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

The term “GM food” refers to the food _____.

  1. that grows under genetic measures

  2. that is genetically modified

  3. that grows under geographical modification

  4. with greater glucose metabolism capacity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

GM food stands for genetically modified food, which refers to food products derived from organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This is different from geographical modifications or genetic measures.

Multiple choice

The prokaryote used as host in genetic engineering technique

  1. HIV

  2. TMV

  3. Bacillus subtilis

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

Bacillus subtilis is a prokaryotic bacterium commonly used as a host in genetic engineering. It's a Gram-positive, non-pathogenic bacterium that can be easily transformed and has well-characterized genetics. B. subtilis is particularly useful for expressing proteins, studying gene regulation, and as a model organism for prokaryotic research.

Multiple choice

Vitamin B12 production can be enhanced by employing modern techniques of genetic engineering. Which of the following strains were used to obtain a high yielding strain for vitamin B12 production?

  1. Bacillus megaterium and Rhodopseudomonas spheroides

  2. Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Propionibacterium shermanii

  3. Protaminobacter rubber and Rhodopseudomonas spheroides

  4. Pseudomonas denitrificans and Streptomyces olivaceus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A protoplast fusion technique between Protaminobacter rubber and Rhodopseudomonas spheroides resulted in a hybrid strain called Rhodopseudomonas protamicus. This is the highest yielding strain of vitamin B12. This new strain can produce as high as 135 mg/l of vitamin B12 utilising a carbon source.

Multiple choice

Why are plants more readily manipulated by genetic engineering than animals?

  1. Plant genes do not contain introns.

  2. More vectors are available for transferring recombinant DNA into plant cells.

  3. A somatic plant cell can often give rise to a complete plant.

  4. Genes can be inserted into plant cells by microinjection.

  5. Plant cells have larger nuclei.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Plants are more readily manipulated by genetic engineering than animals because plant cells are totipotent.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

  1. Cryopreservation: Preserving germplasm in a frozen state

  2. Biolistics: The technique of using very small metal particles coated with desired gene in the gene transfer

  3. Biopotency: The measure of the ability of a material to have a specified biochemical function.

  4. Bioethics: A moral guidance to the problems in biology

  5. Biopiracy : An exploitation of bioresources without authentic permission
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bioethics is a set of standards used to regulate own or community activity in relation to the biological world.

Multiple choice

________ are used to select genes of interest from a genomic library.

  1. Restriction enzymes

  2. Cloning vectors

  3. DNA probes

  4. Gene targets

  5. Antibodies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

DNA probes are labeled single-stranded DNA sequences complementary to the target gene of interest. When added to a genomic library, they hybridize specifically to their complementary sequences through base pairing, allowing researchers to identify and select clones containing the desired gene. This is called colony or plaque hybridization.

Multiple choice

A nasal spray containing adenovirus carrying a functional human CFTR gene is used to treat cystic fibrosis. This is an example of ____ gene therapy.

  1. in situ

  2. in vivo

  3. ex vivo

  4. vaccine

  5. germ line
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In vivo gene therapy delivers genetic material directly into the patient's body. This nasal spray delivers the CFTR gene directly to lung epithelial cells via adenovirus vectors, compensating for the defective gene in cystic fibrosis patients. This contrasts with ex vivo therapy, where cells are modified outside the body before reinfusion.

Multiple choice

Researchers use GFP to track which of the following processes?

  1. The development of brain cells

  2. The growth of tumours

  3. The spread of cancer cells

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

GFP作为生物标记物，可以在多种生物过程中追踪细胞和蛋白质，包括大脑发育、肿瘤生长和癌细胞扩散。选项D是正确的，因为它涵盖了所有有效应用。

Multiple choice

Consider the following techniques/phenomena: (1) Budding and grafting in fruit plants (2) Cytoplasmic male sterility (3) Gene silencing

Which of above is/are used to create transgenic crops?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1 and 3

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Transgenic crops are created using genetic engineering techniques. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is used in hybrid seed production, and gene silencing (including RNAi) is a key tool for creating transgenic traits like pest resistance. Budding and grafting are traditional vegetative propagation methods, not genetic engineering techniques for creating transgenics.

Multiple choice

Gene targeting is a technique utilising homologous recombination between an engineered exogenous DNA fragment and the genome of an individual's embryonic stem (ES) cells. Which of the following regarding this technique is INCORRECT?

  1. It uses homologous recombination to change an endogenous gene.

  2. The frequency of gene targeting can be significantly enhanced by using endonucleases.

  3. The targeting construct made out of DNA is generated in bacteria.

  4. Gene targeting is a permanent method.

  5. It requires the creation of a specific vector.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Gene targeting can be permanent or conditional. Conditions can be a specific time during development / life of the organism or limitation to a specific tissue.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements does NOT characterise organisms as genetically engineered organisms containing recombinant DNA?

  1. Western hybridisation methods can be used to detect RNA and/or protein products.

  2. Recombinant DNA can have beneficial effects even if it is not expressed.

  3. The organisms containing recombinant DNA have apparently normal phenotypes.

  4. Additional phenotypes that are encountered include toxicity to the host organism.

  5. Inappropriate activation of previously unexpressed host cell genes can insert rDNA into chromosomal DNA.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In some cases, recombinant DNA can have deleterious effects even if it is not expressed. One mechanism by which this happens is insertional inactivation, in which the rDNA becomes inserted into a host cell's gene.

Multiple choice

Genetic engineering is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. Which of the following statements concerning the process of genetic engineering is false?

  1. The desired DNA is cleaved from the donating chromosome by the action of restriction enzymes.

  2. The desired DNA fragment is inserted into a vector, usually a viral particle, for transfer to the receiving chromosome.

  3. When the host cell reproduces, the vectors inside also reproduce.

  4. Gel electrophoresis is used to separate the remaining genes by movement on an electric grid.

  5. Radioactive probes are added in the gel electrophoresis, which attract and bind with the desired DNA to produce visible bands.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The desired DNA fragment is inserted into a vector, usually a plasmid, for transfer to the receiving chromosome. P lasmids are circular DNA molecules found in the cytoplasm of bacteria that bond with the desired DNA fragment with the help of the joining enzyme, DNA ligase, to create the resulting recombinant DNA.

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs of ‘terminology: definition’ is not correctly matched?

  1. Biopiracy: illegal use of bio-resources

  2. RNA interference: a process to prevent infection of nematode in roots of tobacco plant

  3. Transgenic animals: animals that have manipulated DNA to possess and express an extra gene

  4. Bt: a bacterium that kills insects

  5. Biotic stress: a process of organisms growing on dead organisms
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Living organisms which can harm plants, such as viruses, fungi and bacteria and harmful insects are known as biotic stresses. The organisms which grown on dead organisms are called saprophytes like  bacteria, fungi, etc.