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
  1. Amniocentesis

  2. Transfection

  3. Pharming

  4. Cloning

  5. Embryo transfer

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

Transfection refers to the introduction of foreign gene into a cell. Transfection (the delivery of DNA or RNA into eukaryotic cells) is a powerful tool used to study and control gene expression. Cloned genes can be transfected into cells for biochemical characterisation, mutational analyses, investigation of the effects of gene expression on cell growth, investigation of gene regulatory elements, and to produce a specific protein.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is true in context of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Modern bio-technology, especially the creation of genetically modified crops, is often presented as a magic solution or universal panacea for the problems of poverty, inadequate nutrition and even environmental degradation across the world. Conversely, there are people who present the picture of tech generated monsters and major human health hazards being created by science. Many of the technological changes currently in the process of being utilised in agriculture can have unforeseen consequences, and their safety and future viability are far from secure.
The reality, as always, is far more complex than either of these two extremes. Even today the total food production in the world is adequate to feed the hungry of the world; the problem is rather one of unequal distribution, which deprives a large part of the population of even their minimal nutritional requirements. Similarly farmers, especially in developing countries, face many problems such as lack of infrastructure, poor or unstable market access, volatile input and output prices etc. that biotechnology does not address, much less solve.
It is true that transgenic plants can offer a range of benefits which are above and beyond those which emerged from more traditional innovations in cultivation. It is suggested that such new technology offers more effective pest resistance of seeds and crops through genetic control mechanisms, which also reduces the need for pesticide use and leads to improved yield. A basic question, of course, is whether the new GM technology is safe, and whether this is absolutely crucial since the effects may only be known much later. The jury is still very much out on this matter, and the controversy does not appear to be resolved quickly.
The trouble is that most governments in developing countries have relatively low food and beverage regulatory standards, and public systems for monitoring and surveillance of such items are poor or non-existent. This leaves them open for entry and even dumping of a range of agricultural products of the new technology, which may not pass regulatory standards in the more developed countries.

 

  1. Genetically modified crops have been universally recognized as a solution to poverty and environmental degradation

  2. The only way to improve the deficit in food requirement and food production in the world is by adapting genetically modified crops

  3. Genetically modified crops produce more yield as compared to yield from the traditional methods

  4. Taking advantage of absence of regulatory standards, scientists have been dumping new products in the markets without appropriate approval

  5. None is true

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

No other statements except (4) can be derived from the passage, hence option (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option which is most similar in meaning to the given word (printed in bold) as used in the passage.

Open

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Modern bio-technology, especially the creation of genetically modified crops, is often presented as a magic solution or universal panacea for the problems of poverty, inadequate nutrition and even environmental degradation across the world. Conversely, there are people who present the picture of tech generated monsters and major human health hazards being created by science. Many of the technological changes currently in the process of being utilised in agriculture can have unforeseen consequences, and their safety and future viability are far from secure.
The reality, as always, is far more complex than either of these two extremes. Even today the total food production in the world is adequate to feed the hungry of the world; the problem is rather one of unequal distribution, which deprives a large part of the population of even their minimal nutritional requirements. Similarly farmers, especially in developing countries, face many problems such as lack of infrastructure, poor or unstable market access, volatile input and output prices etc. that biotechnology does not address, much less solve.
It is true that transgenic plants can offer a range of benefits which are above and beyond those which emerged from more traditional innovations in cultivation. It is suggested that such new technology offers more effective pest resistance of seeds and crops through genetic control mechanisms, which also reduces the need for pesticide use and leads to improved yield. A basic question, of course, is whether the new GM technology is safe, and whether this is absolutely crucial since the effects may only be known much later. The jury is still very much out on this matter, and the controversy does not appear to be resolved quickly.
The trouble is that most governments in developing countries have relatively low food and beverage regulatory standards, and public systems for monitoring and surveillance of such items are poor or non-existent. This leaves them open for entry and even dumping of a range of agricultural products of the new technology, which may not pass regulatory standards in the more developed countries.

