75 practice questions on Biotechnology and its Applications, sorted Easy → Hard. Try each one first, then open its answer page for the worked explanation. Want the full theory first? Read the Biotechnology and its Applications notes.
🔬 Biology · Class 12 · NEET
Biotechnology and its Applications - Practice Questions with Answers
75 free MCQs on Biotechnology and its Applications, each with its own worked answer and explanation. GM crops, transgenic animals, gene therapy, molecular diagnostics, and bioethics. Frequent 2–3 mark questions in NEET.
Take the timed Biotechnology and its Applications chapterwise test →Easy - 25 questions
Q1.
The first clinically used genetically engineered insulin was given the trade name:
- A Humulin
- B Insugen
- C Lantus
- D Novolin
Q2.
The protein toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis that kills insects is coded by genes named:
- A nif genes
- B cry genes
- C lac genes
- D tox genes
Q3.
Golden Rice is a genetically engineered variety of rice enriched with the precursor of:
- A Iron
- B Vitamin C
- C Vitamin A
- D Vitamin D
Q4.
Transgenic cows like Rosie were produced so that their milk contained human:
- A Interferon
- B Insulin
- C Growth hormone
- D Alpha-lactalbumin
Q5.
The protection of bio-resources of a nation from unauthorised exploitation is threatened by a practice called:
- A Biopiracy
- B Bioremediation
- C Biofortification
- D Biofertilization
Q6.
DNA fingerprinting is based on:
- A The complete genome-wide DNA sequence read out in full by Sanger sequencing
- B Unique Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR/STR) patterns
- C Blood type determined by surface antigens present on red blood cells
- D Protein analysis of serum samples separated by isoelectric focusing
Q7.
Cloning produces organisms that are:
- A Genetically diverse, like offspring from sexual reproduction
- B Genetically identical to the original
- C Roughly half the size of the original organism
- D Generally infertile, unlike sexually produced offspring
Q8.
Gene therapy involves:
- A Treating disease by correcting a faulty gene
- B Creating entirely new organisms from synthetic genomes
- C Delivering small-molecule drugs through nanoparticles
- D Producing monoclonal antibodies in hybridoma cells
Q9.
A transgenic organism is one that has:
- A Genes that mutated spontaneously without intervention
- B Foreign DNA from another species inserted into its genome
- C An unusually large genome compared to its relatives
- D No detectable genetic material in its cells
Q10.
Bioremediation refers to:
- A Deliberately creating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria
- B Using organisms to clean up polluted environments
- C Gene therapy applied specifically to crop and plant species
- D In vitro fertilization performed in a laboratory dish
Q11.
The Human Genome Project aimed to:
- A Engineer transgenic humans with edited genomes
- B Map and sequence the entire human genome
- C Produce antibiotics from soil microorganisms
- D Develop vaccines against emerging viral diseases
Q12.
The bacterium used to obtain the Bt toxin gene is:
- A Bacillus thuringiensis
- B Escherichia coli
- C Rhizobium leguminosarum
- D Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Q13.
Bt cotton is genetically modified to resist:
- A insect pests
- B the fungal rot
- C severe drought
- D heavy rainfall
Q14.
In "GM crops", the letters GM stand for genetically:
- A modified
- B managed
- C measured
- D mineralised
Q15.
The first recombinant human protein produced for medical use was:
- A insulin
- B adrenaline
- C thyroxine
- D testosterone
Q16.
Genetically engineered human insulin is marketed under the name:
- A humulin
- B insunova
- C glucowin
- D sugarfix
Q17.
Genetically modified crops carrying a foreign gene are also called ___ crops:
- A transgenic
- B only organic
- C simple hybrid
- D plain wild-type
Q18.
The technique of correcting a defective gene in a person is called gene:
- A therapy
- B copying
- C cutting
- D staining
Q19.
Golden rice is genetically engineered to be rich in:
- A vitamin A
- B vitamin C
- C only iron
- D plain water
Q20.
Organisms that contain and express a foreign gene are called:
- A transgenic organisms
- B wild organisms
- C normal organisms
- D extinct organisms
Q21.
