This chapter explores how biotechnology is used for human welfare, including medicine, agriculture, and industry. Key applications include:

  • Genetically modified (GM) crops for higher yield and pest resistance (e.g., Bt cotton)
  • Gene therapy and production of medicines like insulin and vaccines
  • Bio-pesticides, biofortified foods, and molecular diagnosis

It highlights how DNA technology can improve health and food security while also raising ethical and safety concerns.

NEET MCQs Biotechnology and Application

  1. The bacterium, π΅π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘–π‘  is widely used in contemporary biology as
    a) Insecticide
    b) Agent for the production of dairy products
    c) Source of industrial enzyme
    d) Indicator of water pollution
  2. The technique of DNA fingerprinting was initially developed by
    a) Ian wilmut b) Har Gobind Khurana
    c) Jacque Monod d) Alex Jeffreys
  3. Consider the following statements
    I. Specific 𝐡𝑑 toxin gene have been isolated from π΅π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘–π‘ 
    II. 𝐡𝑑 toxin is coded by a gene named π‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦
    III. 𝐡𝑑 toxin protein exists as inactive protoxins
    Which of the statements given above are correct?
    a) I, II and III b) I and II c) I and III d) II and III
  4. Silencing of a gene could be achieved by the use of
    a) RNAi b) Antisense RNA c) Both (a) and (b) d) None of these
  5. In callus culture, roots can be induced by the supply of
    a) Auxin b) Cytokinin c) Gibberellin d) Ethylene
  6. Golden rice
    I. It is a transgenic variety of rice
    II. It contains a goods quality of Ξ²-carotene (provitamin-A)
    III. Ξ²-carotene is a principal source of vitamin-A
    IV. The grains of the rice are yellow in colour due to Ξ²-carotene. The rice is commonly called golden rice
    Which of the statements given above are correct?
    a) I, II and III b) II, III and IV c) I, III and IV d) I, II, III and IV
  7. GEAC stands for
    a) Genetic and Biotechnique Approval Committee b) Gene Environment Action Committee
    c) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee d) Genome Engineering Action Committee
  8. The linking of antibiotic resistance gene with the plasmid vector became possible with
    a) DNA ligase b) Endonucleases c) DNA polymerase d) Exonucleases
  9. Genetically modified plants have been useful in increasing
    a) Crop yield b) Nutritional value of food
    c) Tolerance against abiotic stresses d) All of the above
  10. Transgenic crops are modified through genetic engineering to develop natural resistance to insect pests.
    Which one is a transgenic plant?
    a) Tobacco and cotton b) Tomato and rice c) Maize and sugarcane d) Tomato and wheat
  11. Golden rice was created by transforming rice with two beta=carotene biosynthesis genes, namely,
    a) Psy and Cry 1 genes b) LCY-e c) CHY-1 d) CHY-2
  12. Which of the following is used in genetic engineering?
    a) Plastid b) Plasmid c) Mitochondria d) ER
  13. Explants before organogenesis, is
    a) Photosynthetic b) Autotrophic c) Heteromorphic d) Heterotrophic
  14. In RNAi, genes are silenced using

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a) dsDNA b) dsRNA c) ssDNA d) ssRNA

