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 biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

A regulatory body working under MoEF for the release of transgenic crop is ____________.

  1. NBPGR

  2. NSC

  3. NIPGR

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

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the regulatory body in India responsible for the approval of activities involving the large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Tobacco plants resistant to nematodes have been developed by introduction of DNA that produces _____________.

  1. Both sense and anti sense RNA

  2. An antifeedent

  3. A toxic protein

  4. A particular hormone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

RNA interference (RNAi) is used to protect tobacco plants from nematodes. By introducing DNA that produces both sense and antisense RNA, the plant creates double-stranded RNA, which silences essential nematode genes.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Genetically modified crops can be produced by ___________.

  1. Recombinant DNA technology

  2. Somatic hybridisation

  3. Cross breeding

  4. Micropropagation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Genetically modified crops are created by inserting specific genes from one organism into another using recombinant DNA technology. This allows for the introduction of desirable traits like pest resistance or improved nutrition.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

The introduction of t-DNA into plants involves

  1. Infection of the plant by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

  2. Altering the pH of the soil, then heat shocking the plants

  3. Exposing the plants to cold for a brief period

  4. Allowing the plant roots to stand in water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil bacterium that naturally transfers a portion of its DNA, known as T-DNA, into the plant genome. Scientists exploit this natural mechanism to introduce foreign genes into plants.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Golden rice is a transgenic crop with a trait for ________________.

  1. Pest resistance

  2. High vitamin a content

  3. Drought resistance

  4. High protein content
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice created to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice. Its primary nutritional trait is combating vitamin A deficiency.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Introduction of food plants developed by genetic engineering is not desirable because -

  1. Economy of developing countries may suffer

  2. These products are less tasty as compared to the already existing products

  3. This method is costly

  4. There is danger of coming viruses, allergens and toxins with introduced crop
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
It is difficult for developing countries to keep up and maintain genetically engineered crops. Therefore, the introduction of food plants by genetic engineering is not desirable for developing countries.

So, the correct answer is 'Economy of developing countries may suffer'.
Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Transgenic plants are the ones -

  1. Grown in artificial medium after hybridization in the field

  2. Produced by a somatic embryo in artificial medium

  3. Generated by introducing foreign DNA in to a cell and regenerating a plant from that cell

  4. Produced after protoplast fusion in artificial medium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Transgenic plants are defined as plants that have had their genetic makeup modified by the introduction of foreign DNA from another species, followed by the regeneration of a whole plant from the modified cell.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Biolistices (gene - gun) is suitable for 

  1. disarming pathogen vectors

  2. transformation of plant cells
  3. constructing recombinant $DNA$ by joining with vectors
  4. $DNA$ finger printing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
In genetic engineering, a gene gun or a biolistic particle delivery system, originally designed for plant transformation, is a device for delivering exogenous DNA (transgenes) to cells. The payload is an elemental particle of a heavy metal coated with DNA (typically plasmid DNA). This technique is often simply referred to as biolistics.

This device is able to transform almost any type of cell, including plants, and is not limited to transformation of the nucleus; it can also transform organelles, including plastids.

So the correct option is 'transformation of plant cells'.
Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

First transgenic plant released for commercial use was

  1. $Bt-$cotton

  2. tobacco

  3. golden rice

  4. solan gola
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
A nematode affected the roots of the tobacco plant on the cost of great production and yield. Strategies adopted to prevent this infection that was based on the process of RNA interference. RNA interference is the phenomena of inhibiting the activity of a gene through production sense and antisense RNA. The method involves a specific and RNA silencing. The result was that the parasite could not survive in a transgenic host expressing specific interfering RNA. Transgenic plant thus gets protected from the parasite.
So, the correct option is 'tobacco'
Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Transgenic plants are

  1. Produced after protoplast fusion in artificial medium

  2. Grown in artificial medium after hybridization in the field

  3. Produced by a somatic embryo in artificial medium

  4. Generated by introducing foreign DNA into a cell and regenerating a plant from that cell.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Transgenic plants are generated with the help of recombinant DNA technology (RDT). Recombinant DNA is a DNA that constitute genes or parts of genes from two or more organisms, usually of different species (or is specifically the gene of interest). Thus, transgenic plants are generated by incorporating foreign DNA into the target organism, and it helps in the formation of the transgenic plant. Transgenic plants are also known as the GMO as the process of genetic engineering and RDT plays an important role in their development.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Transgenic plants are produced by using Ti plasmid from the

  1. Agrobacterium tumefaciens

  2. E.coli

  3. Bacteriophage

  4. Agrobacterium varians
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A Ti or tumour inducing plasmid is a circular plasmid that is a part of the genetic equipment that Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes use to transduce its genetic material to plants. The Ti plasmid is lost when Agrobacterium is grown above 28$^o$C. Such, cured bacteria do not induce crown galls, i.e., they become avirulent.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

A transgenic food crop which may help solving the problem as night blindness in developing countries

  1. Flavr Savr tomatoes

  2. Starlink maize

  3. Bt soybean

  4. Golden rice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Night blindness is the inability to see normally in subdued light. It is usually a result of vitamin A deficiency. Golden rice is such a biofortified crop. Golden rice grains are easily recognisable by their yellow to orange colour. The stronger the colour the more carotene. Rice produces provitamin A (carotene) in the leaves but not in the grain, where the biosynthetic pathway is turned off during plant development. In golden rice, two genes have been inserted into the rice genome by genetic engineering, to restart the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway leading to the production and accumulation of carotene in the grains. Both genes are naturally involved in carotene biosynthesis. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice botany biotechnology and its applications biotechnology in agriculture gm crops transgenic organisms

Transgenic plants are

  1. Produced by a somatic embryo in an artificial medium.

  2. Generated by introducing foreign DNA into a cell and regenerating a plant form.

  3. Produced after protoplast fusion in an artificial medium.

  4. Grown in an artificial medium after hybridization in the field.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A transgenic plant is a plant, with an insertion of DNA from another organism. This technology can be used as a tool for researchers to insert useful genes as a means of improving crops.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.