The "molecular scissors" used to cut DNA at specific sites are ___ enzymes:
- A restriction
- B digestive
- C salivary
- D breathing
Q22.
Human insulin produced by bacteria is used to treat:
- A diabetes
- B malaria
- C typhoid
- D jaundice
Q23.
A GMO is a genetically modified:
- A organism
- B mineral
- C molecule
- D machine
Q24.
The technique that amplifies tiny amounts of DNA for diagnosis is the polymerase chain:
- A reaction
- B reagent
- C reactor
- D reader
Q25.
Bt toxin protects the plant by killing certain:
- A insects
- B floods
- C sunlight
- D the cold
Medium - 25 questions
Q26.
The first successful gene therapy (1990) treated a young girl suffering from a deficiency of the enzyme:
- A Salivary amylase
- B Adenosine deaminase
- C DNA joining ligase
- D A restriction enzyme
Q27.
Human insulin produced in the body is first made as proinsulin, which has an extra stretch that is absent in the mature hormone. This extra part is the:
- A A peptide
- B C peptide
- C B peptide
- D Signal peptide
Q28.
In producing recombinant insulin by Eli Lilly, the two chains A and B were produced separately and then:
- A Injected separately into patients as two unlinked chains
- B Left as inactive proinsulin
- C Joined by disulphide bonds to form human insulin
- D Converted into the C peptide
Q29.
The first gene therapy was performed in 1990 on a four-year-old girl who lacked a functional enzyme. This enzyme was:
- A Helicase
- B Phenylalanine hydroxylase
- C Amylase
- D Adenosine deaminase
Q30.
Meloidogyne incognita, the nematode controlled by RNAi in transgenic tobacco, infects the plant by living in its:
- A Leaves
- B Roots
- C Flowers
- D Fruits
Q31.
RNA interference (RNAi) works by:
- A Increasing the rate of transcription occurring at a specifically targeted gene promoter
- B Small interfering RNA (siRNA) binding to mRNA and causing its degradation, silencing a gene
- C Adding methyl groups directly onto cytosine bases located within genomic DNA
- D Permanently and irreversibly blocking ribosomes from translating any mRNA transcript at all
Q32.
Bioinformatics involves:
- A Growing bacterial cultures under carefully controlled sterile laboratory conditions
- B Using computers to analyze biological data (sequences, structures, genomes)
- C Producing biofuels mainly from fermented plant biomass and waste material
- D Producing transgenic organisms through direct gene insertion techniques
Q33.
Pharmacogenomics aims to:
- A Produce cheaper generic drugs through mass synthesis
- B Tailor drug treatment based on individual genetic makeup
- C Discover new soil microorganisms for novel antibiotic production
- D Create transgenic animals engineered to secrete therapeutic drugs
Q34.
Which term describes bacteria that have taken up foreign DNA through their cell membrane?
- A Transgenic
- B Recombinant
- C Transformed
- D Transfected
Q35.
Flow cytometry is used to:
- A Determine the exact nucleotide sequence of isolated DNA fragments
- B Sort and analyze individual cells by size, shape, and fluorescence markers
- C Generate cloned organisms through somatic cell nuclear transfer methods
- D Amplify target DNA sequences through repeated thermal cycling steps
Q36.
Stem cells are used in regenerative medicine because they:
- A Cannot divide further once isolated from the original donor tissue
- B Can divide and differentiate into many cell types to repair tissues
- C Are restricted mainly to producing red blood cell lineages alone
- D Generally transform into cancerous cells over an extended time
Q37.
GMO safety assessment includes testing for:
- A Color changes observed mainly in the harvested crop over time
- B Toxicity, allergenicity, nutritional changes, and environmental effects
- C Taste differences perceived mainly by trained consumer taste panels
- D Crop yield improvements measured mainly across several growing seasons
Q38.
The insect-resistance gene used in Bt crops comes from the bacterium:
- A Agrobacterium tumefaciens
- B Bacillus thuringiensis
- C Escherichia coli
- D Rhizobium leguminosarum
Q39.