  1. GAATTC is the recognition site for the restriction endonuclease
    a) Eco RI b) Hind II c) Eco RII d) Bam HI
  2. Consider the following statements about transgenic tobacco plant
    I. Transgenic tobacco plants contains a gene from a bacterium, π΅π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘–π‘ 
    II. 𝐡𝑑 gene is an insecticidal protein which damages the inner lining of the insects and kills it (insect)
    III. The tobacco plants having 𝐡𝑑 gene produces their own insecticide
    Which of the statements given above are correct?
    a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III
  3. Which gene was introduced in the first transgenic cow?
    a) Human Ξ±-lactalbumin b) Ξ±-1-antitrypsin c) Ξ²-1-antitrypsin d) cry-IAc
  4. Which bacteria was the first to be used as biopesticide on the commercial scale in the world?
    a) Bacillus thuringiensis b) E. coli
    c) Pseudomonas aeruginosa d) Agrobacterium tumefaciens
  5. Silk is produced by
    a) Egg of silkworm b) Pupa of silkworm c) Lara of silkworm d) Insect itself
  6. Most widely used bioweapon is
    a) Bacillus subtilis b) Pseudomonas putida
    c) Bacillus anthracis d) None of these
  7. 𝐡𝑑 toxin kills insects by
    a) Inhibiting protein synthesis
    b) Generating excessive heat
    c) Creating pores in the midgut epithelial cells, leading to cell swelling and lysis
    d) Obstructing a biosynthetic pathway
  8. GM brinjal in India has been developed for resistance against
    a) Virus b) Bacteria c) Fungi d) Insects
  9. Which of the following is used as a best genetic vector in plants?
    a) Bacillus thuringiensis b) Agrobacterium tumefaciens
    c) Pseudomonas putida d) None of the above
  10. Somaclonal variation appears in plants
    a) Growing in polluted soil or water b) Exposed to gamma rays
    c) Raised in tissue culture d) Transformed by recombinant DNA technology
  11. Which of the following cells cannot be grown under tissue which of culture condition?
    a) Hela cells b) Leucocytes c) Kidney cells d) Nerve cells
  12. Use of biological resources of other countries without any legal authorization of the countries concerned is
    called
    a) Biopatent b) Biopiracy c) Bioethics d) All of these
  13. Genetic modification has
    I. reduced reliance on chemical pesticides
    II. reduced post-harvest losses
    III. increased efficiency of minerals used by the plants
    IV. enhanced nutritional value of the food
    Which of the statements given above are correct?
    a) I, II, III and IV b) I, II and III c) II, III and IV d) III and IV
  14. The function of polymerase chain reaction is
    a) Transduction b) DNA amplification c) Translation d) None of these
  15. Gene amplification using primers can be done by
    a) Microinjection b) ELISA
    c) Polymerase chain reaction d) Gene gun
  16. A technique, which involves deliberate manipulation of genes within or between species is

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a) Gene therapy b) Hybridoma technology
c) Tissue culture d) Genetic engineering

  1. Production of a human protein in bacteria by genetic engineering is possible because
    a) Bacterial cell can carry out the RNA splicing reactions
    b) The human chromosome can replicate in bacterial cell
    c) The mechanism of gene regulation is identical in humans and bacteria
    d) The genetic code is universal
  2. Which of the following statement is not true for a clone?
    a) Clones are descended from a single parent b) Identical twins are not clones
    c) Clone is a result of sexual reproduction d) Both (a) and (c)
  3. Which of the following companies started selling humulin in 1983?
    a) Baxter international b) Eli Lilly c) Roche d) Bayer healthcare
  4. More advancement in genetic engineering is due to
    a) Restriction endonuclease b) Reverse transcriptase
    c) Protease d) Zymase
  5. An organisation aiming to regulate biotechnological activities was established by Indian Government
    named
    a) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
    b) Society of Applied Biotechnology
    c) Society of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
    d) National Biotechnology Development Society
  6. Bt toxin is obtained from
    a) Prokaryotes b) Eukaryotes c) Both (a) and (b) d) None of these
  7. Which of the following transgenic human protein product has been used to treat emphysema?
    a) Ξ±-1 antitrypsin b) Ξ±-1 globulin c) Cry I Ab protein d) Cry II Ac protein
  8. Biopiracy is
    a) The use of biological patent
    b) Thefts of plants and animal
    c) The use of bioresources of a country without proper authorisation
    d) Stealing of biological resources
  9. Meristem culture is practised in horticulture to get
    a) Somaclonal variation b) Haplods c) Virus-free plants d) Slow-growing callus
  10. Use of biology in industrial process and for improving quality of life is called
    a) Genetic engineering b) Eugenics c) Microbiology d) Biotechnology
  11. π΅π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘–π‘  forms the protein crystals which contains a toxic insecticidal protein. This protein
    I. is activated by alkaline pH of the gut of the insect pest
    II. binds with the epithelial cells of the midgut of the insect pest ultimately killing it
    III. does not kill the carrier bacterium which is itself resistance to this toxin
    Which of the statement given above are correct?
    a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III
  12. Treatment of a genetic disorder by manipulating genes is called
    a) Gene therapy b) Gene replacement therapy
    c) Bone marrow transplantation d) Enzyme replacement therapy
  13. PCR proceeds in three distinct steps governed by temperature, they are in order of
    a) Denaturation, annealing, synthesis b) Synthesis, annealing, denaturation
    c) Annealing, synthesis, denaturation d) Denaturation, synthesis, annealing
  14. Lymphocytes are
    a) A kind of white blood cells b) A kind of red blood cells
    c) Blood platelets d) Plasma cells
  15. Blindness can be prevented by use of which crop in poor contries?

