Genetic engineering involves the manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology tools. One of the major techniques used in genetic engineering is recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. This process involves the isolation of a gene of interest from one organism and inserting it into the DNA of another organism, creating a recombinant organism. For example, in insulin production, the gene for insulin is inserted into Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. These bacteria, now genetically modified, can then produce human insulin in large quantities.
In recombinant DNA technology, the foreign gene is inserted into the host organism’s genome using a:
Answer: A) Restriction enzyme
Which of the following is a major benefit of using E. coli in genetic engineering for insulin production?
Answer: A) It produces human insulin in large quantities
The process of creating a recombinant DNA molecule involves:
Answer: A) Inserting the foreign gene into a plasmid vector
Recombinant DNA technology is used in producing:
Answer: D) All of the above
Cloning refers to the process of creating an organism or a cell with identical genetic material. One of the most famous examples of cloning is Dolly the sheep, which was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell in 1996. The process of cloning involves somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), where the nucleus from a somatic cell is transferred into an egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed. Cloning technology has potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and conservation.
In somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the nucleus is transferred from:
Answer: B) A somatic cell to an egg cell
Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, was created using:
Answer: B) Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)
Cloning has potential applications in:
Answer: D) All of the above
Which of the following is NOT a challenge associated with cloning?
Answer: D) Increased risk of diseases in cloned organisms
A bioreactor is an environment that provides optimal conditions for the growth of microorganisms or cells to carry out biotechnological processes. It is often used in the production of valuable products such as antibiotics, vaccines, and enzymes. In industrial biotechnology, fermentation in bioreactors is used for mass production of substances like penicillin and ethanol. Bioreactors maintain temperature, pH, and oxygen levels, which are crucial for efficient microbial growth and product yield.
The role of a bioreactor in industrial biotechnology is to:
Answer: A) Maintain optimal environmental conditions for microbial growth
In fermentation, microorganisms like Saccharomyces cerevisiae are used to:
Answer: B) Break down sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide
Penicillin production in bioreactors is an example of:
Answer: B) Microbial fermentation
Bioreactors are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of:
Answer: B) Vaccines and antibiotics
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a method used to amplify small segments of DNA for further analysis. In this process, a DNA sample is heated to separate its strands, and then Taq polymerase is used to replicate the DNA strands in cycles. PCR is used in a variety of applications, including genetic research, forensic science, and medical diagnostics. It allows scientists to create millions of copies of a DNA segment from just a few initial molecules.
The key enzyme used in PCR to amplify DNA is:
Answer: C) Taq polymerase
The purpose of heating the DNA sample during PCR is to:
Answer: B) Separate the double-stranded DNA into single strands
PCR is used in:
Answer: D) All of the above
PCR is an important technique because it allows scientists to:
Answer: B) Amplify a specific region of DNA
Biotechnology has led to the development of genetically modified (GM) crops, which have been engineered for improved qualities like increased resistance to pests, herbicides, and diseases, as well as enhanced nutritional content. One example is Bt cotton, which contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that makes it resistant to certain pests. Another example is the development of golden rice, which has been genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.
Bt cotton is genetically modified to resist:
Answer: C) Insect pests
Golden rice is genetically modified to produce:
Answer: C) Beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor)
The use of genetically modified crops in agriculture helps in:
Answer: D) All of the above
The gene used in Bt cotton comes from:
Answer: B) A bacterium