The insecticidal crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis is coded by the gene named:
- A cry
- B only bt
- C res
- D the gm
Q40.
In the bacterium, the Bt toxin is present in an inactive form called a:
- A protoxin
- B antibody
- C antigen
- D vitamin
Q41.
The Bt protoxin is activated in the insect gut because of its ___ pH:
- A alkaline
- B acidic
- C neutral
- D only salty
Q42.
RNA interference (RNAi) has been used to make tobacco resistant to:
- A nematodes
- B sunlight
- C rainfall
- D coldness
Q43.
In RNA interference, gene silencing is triggered by ___ RNA:
- A double-stranded
- B single circular
- C free floating
- D plain messenger
Q44.
Human insulin is made of two short polypeptide chains named:
- A A and B
- B X and Y
- C P and Q
- D M and N
Q45.
In the body, insulin is first synthesised as a longer inactive molecule called:
- A proinsulin
- B an antibody
- C a hormonelet
- D a vitamin
Q46.
The extra stretch removed to convert proinsulin into mature insulin is the ___ peptide:
- A C
- B D
- C E
- D F
Q47.
Gene therapy was first used in 1990 to treat a girl suffering from ___ deficiency:
- A ADA
- B ATP
- C DNA
- D RNA
Q48.
ADA (adenosine deaminase) deficiency causes a disorder of the ___ system:
- A immune
- B nervous
- C digestive
- D muscular
Q49.
Detecting very small numbers of a pathogen early is possible using:
- A PCR
- B an X-ray
- C a biopsy
- D an autopsy
Q50.
The diagnostic technique based on antigen–antibody interaction is:
- A ELISA
- B only PCR
- C an X-ray scan
- D a plain biopsy
Hard - 25 questions
Q51.
In making nematode-resistant tobacco, host cells were made to produce both sense and antisense RNA. How does this silence the nematode gene?
- A The RNAs cut the plant DNA
- B The RNAs code for a toxic protein
- C The two RNAs form a double strand that silences the mRNA
- D The RNAs increase nematode reproduction inside the host roots
Q52.
Bt cotton carries cry genes but is not harmful to the plant that makes the toxin. Why does the Cry protein not kill the plant itself?
- A The plant rapidly destroys the Cry protein before it can act
- B It is stored only in the seeds
- C The plant lacks ribosomes to make it
- D It exists as an inactive protoxin until activated in the insect gut
Q53.
A diagnostic advantage of PCR and ELISA over conventional culture methods for detecting a pathogen is that they can:
- A Detect very low amounts of pathogen early by amplifying DNA or detecting antigens
- B Detect the disease only after obvious clinical symptoms have already appeared
- C Work only for bacterial diseases
- D Replace the need for any treatment
Q54.
A patent was granted in the USA on the use of a traditional Indian variety used for its aroma and texture, later challenged as biopiracy. This crop was:
- A Turmeric
- B Basmati rice
- C Neem
- D Bitter gourd
Q55.
Transgenic animals are created to carry and express a foreign gene for several purposes. Which of the following best describes one such use?
- A To remove all their natural genes
- B To make the animals grow rapidly without needing any food
- C To study how genes regulate normal development and disease
- D To make them unable to reproduce
Q56.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were created by:
- A Transferring the nucleus of an adult somatic cell into a previously enucleated egg cell directly under typical conditions
- B Yamanaka reprogramming: introducing Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc into adult somatic cells to revert them to pluripotent state
- C Cloning entire embryos through the technique of somatic cell nuclear transfer repeatedly according to standard textbooks
- D Treating isolated embryonic cells with a precisely defined cocktail of small-molecule chemicals instead in general practice
Q57.
SCID-ADA gene therapy (first human gene therapy in 1990) treated:
- A Cystic fibrosis, a disease which is caused by a defective CFTR chloride channel gene on chromosome 7 specifically
- B Adenosine deaminase deficiency (causing severe combined immunodeficiency) by introducing functional ADA gene into T cells
- C Hemophilia A, a disease which is caused by a deficiency of blood clotting factor VIII in blood plasma specifically
- D Sickle cell disease, a condition which is caused by a single point mutation in the beta-globin gene specifically
Q58.
