Biology

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

2,033 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 botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 

  1. The current interest in the manipulation of microbes, plants and animals has raised serious ethical issues.

  2. One possible risk of genetic engineering is the accidental production of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.

  3. Although risks are possible, genetic engineering offers more of a contribution to human welfare than threats.

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

  • Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with genetically modified (GM) food including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.
  • One of the first cases of human benefit from genetic engineering was the production of human insulin in bacterial cells. Previous to this, diabetic patients were treated with pig insulin. Use of bacterially-derived human insulin has substantially reduced the number of animals used to produce insulin and also significantly reduces adverse reactions in diabetic patients as the molecule is identical to human insulin. Since the successful production of genetically engineered insulin, many other human proteins have been produced in this manner. This technology has improved millions of lives.

So, the correct option is 'All of these.'.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

In genetic engineering, a DNA segment (gene) of interest, is transferred to the host cell through a vector. Consider the following four agents (i-iv) in this regard and select the correct option about which one or more of these can be used as a vector/ vectors.
(i) Bacterium (ii) Plasmid (iii) Plasmodium (iv) Bacteriophage

  1. (i), (ii) and (iv)

  2. (i) only

  3. (i) and (iii)

  4. (ii) and (iv)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Manipulation of DNA to change its structure is called genetic engineering.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Genetic engineering is a technique to alter the chemistry of genetic material (DNA and RNA), to introduce these into the host organisms and thus change the phenotype and genetic makeup of the organism.

So, the statement is 'True'.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Research projects: 

  1. cloning

  2. identical/ non identical twins

  3. triplets/ quadruplets

  4. surrogacy

  5. IVF
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Cloning is the process of generating a genetically identical copy of a cell or an organism. Cloning happens all the time in nature for example, when a cell replicates itself asexually without any genetic alteration or recombination.

So, the correct option is 'Cloning'.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Genetic engineering has been successfuly used for producing

  1. Transgenic cow named Rosie which produces high fat milk for making ghee.

  2. Animals like bulls for farm work as they have super power.

  3. Transgenic mice for testing safety of polio vaccine before use in humans.

  4. Transgenic models for studying new treatments for certain cardiac diseases.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C,D Correct answer
Explanation

The first transgenic cow, Rosie was engineered for production of human protein-enriched more nutritional balanced milk (2.4 grams per litre). Rosie’s milk contains the human gene $\alpha$-lactalbumin; which makes statement A incorrect. Transgenic bull was produced for lactoferrin in their milk which has antimicrobial activity and is components of innate defence; statement B is incorrect. Animal rabbit models have been used to study pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases which makes statement D correct. Transgenic mice for testing safety of polio vaccine before use in human; for the purpose, they are subject to GSK test which measures the safety of the vaccine; statement C is correct.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Introduction of one or more genes into an organism which are normally not possessed by them or their deletion by using artificial means (not by breeding) comes under 

  1. Molecular biology

  2. Genetic hybridisation

  3. Cytogenetics

  4. Genetic engineering
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Genetic engineering is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. The goal is to add one or more new traits that are not already found in that organism. Examples of genetically engineered (transgenic) organisms currently on the market include plants with resistance to some insects, plants that can tolerate herbicides, and crops with modified oil content. New DNA may be inserted in the host genome by first isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using molecular cloning methods to generate a DNA sequence, or by synthesizing the DNA, and then inserting this construct into the host organism. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

The first step in genetic engineering as

  1. Isolation of protein

  2. Purification of protein

  3. Isolation of genetic material

  4. Isolation of RNA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The first step in genetic engineering involves choosing and isolating the gene that will be inserted into/removed from the genetically modified organism. Then the gene must be combined with a promoter and terminator region as well as a selectable marker gene. Then the gene must be spliced into the target's DNA. For animals, the gene must be inserted into embryonic stem cells. The resulting organism must have the presence of the target gene confirmed. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option C.
Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Advancement in genetic engineering has been possible due to the discovery of 

  1. Exonucleases

  2. Endonucleases

  3. Transposons

  4. Oncogenes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A restriction enzyme or restriction endonuclease is an enzyme that cuts DNA at or near specific recognition nucleotide sequences known as restriction sites. These enzymes are found in bacteria and archaea and provide a defense mechanism against invading viruses. Inside a prokaryote, the restriction enzymes selectively cut up foreign DNA in a process called restriction; while host DNA is protected by a modification enzyme (a methyltransferase) that modifies the prokaryotic DNA and blocks cleavage. Together, these two processes form the restriction modification system. These enzymes are routinely used for DNA modification in laboratories, and are a vital tool in molecular cloning.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

The process of 'in vitro' manipulation of DNA is called as

  1. Tissue culture

  2. Genetic engineering

  3. Cloning

  4. DNA fingerprinting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Recombinant DNA technology is also referred to as gene cloning or in- vitro genetic manipulation. Genetic manipulation or engineering alters the genetic make-up of an organism using techniques that remove heritable material or that introduce DNA prepared outside the organism either directly into the host or into a cell that is then fused or hybridized with the host. This involves using recombinant nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) techniques to form new combinations of heritable genetic material followed by the incorporation of that material either indirectly through a vector system or directly through micro-injection, macro-injection and micro-encapsulation techniques.
Therefore, the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is possible, because

  1. The phenomenon of transduction in bacteria is well understood

  2. We can see DNA by electron microscope

  3. We can cut DNA at specific sites by endonucleases such as DNAase I

  4. Restriction endonucleases purified from bacteria can be used in vitro
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A restriction enzyme or restriction endonuclease is an enzyme that cuts DNA at or near specific recognition nucleotide sequences known as restriction sites. These enzymes are found in bacteria and archaea and provide a defense mechanism against invading viruses. Inside a prokaryote, the restriction enzymes selectively cut up foreign DNA in a process called restriction; while host DNA is protected by a modification enzyme (a methyltransferase) that modifies the prokaryotic DNA and blocks cleavage. Together, these two processes form the restriction-modification system. These enzymes are routinely used for DNA modification in laboratories and are a vital tool in molecular cloning.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

In genetic engineering, the term vector is applied for 

  1. Plasmids

  2. Active viruses

  3. Source of DNA

  4. Cell which receives DNA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In molecular cloning, a vector is a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell, where it can be replicated and/or expressed. A vector containing foreign DNA is termed recombinant DNA. The four major types of vectors are plasmids, viral vectors, cosmids, and artificial chromosomes. Of these, the most commonly used vectors are plasmids. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

The technology that is used to make desired change on gene structure is

  1. Genetic engineering

  2. Recombinant DNA technology

  3. Gene cloning

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

Genetic engineering, also called as genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species to produce improved or novel organisms. 

Cloning is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. The term clone is used in horticulture to refer to descendants of a single plant which were produced by vegetative reproduction. 
Recombinant DNA technology is a series of procedures that are used to join together (recombine) DNA segments. A recombinant DNA molecule is constructed from segments of two or more different DNA molecules. 

Multiple choice botany breeding and biotechnology branches of biotechnology gene cloning biotechnology and genetic engineering

The first step in genetic engineering is

  1. Isolation of protein

  2. Purification of protein

  3. Isolation of genetic material

  4. Isolation of RNA
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Genetic engineering, also called as genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species to produce improved or novel organisms. New DNA may be inserted in the host genome by first isolating and copying the genetic material of interest using molecular cloning methods to generate a DNA sequence, or by synthesizing the DNA, and then inserting this construct into the host organism.