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Applications in health and agriculture; biosafety, biopiracy and patents: NEET MCQs with answers

101 questions on this topic of Biotechnology and Its Applications (NEET 2027 syllabus). Here are 12; tap one to see its answer and explanation.

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easy

1. An investigator uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect an early viral infection in a dairy herd. What constitutes the underlying biological principle of this diagnostic system?

  1. Selective amplification of viral cDNA by Taq polymerase
  2. Complementary base pairing of radioactive single-stranded nucleic acid probes
  3. Differential migration of viral envelope glycoproteins in an electric field
  4. Antigen-antibody interaction mediated by specific recognition
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (D) Antigen-antibody interaction mediated by specific recognition

ELISA is based on the principle of antigen-antibody interaction. Infection by a pathogen can be detected either by the presence of antigens (proteins, glycoproteins) or by detecting antibodies synthesised against the pathogen.

medium

2. In the context of biopiracy and intellectual property rights, what crucial measure was incorporated into the Indian Patents Bill (Second Amendment) by the Indian Parliament?

  1. Total prohibition on filing patent claims for agricultural machinery and artificial fertilisers
  2. Automatic transfer of international biotechnology royalties directly to state agricultural boards
  3. Clauses covering patent terms, emergency provisions, and research and development initiative frameworks
  4. Exclusive marketing rights granted solely to multinational agricultural consortiums
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) Clauses covering patent terms, emergency provisions, and research and development initiative frameworks

The Indian Parliament cleared the second amendment of the Indian Patents Bill, which takes into account issues such as patent terms, emergency provisions, and research and development initiatives to counter biopiracy.

hard

3. How many of the following statements about GM crops are correct? (i) They can be more tolerant to abiotic stresses. (ii) They reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. (iii) They increase post-harvest losses. (iv) Golden rice is enriched with vitamin A. (v) They help increase the efficiency of mineral usage.

  1. Four
  2. Three
  3. Five
  4. Two
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) Four

GM crops reduce (not increase) post-harvest losses; the other four statements are correct.

medium

4. The nematode Meloidogyne incognita infects the roots of tobacco plants. Its infestation was prevented using a strategy based on:

  1. Antibiotic resistance genes
  2. Bt toxin
  3. RNA interference (RNAi)
  4. Ti plasmid tumours
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) RNA interference (RNAi)

RNAi silences a specific nematode mRNA by a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents its translation.

easy

5. Which of the following vectors was used to introduce nematode-specific genes into the host tobacco plant to initiate RNA interference?

  1. Agrobacterium tumefaciens
  2. Bacteriophage lambda
  3. pBR322
  4. Bacillus thuringiensis
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacterium vectors were specifically utilized to introduce nematode-specific genes into the host plant. The introduced DNA produced both sense and antisense RNA in the host cells, initiating RNA interference.

hard

6. To protect tobacco plants from the nematode Meloidogyne incognita, nematode-specific genes were introduced so as to produce:

  1. Bt toxin
  2. Both sense and anti-sense RNA, forming dsRNA that silences the nematode mRNA (RNAi)
  3. Antibodies
  4. Chitinase only
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Both sense and anti-sense RNA, forming dsRNA that silences the nematode mRNA (RNAi)

Using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into the host plant to produce sense and anti-sense RNA. The resulting dsRNA triggers RNA interference, so the parasite cannot survive.

NCERT Class 12

medium

7. The use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned, and without compensatory payment, is called:

  1. Biocontrol
  2. Biosafety
  3. Bioremediation
  4. Biopiracy
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (D) Biopiracy

Biopiracy is the unauthorised use of bio-resources without compensation, as with patents on basmati rice, turmeric and neem.

medium

8. The Indian government organisation set up to make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services is:

  1. ICMR
  2. NACO
  3. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
  4. KVIC
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)

GEAC makes decisions on the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services.

easy

9. Over 95 per cent of all existing transgenic animals are:

  1. Sheep
  2. Cows
  3. Mice
  4. Pigs
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) Mice

Rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows and fish have been made transgenic, but over 95 per cent of existing transgenic animals are mice.

NCERT Class 12

medium

10. According to NCERT, India has about how many varieties of rice?

  1. 2,00,000
  2. 2,000
  3. 27
  4. 20 million
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) 2,00,000

India has an estimated 2,00,000 varieties of rice, and 27 documented varieties of Basmati. This diversity is why biopiracy of Basmati was an issue.

NCERT Class 12

easy

11. In mammals, including humans, insulin is synthesised as a prohormone containing an extra stretch called the C-peptide. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the maturation of proinsulin into functional insulin?

  1. Functional mature insulin lacks the C-peptide, which is removed during maturation
  2. C-peptide connects Chain A and Chain B via three disulfide bridges in functional insulin
  3. Chain A and Chain B are synthesised together without C-peptide only in diabetic individuals
  4. C-peptide is phosphorylated and translocated to the plasma membrane to activate glucose uptake
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) Functional mature insulin lacks the C-peptide, which is removed during maturation

Proinsulin contains an extra stretch of amino acids called the C-peptide. During the maturation of prohormone into mature, functional insulin, this C-peptide is removed, leaving chains A and B linked together by disulfide bonds.

hard

12. Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): For permanent cure of adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, the ADA gene must be introduced into cells at early embryonic stages. Reason (R): Lymphocytes isolated from bone marrow of ADA-deficient patients and transfected with ADA cDNA are immortal and proliferate indefinitely in culture. In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer:

  1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
  2. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
  3. (A) is true but (R) is false
  4. (A) is false but (R) is true
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) (A) is true but (R) is false

Assertion is true because gene therapy at early embryonic stages integrates into germline/precursor lineages offering a lifelong, permanent cure. Reason is false because mature lymphocytes are not immortal and have a limited lifespan, necessitating periodic infusions.

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