Biotechnology: Principles and Processes - MCQ Test
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1. Which ancient philosopher and scientist is associated with the anthropocentric approach to human knowledge, especially natural sciences, focusing on human comfort and welfare?
Ever since the days of Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, mathematician and biologist of seventeenth century, all human knowledge especially natural sciences were directed to develop technologies which add to the creature comforts of human lives, as also value to human life. The whole approach to understanding natural phenomena became anthropocentric.
2. What is the broad definition of biotechnology given in the context of traditional processes?
Biotechnology deals with techniques of using live organisms or enzymes from organisms to produce products and processes useful to humans. In this sense, making curd, bread or wine, which are all microbe-mediated processes, could also be thought as a form of biotechnology.
3. According to the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB), what is the definition of biotechnology?
The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) has given a definition of biotechnology that encompasses both traditional view and modern molecular biotechnology. The definition given by EFB is as follows: ‘The integration of natural science and organisms, cells, parts thereof, and molecular analogues for products and services’.
4. Which of the following describes Herbert Boyer's key discovery that contributed to biotechnology?
By 1969, Herbert Boyer performed studies on a couple of restriction enzymes of the E. coli bacterium with especially useful properties. Boyer observed that these enzymes have the capability of cutting DNA strands in a particular fashion, which left what has became known as ‘sticky ends’ on the strands. These clipped ends made pasting together pieces of DNA a precise exercise.
5. Stanley Cohen's independent research that complemented Boyer's discovery involved:
Stanley Cohen had been studying small ringlets of DNA called plasmids and which float about freely in the cytoplasm of certain bacterial cells and replicate independently from the coding strand of DNA. Cohen had developed a method of removing these plasmids from the cell and then reinserting them in other cells.
6. The foundation of modern biotechnology, specifically the ability to recombine DNA segments and insert them into bacterial cells, was a breakthrough achieved by:
Combining this process with that of DNA splicing enabled Boyer and Cohen to recombine segments of DNA in desired configurations and insert the DNA in bacterial cells, which could then act as manufacturing plants for specific proteins. This breakthrough was the basis upon which the discipline of biotechnology was founded.
7. Which of the following are considered the two core techniques that enabled the birth of modern biotechnology?
Among many, the two core techniques that enabled birth of modern biotechnology are: (i) Genetic engineering... (ii) Bioprocess engineering.
8. Genetic engineering is defined as techniques to:
Genetic engineering: Techniques to alter the chemistry of genetic material (DNA and RNA), to introduce these into host organisms and thus change the phenotype of the host organism.
9. What is the primary advantage of genetic engineering techniques over traditional hybridisation procedures in plant and animal breeding?
Traditional hybridisation procedures used in plant and animal breeding, very often lead to inclusion and multiplication of undesirable genes along with the desired genes. The techniques of genetic engineering... overcome this limitation and allows us to isolate and introduce only one or a set of desirable genes without introducing undesirable genes into the target organism.
10. For an alien piece of DNA to multiply itself in a host organism's progeny cells, it must become part of a chromosome that has a specific DNA sequence called the:
Most likely, this piece of DNA would not be able to multiply itself in the progeny cells of the organism. But, when it gets integrated into the genome of the recipient, it may multiply and be inherited along with the host DNA. This is because the alien piece of DNA has become part of a chromosome, which has the ability to replicate. In a chromosome there is a specific DNA sequence called the origin of replication, which is responsible for initiating replication.
11. The construction of the first artificial recombinant DNA molecule in 1972 involved linking an antibiotic resistance gene with a native plasmid of which bacterium?
The construction of the first recombinant DNA emerged from the possibility of linking a gene encoding antibiotic resistance with a native plasmid (autonomously replicating circular extra-chromosomal DNA) of Salmonella typhimurium. Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer accomplished this in 1972.
12. Which enzyme was used to join the antibiotic resistance gene with the plasmid vector during the construction of the first artificial recombinant DNA?
The linking of antibiotic resistance gene with the plasmid vector became possible with the enzyme DNA ligase, which acts on cut DNA molecules and joins their ends.
13. What are the three basic steps in genetically modifying an organism?
There are three basic steps in genetically modifying an organism — (i) identification of DNA with desirable genes; (ii) introduction of the identified DNA into the host; (iii) maintenance of introduced DNA in the host and transfer of the DNA to its progeny.
14. In the year 1963, two enzymes responsible for restricting the growth of bacteriophage in Escherichia coli were isolated. One added methyl groups to DNA, while the other cut DNA. The latter was called:
In the year 1963, the two enzymes responsible for restricting the growth of bacteriophage in Escherichia coli were isolated. One of these added methyl groups to DNA, while the other cut DNA. The later was called restriction endonuclease.
15. The first restriction endonuclease, Hind II, was characterised to always cut DNA molecules at a particular point by recognising a specific sequence of how many base pairs?
It was found that Hind II always cut DNA molecules at a particular point by recognising a specific sequence of six base pairs.
16. How are restriction enzymes typically named, such as EcoRI?
The convention for naming these enzymes is the first letter of the name comes from the genus and the second two letters come from the species of the prokaryotic cell from which they were isolated, e.g., EcoRI comes from Escherichia coli RY 13. In EcoRI, the letter ‘R’ is derived from the name of strain. Roman numbers following the names indicate the order in which the enzymes were isolated from that strain of bacteria.
17. Which statement best describes the function of restriction endonucleases?
Endonucleases make cuts at specific positions within the DNA. Each restriction endonuclease recognises a specific palindromic nucleotide sequences in the DNA. Once it finds its specific recognition sequence, it will bind to the DNA and cut each of the two strands of the double helix at specific points in their sugar-phosphate backbones.
18. What are 'sticky ends' in the context of DNA fragments cut by restriction enzymes?
Restriction enzymes cut the strand of DNA a little away from the centre of the palindrome sites, but between the same two bases on the opposite strands. This leaves single stranded portions at the ends. There are overhanging stretches called sticky ends on each strand. These are named so because they form hydrogen bonds with their complementary cut counterparts.
19. DNA fragments resulting from restriction endonuclease digestion can be separated by a technique called:
The cutting of DNA by restriction endonucleases results in the fragments of DNA. These fragments can be separated by a technique known as gel electrophoresis.
20. During gel electrophoresis, why do DNA fragments move towards the anode?
Since DNA fragments are negatively charged molecules they can be separated by forcing them to move towards the anode under an electric field through a medium/matrix.