Biology

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

2,010 Questions

Genetic engineering and biotechnology involve modifying organism DNA to develop transgenic crops, medical treatments, and industrial solutions. This field covers essential techniques like hybridoma technology, molecular markers, and gene transfer in eukaryotic cells. These biology topics are essential for aspirants preparing for various competitive examinations.

Genetic engineering techniquesTransgenic organismsIndustrial biotechnologyGMOs and bioremediation

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

What food that you eat is most likely to be genetically engineered?

  1. Tomatoes

  2. Bread

  3. Potatoes

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Potatoes are one of the most commonly genetically engineered food crops, with genetically modified varieties like the Newleaf potato designed to resist pests and diseases. While tomatoes and wheat (for bread) can also be genetically modified, potatoes have the highest commercial adoption.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

A transgenic crop is

  1. A crop which is a mutant

  2. A crop that has been bread to exhibit new characteristics

  3. A crop that has had a gene from another species inserted

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A transgenic crop contains genetic material from a different species, inserted through biotechnology techniques. Mutations (A) occur naturally or through induced radiation/chemicals without adding foreign genes. Traditional breeding (B) combines genes from the same species over generations.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

What potential negative effects come from GM foods? (Click all that apply)

  1. Mutant species

  2. Allergic reactions

  3. Genetic out-crossing

  4. Super weeds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,C,D Correct answer
Explanation

GM food concerns include allergic reactions from novel proteins not previously in food, genetic out-crossing where engineered traits spread to wild relatives through pollination, and herbicide-resistant weeds evolving due to selection pressure. Mutant species is a misleading term not based on documented scientific risks.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Biotechnology

  1. Study concerning with the application and uses of very low temperature

  2. Deals with the study of chemical reactions in relation to life activities

  3. Deals with the use of micro-organism in commercial processes for producing fine chemicals such as drugs, vaccines, hormones, etc, on a large scale

  4. Study of improvement of human race by applying laws of heredity. It is related with future generations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Biotechnology uses living organisms, cells, and enzymes to produce useful products on an industrial scale. It includes making drugs, vaccines, hormones, and antibiotics through fermentation processes using microorganisms like bacteria and yeast.

Multiple choice general knowledge

The difference lies in our DNA

  1. Pifizer

  2. Biocon

  3. Ranbaxy

  4. Dr.Reddy's
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The tagline 'The difference lies in our DNA' belongs to Biocon, India's leading biotechnology company. This slogan emphasizes their expertise in genetic research and biopharmaceuticals. Pfizer, Ranbaxy, and Dr. Reddy's do not use this tagline.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Red Biotechnology is applied to which of the following processes?

  1. Medical

  2. Marine and aquatic

  3. industrial

  4. proteomics and genomics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Red Biotechnology refers to biotechnology applied to medical processes and healthcare. It includes areas like pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, vaccines, gene therapy, and stem cell research. The color coding comes from: Red (medical), White (industrial), Green (agricultural), Blue (marine).

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Which one of followin is example of transgenic plant?

  1. Normal Tomato plant

  2. White Brinjal

  3. Golden Rice

  4. Brown Rice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Golden Rice is a genetically modified (transgenic) rice variety engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. It was created by inserting genes from daffodil and bacteria into the rice genome to address vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. Normal tomato, white brinjal, and brown rice are not examples of transgenic plants.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

What is Gene therapy ?

  1. Research to identify a person’s entire set of genes

  2. Process of breeding individuals with desired traits

  3. process of inserting genes into an individual’s cells and tissues to treat a disease

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Gene therapy is a medical technique that involves inserting, altering, or replacing genes within an individual's cells and tissues to treat or cure disease. It's not about genome identification (option A) or traditional breeding (option B). Option C accurately describes the therapeutic application of genetic material to treat diseases at their genetic root.