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a) Golden rice b) Wheat c) Gram d) Pea

  1. Variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) in the DNA molecule are highly useful in
    a) Recombinant DNA technology b) DNA fingerprinting
    c) Monoclonal antibody production d) Stem cell culture
  2. Why is 𝐡𝑑 toxin not toxic to human beings?
    a) The toxin recognises only insect specific targets
    b) Bt toxin activation requires temperature above the human body temperature
    c) Bt toxin formation froms pro Bt state which requires pH lower than one present in human stomach
    d) Conversion of pro Bt to Bt state takes place only in highly alkaline condition
  3. A clone is
    a) Heterozygote obtained asexually b) Homozygote obtained asexually
    c) Heterozygote produced by sexual methods d) Homozygote produced by sexual reproduction
  4. Humulin is
    a) Human insulin b) Animal insulin c) Bacterial insulin d) Fungi insulin
  5. In Bt cotton, transgenic plant, Bt refers to
    a) Botanical b) Beta
    c) Biotechnology d) Bacillus thuringiensis
  6. The first time in 1990, M Blease and WF Andresco of National Institute of Health, attempted gene therapy
    on a 4 year old girl with which of the following enzyme deficiency?
    a) Cytosine deaminase (CDA)
    b) Adenosine deaminase (ADA)
    c) Tyrosine oxidase
    d) Glutamate trihydrogenase
  7. Secondary cells can’t divide because
    a) They lose the ability to divide
    b) They do not have nucleus
    c) They undergo certain irreversible changes during differentiation
    d) All of the above
  8. Undifferentiated mass of plant cells grown on nutrient medium, is called
    a) Callus b) Bud c) Clone d) Scion
  9. The first case of IVF-ET technique success, was reported by
    a) Louis Joy Brown and Banting Best b) Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edward
    c) Robert Steptoe and Gilbert Brown d) Baylis and Starling Taylor
  10. Today, transgenic models have been developed for many human diseases, which includes
    I. rheumatoid arthritis II. Alzheimer’s disease
    III. cancer IV. Cystic fibrosis
    Choose the correct option
    a) I and II b) II and IV c) I, II and IV d) I, II, III and IV
  11. Probes, used in DNA fingerprinting, are initially
    a) Single stranded RNA b) Mini satellite
    c) 19 base long oligonucleotide d) All of the above
  12. The decisions regarding the validity of GMO (Genetic Modification of Organism) research and the safety of
    introducing GM for the public services in India is taken by
    a) Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
    b) Department of Recombinant DNA Technology
    c) Department of Science and Biotechnology
    d) National Biotechnology Board
  13. Some strains of π΅π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘™π‘™π‘’π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘ π‘–π‘  produces proteins that kills insects like
    a) Lepidopterans b) Coleopterans c) Dipterans d) All of these
  14. Golden rice is

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a) A type of rice grown along the yellow river in
China b) A transgenic rice having gene for Ξ²-carotene (pro
vitamin-A)
c) Normal variety of rice with golden coloured grains d) Wild and long sized rice having golden tint