Protein engineering using directed evolution involves:
- A Designing proteins largely through computer-based modeling, without much laboratory selection step involved according to standard textbooks
- B Iterative cycles of random mutagenesis (or recombination) and selection for improved function (Nobel Prize 2018, Frances Arnold)
- C Mainly rational, structure-based protein design guided largely by known crystal structures available in general practice as frequently described
- D Production efforts limited mainly to generating therapeutic monoclonal antibody molecules specifically in most textbook accounts
Q59.
Organoids in biotechnology are:
- A Simple single-cell cultures that are grown as a flat monolayer spread evenly across a culture dish surface area under most conditions encountered
- B 3D mini-organs self-organized from stem cells that recapitulate tissue architecture and function (used for disease modeling and drug testing)
- C Thin tissue slices that are cut directly from a freshly removed surgical organ specimen in the operating room itself as frequently observed in practice
- D Structures that are reported to mainly be grown and studied within the body of a living animal host generally in many documented cases according to conventional understanding
Q60.
Synthetic biology involves:
- A Mainly the routine cloning and propagation of naturally occurring genes from existing organisms generally in routine practice overall
- B Designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems not found in nature (BioBricks, synthetic genomes, minimal cells)
- C Applications that are restricted mainly to agricultural crop improvement and pest resistance generally in most cases under typical conditions
- D Applications that are restricted mainly to human medical therapeutics and diagnostics largely alone according to standard textbooks
Q61.
In making nematode-resistant tobacco by RNA interference, gene silencing is triggered by:
- A single-stranded DNA
- B a plasmid vector
- C a restriction enzyme
- D double-stranded RNA
Q62.
The Cry proteins encoded by cryIAc and cryIIAb genes control the:
- A cotton bollworms
- B plain houseflies
- C only earthworms
- D some honeybees
Q63.
The Bt gene cryIAb produces a protein that controls the:
- A corn borer
- B cotton aphid
- C the wheat rust
- D the rice blast
Q64.
Meloidogyne incognita, controlled by RNAi in tobacco, is a:
- A nematode
- B fungus
- C bacterium
- D only a virus
Q65.
In RNAi, the silencing RNA is complementary to the pest’s ___ RNA:
- A messenger
- B transfer
- C ribosomal
- D plain viral
Q66.
The vector used to deliver the RNAi construct into tobacco was:
- A Agrobacterium
- B a plain plasmid
- C only a virus
- D a bacteriophage
Q67.
Recombinant insulin was the first such product approved for:
- A human use
- B plant use
- C animal feed
- D only soil use
Q68.
The main challenge in producing insulin in bacteria was assembling the chains into a:
- A mature hormone
- B simple sugar
- C plain fat drop
- D long starch
Q69.
Gene therapy for ADA deficiency using lymphocytes is not permanent because the cells are:
- A not immortal
- B fully immortal
- C always dividing
- D never dividing
Q70.
A permanent cure for ADA deficiency may come from inserting the gene into:
- A bone-marrow cells
- B plain skin cells
- C only nerve cells
- D some muscle cells
Q71.
The use of bio-resources by nations or companies without proper authorisation is called:
- A biopiracy
- B bioethics
- C biosafety
- D bioreactor
Q72.
A well-known biopiracy case involved a US patent on an Indian variety of:
- A basmati rice
- B plain barley
- C only white oats
- D some field maize
Q73.
Transgenic animals are produced so that they carry and express a ___ gene:
- A foreign
- B native
- C absent
- D broken
Q74.
Rosie, the first transgenic cow, produced milk enriched with human:
- A alpha-lactalbumin
- B plain lactose
- C only fat drops
- D some milk sugar
Q75.
Ethical issues of genetic modification are examined under the field called:
- A bioethics
- B biopiracy
- C biosafety
- D bioreactor
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