Multiple choice general knowledge

The difference lies in our DNA

  1. GLENMARK

  2. BIOCON

  3. Transgene Biotek

  4. Elder Health Care Ltd.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This tagline reflects Biocon's focus on biotechnology and genetic research. Glenmark is a pharmaceutical company but doesn't emphasize DNA in its tagline. Transgene Biotek relates to biotechnology but this specific tagline is Biocon's.

Multiple choice softskills communication

biotechnology

  1. the use of living organisms or other biological systems in the manufacture of drugs or other products or for environmental management, as in waste recycling

  2. the scientific study of the effects of natural or artificial atmospheric conditions, as temperature and humidity, on living organisms.

  3. the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure, and behavior.

  4. the science dealing with the therapeutic effects of baths and bathing.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Biotechnology refers to using living organisms or biological systems to manufacture products like drugs, or for environmental applications like waste recycling. Option A precisely defines this applied science. Options B, C, and D describe climatology, biology, and balneology respectively - entirely different fields.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the option that fills in the blank most suitably.

Even detractors who warn of its potential for abuse by powerful despots agree that genetic engineering, if used ________, can reduce the incidence of the sort of physical and mental deformities that any society would want to eliminate.

  1. premeditatedly

  2. discriminately

  3. biologically

  4. illicitly

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The missing word must contrast with the motion of abuse of genetic engineering, while at the same time be consistent with the desirable goal of reducing the incidence of deformities. Only (2) accomplishes both. To use the technology 'discriminately' would be to conscientiously apply it only towards certain ends (such as reducing deformities) and not towards others (such as creating a master race that dominates others).  

Multiple choice

Following are some statements about RNA interference. Which of them is/are correct? a. It is used to prevent infestation of unicellular organisms. b. It occurs in each and every prokaryote and a few eukaryotes as a means of cellular defense. c. There is a silencing of a specific mRNA molecule. d. Pest resistant plants are nowadays being produced by this method.

  1. Only a, c and d

  2. Only b, c, and d

  3. Only a and c

  4. Only c

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

RNA interference (RNAi) also known as the post transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), happens to be  a biological process whereby the RNA molecules leads to the inhibition of gene expression. It occurs in most of the eukaryotes. There is a silencing of a specific mRNA molecule due to a complementary dsRNA molecule. Pest resistant plants are nowadays being produced by this method. 

Multiple choice

Bt toxin gene has been cloned from the bacteria and expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need for insecticides.

Select the resistant plants from the list below: a. Cotton b. Corn c. Rice d. Tomato e. Potato f. Soyabean

  1. Only a, b, c and d

  2. Only b, c, d and e

  3. Only a, b, e and f

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All the examples are resistant plants, which have been cloned from bacterial Bt toxin gene. This provides resistance to various insects, thus overcoming the necessity for the use of insecticides and subsequent health hazards.

Multiple choice

Bt toxin gene has been cloned from the bacteria and expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need for insecticides.

Crystals of Bt toxin produced by some bacteria are unable to kill the bacteria themselves because

  1. they are resistant to the toxin

  2. the toxin exists as toxoid

  3. the toxin exists as protoxins

  4. bacteria encloses the toxin in a special sac
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Bt toxin exists as an inactive protoxin, which needs digestion by an insect to be effective. There are various Bt toxins and each of this is specific to certain target insects. Crop plants have nowadays engineered to contain and express the genes for Bt toxin, which they produce in its active form.

Multiple choice

Genetic modification generates tailor-made plants. These plants are actually ___________.

  1. bioinsecticidal plants

  2. heat resistant plants

  3. rich in vitamin A

  4. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Meganucleases are considered to be the most specific naturally occurring restriction enzymes. Meganucleases are "molecular DNA scissors" that can be used to replace, eliminate or modify sequences in a highly targeted way. By modifying their recognition sequence through protein engineering, the targeted sequence can be changed. Meganucleases are used to modify all genome types, whether bacterial, plant or animal. Such modification generates tailor-made plants, which possess all the mentioned characteristics.