 

  1. Vulnerable

  2. Capable

  3. Threatened

  4. Uncertain

  5. Weak

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

Vulnerable is most similar in meaning to Open.

Multiple choice

Why, according to the author, is genetic modification of crops not an answer to the problem of hunger in the world? (A) People being highly doubtful of the long term effects of genetically modified crops do not buy the products grown by such methods. (B) The problem of hunger in the world is not due to inadequate production of food but due to unequal distribution of it. (C) Many developing countries have banned genetically modified products as developed countries have been using these countries as dumping grounds for new genetically modified products.Which of the above mentioned reasons hold(s) true?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Modern bio-technology, especially the creation of genetically modified crops, is often presented as a magic solution or universal panacea for the problems of poverty, inadequate nutrition and even environmental degradation across the world. Conversely, there are people who present the picture of tech generated monsters and major human health hazards being created by science. Many of the technological changes currently in the process of being utilised in agriculture can have unforeseen consequences, and their safety and future viability are far from secure.
The reality, as always, is far more complex than either of these two extremes. Even today the total food production in the world is adequate to feed the hungry of the world; the problem is rather one of unequal distribution, which deprives a large part of the population of even their minimal nutritional requirements. Similarly farmers, especially in developing countries, face many problems such as lack of infrastructure, poor or unstable market access, volatile input and output prices etc. that biotechnology does not address, much less solve.
It is true that transgenic plants can offer a range of benefits which are above and beyond those which emerged from more traditional innovations in cultivation. It is suggested that such new technology offers more effective pest resistance of seeds and crops through genetic control mechanisms, which also reduces the need for pesticide use and leads to improved yield. A basic question, of course, is whether the new GM technology is safe, and whether this is absolutely crucial since the effects may only be known much later. The jury is still very much out on this matter, and the controversy does not appear to be resolved quickly.
The trouble is that most governments in developing countries have relatively low food and beverage regulatory standards, and public systems for monitoring and surveillance of such items are poor or non-existent. This leaves them open for entry and even dumping of a range of agricultural products of the new technology, which may not pass regulatory standards in the more developed countries.

 

  1. Only A

  2. Only B

  3. Both B and C

  4. Both A and C

  5. None of these

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

It is a specific idea question and answer can be derived from the second paragraph. Statement (A) and statement (C) are out of context and not mentioned in the passage.

Multiple choice

The author of the given passage seems to be definitely ____________.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Modern bio-technology, especially the creation of genetically modified crops, is often presented as a magic solution or universal panacea for the problems of poverty, inadequate nutrition and even environmental degradation across the world. Conversely, there are people who present the picture of tech generated monsters and major human health hazards being created by science. Many of the technological changes currently in the process of being utilised in agriculture can have unforeseen consequences, and their safety and future viability are far from secure.
The reality, as always, is far more complex than either of these two extremes. Even today the total food production in the world is adequate to feed the hungry of the world; the problem is rather one of unequal distribution, which deprives a large part of the population of even their minimal nutritional requirements. Similarly farmers, especially in developing countries, face many problems such as lack of infrastructure, poor or unstable market access, volatile input and output prices etc. that biotechnology does not address, much less solve.
It is true that transgenic plants can offer a range of benefits which are above and beyond those which emerged from more traditional innovations in cultivation. It is suggested that such new technology offers more effective pest resistance of seeds and crops through genetic control mechanisms, which also reduces the need for pesticide use and leads to improved yield. A basic question, of course, is whether the new GM technology is safe, and whether this is absolutely crucial since the effects may only be known much later. The jury is still very much out on this matter, and the controversy does not appear to be resolved quickly.
The trouble is that most governments in developing countries have relatively low food and beverage regulatory standards, and public systems for monitoring and surveillance of such items are poor or non-existent. This leaves them open for entry and even dumping of a range of agricultural products of the new technology, which may not pass regulatory standards in the more developed countries.