  1. In order to obtain virus-free plants through tissue culture, the best method is
    a) Protoplast culture b) Embryo rescue c) Anther culture d) Meristem culture
  2. Which of the following genes were introduced in cotton to protect it from cotton bollworms?
    a) Cry Ac and cry Ab
    b) Bt Ac and Bt Ab
    c) Cry I Ac and cry II Ab
    d) Nif genes
  3. Which of the following techniques are related with gene therapy?
    I. Bone marrow transplantation
    II. Enzyme replacement therapy
    III. Gel electrophoresis technique
    IV. Hybridoma technique
    Choose the correct option
    a) I and II b) II and III c) I, II and III d) II, III and IV
  4. The SCID patient has a defective gene for the enzyme Adenosine Deaminase (ADA). He/She lacks
    functional …… and therefore, fails to fight the infecting pathogens
    a) B-lymphocytes b) Phagocytes c) T-lymphocytes d) Both (a) and (b)
  5. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is widely used in contemporary biology as a/an
    a) Indicator of water pollution b) Insecticide
    c) Agent for production of dairy products d) Source of industrial enzyme
  6. The enzymes, commonly used in genetic engineering, are
    a) Restriction endonuclease and polymerase b) Endonuclease and ligase
    c) Restriction endonclease and ligase d) Ligase and polymerase
  7. In plant biotechnology, PEG is used in
    a) Protoplast isolation b) Cell culture preparation
    c) Protoplast fusion d) Hardening
  8. Differentiation of shoot is controlled by
    a) High gibberellin – auxin ratio b) High gibberellin – cytokinin ratio
    c) High auxin – cytokinin ratio d) High cytokinin – auxin ratio
  9. Which one of the following is used as vector for cloning genes into higher organisms?
    a) Baculovirus b) Salmonella typhimurium
    c) Rhizopus nigricans d) Retrovirus
  10. Main objective of production/use of herbicide resistant GM crops is to
    a) Eliminate weeds from the field without the use of manual labour
    b) Eliminate weeds from the field without the use of herbicides
    c) Encourage eco-friendly herbicides
    d) Reduce herbicide accumulation in food articles for health safety
  11. Golden rice is a transgenic crop of the future with which of the following improved trait?
    a) High lysine (essential amino acid) content b) Insect resistance
    c) High protein content d) High vitamin-A content
  12. Microbes found to be very useful in genetic engineering are
    a) Escherichia coli and Agrobacterium tumefaciens
    b) Vibrio cholerae and a tailed bacteriophage
    c) Diplococcus sp. And Pseudomonas sp.
    d) Crown gall bacterium and Caenorhabditis elegans
  13. Molecular scissors are
    a) Restriction endonucleases b) DNA polymerase

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c) DNA ligase d) RNA polymerase

