Below are 18 practice questions on Biotechnology and its Applications, sorted Easy → Hard. Tap “Show answer & explanation” under any question to check yourself. Want the full theory first? Read the Biotechnology and its Applications notes.
🔬 Biology · Class 12 · NEET
Biotechnology and its Applications — Practice Questions with Answers
18 free MCQs on Biotechnology and its Applications with worked answers and explanations. GM crops, transgenic animals, gene therapy, molecular diagnostics, and bioethics. Frequent 2–3 mark questions in NEET.
Take the timed Biotechnology and its Applications quiz →Easy — 6 questions
Q1.
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
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Answer: B. Unique Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR/STR) patterns
Why: DNA fingerprinting: each person has unique patterns of short tandem repeats (STR/VNTR). These are visualized by gel electrophoresis.
Q2.
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
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Answer: B. Genetically identical to the original
Why: Cloning creates genetically identical copies of an organism. Dolly the sheep (1996) was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell.
Q3.
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
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Answer: A. Treating disease by correcting a faulty gene
Why: Gene therapy: introducing a functional gene into a patient's cells to correct a genetic defect (e.g., ADA-SCID was first treated this way).
Q4.
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
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Answer: B. Foreign DNA from another species inserted into its genome
Why: Transgenic organisms have a foreign gene (transgene) from another species stably incorporated into their genome.
Q5.
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
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Answer: B. Using organisms to clean up polluted environments
Why: Bioremediation uses microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) or plants to break down or neutralize environmental pollutants.
Q6.
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
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Answer: B. Map and sequence the entire human genome
Why: Human Genome Project (1990-2003): mapped and sequenced all ~3 billion base pairs and ~20,000 genes in human DNA.
Medium — 7 questions
Q7.
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
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Answer: B. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) binding to mRNA and causing its degradation, silencing a gene
Why: RNAi: dsRNA triggers RISC complex which unwinds it, using the guide strand to find and cleave complementary mRNA, effectively silencing the gene.
Q8.
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
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Answer: B. Using computers to analyze biological data (sequences, structures, genomes)
Why: Bioinformatics: application of computer science and statistics to biological data, especially DNA/protein sequences. Includes genome annotation, phylogenetics.
Q9.
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
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Answer: B. Tailor drug treatment based on individual genetic makeup
Why: Pharmacogenomics: using genomic information to predict how patients respond to drugs. Allows personalized medicine based on genetic profile.
Q10.
Which term describes bacteria that have taken up foreign DNA through their cell membrane?
- A Transgenic
- B Recombinant
- C Transformed
- D Transfected
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Answer: C. Transformed
Why: Transformed (bacteria): bacteria that have taken up and expressed foreign DNA. Transfected is the term used for eukaryotic cells.
Q11.
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
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Answer: B. Sort and analyze individual cells by size, shape, and fluorescence markers
Why: Flow cytometry: cells in suspension pass through a laser beam. Detects size, complexity, and fluorescent markers. Used for cell counting, sorting, immunophenotyping.
Q12.
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
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Answer: B. Can divide and differentiate into many cell types to repair tissues
Why: Stem cells can self-renew and differentiate into specialized cell types. Used in bone marrow transplants; potential in regenerating organs and tissues.
Q13.
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
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Answer: B. Toxicity, allergenicity, nutritional changes, and environmental effects
Why: GMO safety testing: evaluates potential toxicity, allergenicity, nutritional composition changes, and environmental impact (gene flow, non-target effects).
Hard — 5 questions
Q14.
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
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Answer: B. Yamanaka reprogramming: introducing Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc into adult somatic cells to revert them to pluripotent state
Why: iPSCs (Yamanaka 2006 Nobel Prize): introducing 4 transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc) into adult cells reprograms them to embryonic-like pluripotent state. Avoids embryo destruction.
Q15.
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
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Answer: B. Adenosine deaminase deficiency (causing severe combined immunodeficiency) by introducing functional ADA gene into T cells
Why: First approved gene therapy (1990, Blaese/Anderson): ADA-SCID. T cells from patient transduced with retroviral vector containing ADA gene. Restored immune function in multiple patients.
Q16.
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
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Answer: B. Iterative cycles of random mutagenesis (or recombination) and selection for improved function (Nobel Prize 2018, Frances Arnold)
Why: Directed evolution: create diverse protein library by random mutagenesis/gene shuffling. Select/screen for desired function. Iterate. Mimics natural selection. Frances Arnold (2018 Nobel): first directed enzyme evolution.
Q17.
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
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Answer: B. 3D mini-organs self-organized from stem cells that recapitulate tissue architecture and function (used for disease modeling and drug testing)
Why: Organoids: 3D self-organizing structures grown from stem cells or adult tissue stem cells in extracellular matrix. Recapitulate tissue structure/function. Used for disease models, drug screens, personalized medicine.
Q18.
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
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Answer: B. Designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems not found in nature (BioBricks, synthetic genomes, minimal cells)
Why: Synthetic biology: applies engineering principles to biology. Designs synthetic genetic circuits (toggle switches, oscillators), minimal genomes (JCVI syn1.0), biosensors, and metabolic pathways for novel functions.