact the gene pool of populations ?
Soon
2020
Critically examine the demographic and epidemiological consequences with rise in food production and sedentism.
Soon
2020
Racism and Eugenics
Answer
2020
Genetic drift
Answer
2020
Senescence
Answer
2020
Secular trend in human growth can be positive, negative or neutral. Illustrate with examples.
Answer
2020
Describe the impact of infectious diseases on indigenous populations.
Answer
2020
How may numerical aberrations in sex chromosomes lead to genetic disorders ?
Answer
2019
“Human adaptations are always bio-cultural in nature.” Discuss with reference to human adaptation to high-altitude climate.
Soon
2019
Discuss the methods of studying human growth with their merits and demerits.
Answer
2019
Discuss the bio-cultural factors influencing fertility in light of the relationship between fecundity and fertility.
Answer
2019
With reference to the somatoscopic and morphometric characteristics commonly used for racial classification, make critical comments as to whether ‘Race’ is a valid concept.
Soon
2019
Differentiate between transient and balanced genetic polymorphism. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples from human populations.
Answer
2019
Implications of mutation in evolution
Answer
2019
Genetico-environmental factors affecting human growth
Answer
2018
Issues of Elderly and Senescence in Developing and Developed Countries
Answer
2018
Explain the mechanisms of human variation in gene frequencies.
Answer
2018
Do Allen's rule and Bergmann's rule hold for human populations ? Explain with examples.
Answer
2018
Describe the mechanisms for structural anomalies of autosomes with diagrams.
Answer
2018
Narrate evolution of disease and major causes of ill health in human populations.
Soon
2018
Distinguish between adaptation, adaptability and acclimatization with examples.
Answer
2018
Define fecundity and explain major factors affecting fecundity in Indian populations.
Soon
2018
Advanced Molecular Anthropology Techniques
Answer
2018
Categorize Genes that influence Human Survival.
Answer
2018
Race is a Myth. Justify its Present Day Relevance.
Answer
2017
Hardy-Weinberg law
Answer
2017
Concept of race
Answer
2017
Age at menarche
Answer
2017
Briefly describe the various methods used in the genetic study of man.
Answer
2017
Discuss the responses and acclimatization to high altitude stresses.
Answer
2017
Describe the biological and socio-ecological factors affecting fertility and mortality.
Answer
2017
Describe the various methods of studying growth highlighting their merits and demerits.
Answer
2017
Discuss Sheldon's method of somatotyping.
Answer
2016
Rh-Blood Group
Answer
2016
Fertility and Fecundity
Answer
2016
Explain the role of heredity and environment in the formation of races.
Answer
2016
Discuss different factors affecting growth and development in human beings.
Answer
2016
Critically discuss the Mendelian principles and their application to human populations.
Answer
2016
Explain the significance of screening and counselling for genetic disorders.
Answer
2016
Describe the scope of Epidemiological Anthropology in the study of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Answer
2016
Discuss the genetic and non-genetic factors in the bio-cultural adaptations of human beings to different environments.
Answer
2015
Define genetic polymorphism. Give details of its types with suitable examples.
Answer
2015
What do you understand by Immunogenetics ? Explain with suitable examples.
Answer
2015
Down's Syndrome.
Answer
2015
Longitudinal method of studying growth.
Answer
2015
Menopause and its impact.
Answer
2015
Discuss chromosomal aberrations in man illustrating with examples.
Soon
2015
What is an anthropometric somatotype ? Describe Heath and Carter's method of somatotyping.
Answer
2015
Critically examine the physiological responses and acclimatization to cold climate in Man.
Answer
2014
Describe Turner and Klinefelter Syndromes in humans.
Answer
2014
What are the stresses at high altitudes ? How do better cardio-respiratory functions help the native highlanders in combating low environmental pressure ?
Answer
2014
Discuss the factors affecting gene frequencies among human populations.
Answer
2014
Discuss the relevance of menarche, menopause and other bio-events to fertility.
Answer
2014
Ecological Anthropology
Answer
2014
Discuss Ageing and Senescence. Describe either the biological or social theories of Ageing.
Answer
2014
Discuss the role of anthropology in the understanding of health and disease. What specific understanding is available with respect to infectious and non-infectious diseases ?
Soon
2014
Cross-sectional methods of studying human growth
Answer
2014
Genetic Counselling
Answer
2014
Epidemiological Anthropology
Answer
2014
Fertility and Fecundity
Answer
2014
What are the different stages of Growth ? Describe any one of them in detail.
Answer