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Shyam and Radha are expecting… (Class 12 Biology 2025, Q26)

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BiologyCBSE Class 12 · Board exam 2025, set 57/1/1 · 3 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 12 Biology 2025: question 26

Set in the CBSE Class 12 board exam of 2025, paper 57/1/1, section C, question 26, for 3 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q26 · 3 marks · Short answerCompetency-basedReproductive Health

Shyam and Radha are expecting their first child with Radha being in her second month of pregnancy with no complications. Shyam's family has a history of cystic fibrosis while Radha's family has a history of Down's syndrome, leading to a concern that the baby may have one of these conditions.

  1. (a)

    Suggest and explain a way of testing if their baby is at risk for any genetic disorders.

    0 marks
  2. (b)

    In case of presence of one or both of the abnormalities and posing a risk to the mother's health, mention one possible option for them to consider. Is that option safe for Radha at the current gestational age ? Justify.

    0 marks
  3. (c)

    Under what conditions is the process mentioned in (b) illegal ?

    0 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 57/1/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Which test samples the fluid that surrounds the foetus?

Hint 2

Second month of pregnancy falls in which trimester?

Hint 3

Think of the misuse of this test for sex determination.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (a) Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic technique.

    ½ mark

  2. A small amount of the amniotic fluid around the developing foetus is withdrawn. The foetal cells and dissolved substances in it are analysed to detect chromosomal or genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome or cystic fibrosis.

    ½ mark

  3. (b) Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP).

    ½ mark

  4. Yes, it is safe for Radha at present.

    ½ mark

  5. She is in her second month, which falls in the first trimester. MTP is comparatively safe up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

    ½ mark

  6. (c) MTP is illegal when it is done by unqualified quacks, or when it is used after sex determination to abort a normal female foetus (female foeticide).

    ½ mark

Answer: (a) Amniocentesis: amniotic fluid is analysed for foetal genetic disorders; (b) MTP, safe now as it is within the first trimester (up to 12 weeks); (c) illegal when done by quacks or for female foeticide.

Where the marks are

  • Names amniocentesis (½ mark) and explains analysis of amniotic fluid/foetal cells (½ mark)
  • Names MTP (½ mark), says Yes (½ mark), justifies with safety up to 12 weeks/first trimester (½ mark)
  • Illegal when done by quacks or for female foeticide (½ mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Reproductive Health, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 57/1/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.