 

  1. suggesting the use of traditional methods of agriculture as against bio-technology by developing countries owing to their poor regulatory standards

  2. in favour of utilizing bio technology as a tool for alleviation of poverty from the world

  3. urging the policy makers to improve infrastructural facilities so that farmers can maximize the benefits of genetically modified crops

  4. unconvinced of the long term effects and rationale for immediate requirement of genetically modified products

  5. none of these

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

Options 1-4 are nowhere suggested in the passage. Nowhere is the traditional or the new technology supported. So, we have to choose option 5 as none of the statements are true.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the option which is most opposite in meaning to the given word (printed in bold) as used in the passage.

Volatile

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Modern bio-technology, especially the creation of genetically modified crops, is often presented as a magic solution or universal panacea for the problems of poverty, inadequate nutrition and even environmental degradation across the world. Conversely, there are people who present the picture of tech generated monsters and major human health hazards being created by science. Many of the technological changes currently in the process of being utilised in agriculture can have unforeseen consequences, and their safety and future viability are far from secure.
The reality, as always, is far more complex than either of these two extremes. Even today the total food production in the world is adequate to feed the hungry of the world; the problem is rather one of unequal distribution, which deprives a large part of the population of even their minimal nutritional requirements. Similarly farmers, especially in developing countries, face many problems such as lack of infrastructure, poor or unstable market access, volatile input and output prices etc. that biotechnology does not address, much less solve.
It is true that transgenic plants can offer a range of benefits which are above and beyond those which emerged from more traditional innovations in cultivation. It is suggested that such new technology offers more effective pest resistance of seeds and crops through genetic control mechanisms, which also reduces the need for pesticide use and leads to improved yield. A basic question, of course, is whether the new GM technology is safe, and whether this is absolutely crucial since the effects may only be known much later. The jury is still very much out on this matter, and the controversy does not appear to be resolved quickly.
The trouble is that most governments in developing countries have relatively low food and beverage regulatory standards, and public systems for monitoring and surveillance of such items are poor or non-existent. This leaves them open for entry and even dumping of a range of agricultural products of the new technology, which may not pass regulatory standards in the more developed countries.

 

  1. Never-ending

  2. Meager

  3. Valuable

  4. Irreversible

  5. Stable

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

Stable is most similar in meaning to Volatile.

Multiple choice
  1. But these packages are no more useful.

  2. They contain a package of genes.

  3. But the trials never took place.

  4. The Canadians are not willing to extend their support now.

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

Sentence (3) is incorrect as it has been given that the trials had been conducted. Option (4) also cannot occurs as the parenthesis appear between explanation of clinical trials of packages. Same thing can be applied to option (1). Only option (2) is better suited to this blank as it can also be inferred from passage that package contained genes.

Multiple choice
  1. Using the techniques employed by genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism has been developed by laboratory scientists to

  2. Using the techniques employed by genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism that was developed by laboratory scientists will

  3. Using the techniques of genetic engineering laboratory scientists have developed a new species of microorganism to

  4. Employing the techniques of genetic engineering there has been a development laboratory scientists of a new species of microorganism that will

  5. Employing the techniques of genetic engineering, a new species of microorganism that was developed by laboratory scientists will

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

(3) The modifying clause does not have a subject. Either the modified clause should begin with the subject, or the subject should be included in the modifying clause. Only (3) has the modified clause that begins with the subject: ‘scientists’. Hence, (3).

Multiple choice
  1. Agglutination : Cross linkage of antigens by antibodies

  2. Hybridoma : Revealing intra-specific variation and diversity between species

  3. Plant tissue culture technique : Selection of somaclones that are resistant to herbicides

  4. RNA interference : Biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression

  5. Photolithography : Transferring geometric shapes on a mask to the surface of a silicon wafer

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

This option is correct because Hybridoma technology is a technology of forming hybrid cell lines by fusing an antibody-producing B cell with a myeloma (B cell cancer) cell that is selected for its ability to grow in tissue culture and for an absence of antibody chain synthesis and revealing intra-specific variation and diversity between species is a Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

Multiple choice
  1. Genetically manipulated organism

  2. Genetically modified organism

  3. Genetically maneuvered organism

  4. Generating mutated organism

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

GMO stands for genetically modified organism.