Based on the passage about genomics and personalised nutrition, answer the following question on scientific terminology. What is genomics, as described in the passage about future food and health?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks whether the learner has understood the definition of the scientific term genomics as used in the reading passage. The passage explains how future diets will be based on people's genes and talks about a branch of science that studies genetic information. The question asks the reader to recall that exact definition and select the correct option.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage explicitly defines genomics.
• It states that genomics maps and describes an individual genetic code.
• The context is health, disease prevention, and personalised diets.
• The options include several incorrect or unrelated meanings of the word.

Concept / Approach:
This is a straightforward definition question. To answer correctly, the reader must locate the part of the passage that introduces the term genomics and then carefully read how it is defined. Comprehension questions of this type reward precise reading rather than general guessing from the word structure. The correct option must mention mapping and describing an individual genetic code, which is the essence of genomics in the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sentence from the passage that introduces genomics. Step 2: Note that the passage explains that all this will come to pass thanks to genomics, the science that maps and describes an individual genetic code. Step 3: Compare this wording with option a, which states that genomics is the branch of science that maps and describes an individual genetic code. Step 4: Check option b, which incorrectly connects genomics to years and time spans instead of genes. Step 5: Reject options c, d, and e because they talk about physical maps, general individuals, or cooking methods, none of which match the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Even if a learner had some outside knowledge, it would still match the passage, because genomics is indeed concerned with the structure, function, mapping, and editing of genomes. The passage simplifies this by saying it maps and describes an individual genetic code. That description appears only in option a. All the other options clearly move away from genetics into geography, time measurement, or cooking, which shows they are distractors.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b links genomics to years which is more related to chronology and has no connection to genes in the passage. Option c talks about maps in the sense of geography, whereas the passage refers instead to genetic mapping. Option d says genomics describes an individual but fails to mention genes or genetic code, so it is incomplete and misleading. Option e introduces a completely different idea about cooking, which is unrelated to the scientific discussion in the passage.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes pick an option that mentions maps or description but ignore what is being mapped. Because the passage uses the word maps, some may confuse this with geographical maps. The key is to read the full phrase genetic code and to connect it with genomics. Another pitfall is relying only on the root word geno without reading carefully; exam questions are designed to reward those who cross check every important noun in the options.

Final Answer:
In the context of the passage, genomics is the branch of science that maps and describes an individual genetic code, so option a is correct.