  1. Producing a giant mouse in the laboratory was possible through
    a) Gene manipulation b) Gene mutation c) Gene synthesis d) Gene duplication
  2. Which of the following nematode infects the roots of the tobacco plants which reduce the production of
    tobacco?
    a) Wuchereria b) Manduca sexta
    c) Meloidegyne incognitia d) Enterbius
  3. β€˜Roise’ cow known to produce a type of milk which has all the following characteristics
    I. protein content of 2.4 g/L
    II. human Ξ±-lactalbumin
    III. more nutritionally balanced for human babies than natural cow milk
    Which of the above statements are correct?
    a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III
  4. The protein toxin producing bacteria, used to control biological pest, is
    a) E. coli b) Agrobacterium c) Mycobacterium sp. d) B. thuringiensis
  5. Which one of the following is correct explanation for autobiography?
    a) It is used for the detection of mutated genes b) Clone which have mutated genes will no appear
    on the photographic film
    c) The probe used will have only complementary
    genes with unmuted protein of DNA
    d) All of the above
  6. A kind of biotechnology involving manipulation of DNA is
    a) DNA replication b) Genetic engineering c) Denaturation d) Renaturation
  7. Which one of the following can help in the diagnosis of a genetical disorder?
    a) ELISA b) ABO blood group c) PCR d) NMR
  8. A …….. infects the roots of tobacco plants which reduce the production of tobacco
    a) Nematode (Meloidegyne incognitia) b) Coleopterans (beetles)
    c) Lepidopterans (armyworm) d) Dipterans (mosquitoes)
  9. 𝐡𝑑 toxins are initially inactive protoxins but after ingestion by the insects their inactive toxin becomes
    active due to the
    a) Alkaline pH of the gut b) Acidic pH of the gut
    c) Temperature of the gut d) Hormone present in the gut
  10. The term β€˜totipotency’ refers to
    a) The capability of organism to regenerate its lost parts
    b) Capability of somatic cells to produce complete organism
    c) The introduction of foreign gene in a cell’s DNA
    d) The technique of growing immature embryos
  11. Mixture of biogas contains
    a) Carbon dioxide, nitrogen and methane b) Nitrogen, methane and hydrogen
    c) Methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide d) Hydrogen, butane and carbon dioxide
  12. An efficient oil eating β€˜Super bug’ developed through genetic engineering used in cleaning of oil-spill
    polluted sites is a species of
    a) Arthrobacter b) Citrobacter c) Pseudomonas d) Thiobacillus
  13. Consider the following statements
    I. πΉπ‘™π‘Žπ‘£π‘Ÿ π‘ π‘Žπ‘£π‘Ÿ is a genetically modified tomato, which remains fresh and retains its flavour much longer
    than the normal tomato due to blocking of synthesis of fruit softening enzyme polygalacturonase
    II. Recently, the US Government has patented the Indian β€˜basmati’ rice as Rice-tec
    III. Viruses, bacteria and some other harmful organisms can be used as bioweapons in biological warfare
    Which of the statements given above are correct?
    a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III
  14. DNA fingerprinting refers to

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a) Molecular analysis of profiles of DNA samples
b) Analysis of DNA samples using imprinting device
c) Techniques used for molecular analysis of different specimens of DNA
d) Techniques used for identification of fingerprints of individuals

  1. Insect resistant transgenic cotton has been produced by inserting a piece of DNA from
    a) An insect b) A bacterium
    c) A wild relative of cotton d) A virus
  2. Somatic hybrids are produced by
    a) Protoplast fusion b) Tissue culture c) Pollen culture d) Hybridoma process
  3. The below diagram show a diagrammatic sketch of maturation of insulin. Select the correct set of the
    names labelled A, B, C and D a) A-A-peptide, B-B-peptide, C-Proinsulin, D-Free C-Peptide
    b) A-Proinsulin, B-A peptide, C-B peptide D-free C-Peptide
    c) A-Free C-Peptide, B-A-peptide, C-B-peptide, D-Proinsulin
    d) A-A-peptide, B-B-peptide, C-Free C-peptide, D-Proinsulin
  4. A technology, which has found immense use in solving cases of disputed parentage, is
    a) Polymerase chain reaction b) DNA fingerprinting
    c) Monoclonal antibody production d) Recombinant DNA technology
  5. Emasculation is related to
    a) Pureline b) Mass selection c) Clonal selection d) Hybridization
  6. An extrachromosomal DNA, which can be used as vector in gene cloning is called
    a) Transposon b) Intron c) Exon d) Plasmid
  7. The protein products of the following Bt toxin genes cry I Ac and cry II Ab are responsible for controlling
    a) Bollworm b) Roundworm c) Moth d) Fruit fly
  8. Biopiracy is related to which of the following?
    a) Traditional knowledge b) Biomolecules and regarding bioresources
    c) Bioresources d) All of the above
  9. A suitable vector for gene cloning in higher organisms is
    a) Baculovirus b) Retrovirus
    c) Salmonella typhimurium d) Neurospora crassa
  10. A correct pair of characteristic of molecular probe is
    I. a single-stranded DNA or RNA tagged with a radioactive molecule
    II. a double-stranded DNA tagged with a radioactive molecule
    III. complementary to part of desired gene
    IV. small molecule
    Which of the above statements are correct?
    a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) III and IV
  11. The crops having π‘π‘Ÿπ‘¦ genes needs
    a) No insecticide b) Small amount of insecticid

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