Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering MCQs 2026

Restriction enzymes used in genetic engineering function by

1. ACutting DNA at specific recognition sequences✓
2. BJoining DNA fragments together✓
3. CSynthesizing new DNA strands✓
4. DUnwinding the DNA double helix✓

The enzyme used to join (seal) DNA fragments together during recombinant DNA technology is

1. ADNA polymerase✓
2. BRestriction endonuclease✓
3. CReverse transcriptase✓
4. DDNA ligase✓

Plasmids, commonly used as vectors in genetic engineering, are best described as

1. ALinear chromosomal DNA found in the nucleus✓
2. BSmall circular extra-chromosomal DNA found in bacteria✓
3. CRNA molecules found in viruses✓
4. DProtein complexes that replicate DNA✓

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), used to amplify DNA, was developed by

1. AJames Watson✓
2. BFrancis Crick✓
3. CKary Mullis✓
4. DFrederick Sanger✓

Which technique separates DNA fragments based on their size using an electric field

1. ASouthern blotting✓
2. BPCR✓
3. CGel electrophoresis✓
4. DDNA sequencing✓

Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, was created by

1. AJames Watson✓
2. BKary Mullis✓
3. CAlec Jeffreys✓
4. DIan Wilmut✓

The Human Genome Project was primarily aimed at

1. AMapping and sequencing all genes in human DNA✓
2. BCloning the first human being✓
3. CProducing genetically modified crops✓
4. DDeveloping monoclonal antibodies✓

Bt cotton is genetically modified to express a toxin gene derived from

1. AEscherichia coli✓
2. BAgrobacterium tumefaciens✓
3. CSaccharomyces cerevisiae✓
4. DBacillus thuringiensis✓

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology allows scientists to

1. AOnly read DNA sequences without altering them✓
2. BAmplify DNA fragments exponentially✓
3. CSeparate DNA fragments by size✓
4. DPrecisely cut and edit specific DNA sequences✓

The CRISPR-Cas9 system was adapted for gene editing based on a natural defense mechanism found in

1. AHuman white blood cells✓
2. BPlant cells✓
3. CBacteria (against bacteriophages)✓
4. DFungal spores✓

Stem cells that can differentiate into any cell type of the body, including extra-embryonic tissue, are called

1. ATotipotent✓
2. BPluripotent✓
3. CMultipotent✓
4. DUnipotent✓

Stem cells that can give rise to almost all cell types but not extra-embryonic tissue are called

1. ATotipotent✓
2. BMultipotent✓
3. CUnipotent✓
4. DPluripotent✓

Human insulin produced through recombinant DNA technology is typically manufactured using genetically engineered

1. AYeast cells only✓
2. BEscherichia coli bacteria✓
3. CHuman liver cells✓
4. DMouse embryonic cells✓

Monoclonal antibodies, identical antibodies derived from a single clone of cells, are produced using

1. APCR amplification✓
2. BGel electrophoresis✓
3. CCRISPR gene editing✓
4. DHybridoma technology✓

DNA fingerprinting, used in forensic and paternity testing, was pioneered by

1. AJames Watson✓
2. BKary Mullis✓
3. CIan Wilmut✓
4. DAlec Jeffreys✓

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely used in plant genetic engineering because of its natural ability to

1. AFix atmospheric nitrogen✓
2. BTransfer its Ti plasmid DNA into plant cells✓
3. CProduce antibiotics✓
4. DCause viral infections in plants✓

Golden rice is a genetically modified crop engineered to produce higher levels of

1. ABeta-carotene (provitamin A)✓
2. BVitamin C✓
3. CIron✓
4. DProtein✓

Gene therapy is a biotechnological approach that aims to

1. ATreat or prevent disease by correcting or replacing defective genes✓
2. BProduce transgenic animals only✓
3. CClone entire organisms✓
4. DSequence an organism's complete genome✓

In Southern blotting, the technique is specifically used to detect specific sequences of

1. AProteins✓
2. BDNA✓
3. CRNA only✓
4. DCarbohydrates✓

The Sanger method, a classical technique for determining the nucleotide sequence of DNA, relies on

1. ARestriction enzyme digestion patterns only✓
2. BAmplification using thermostable polymerase✓
3. CChain-termination using dideoxynucleotides✓
4. DHybridization with radioactive probes only✓

Which term describes an organism that carries a gene artificially inserted from another species

1. AHybrid organism✓
2. BMutant organism✓
3. CClone✓
4. DTransgenic organism✓

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which

1. ARNA is converted into DNA✓
2. BmRNA is translated into protein at a faster rate✓
3. CSmall RNA molecules silence gene expression✓
4. DRNA polymerase synthesizes new RNA strands✓

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) is primarily used in biotechnology to

1. ADetect and quantify specific antigens or antibodies✓
2. BAmplify DNA fragments✓
3. CSequence protein structures✓
4. DCut DNA at specific sites✓

Bioremediation refers to the use of living organisms, especially microbes, to

1. AProduce genetically modified crops✓
2. BManufacture monoclonal antibodies✓
3. CClone endangered species✓
4. DClean up and detoxify polluted environments✓

Tissue culture technique in plant biotechnology relies on the property of plant cells called

1. ATotipotency✓
2. BApoptosis✓
3. CMeiosis✓
4. DOsmosis✓

A gene knockout experiment refers to

1. AInserting multiple copies of a gene into an organism✓
2. BDoubling the chromosome number of an organism✓
3. CInactivating or disabling a specific gene to study its function✓
4. DAmplifying a gene using PCR✓

Which of the following best describes the primary ethical concern surrounding human cloning

1. AHigh cost of the cloning procedure✓
2. BDifficulty in sourcing donor cells✓
3. CQuestions of identity, consent, and potential misuse✓
4. DLong duration of the cloning process✓

The first genetically engineered pharmaceutical product approved for human use was recombinant

1. AGrowth hormone✓
2. BInterferon✓
3. CHuman insulin✓
4. DErythropoietin✓

Restriction enzymes are naturally produced by bacteria primarily to

1. ADefend against invading bacteriophage DNA✓
2. BAssist in bacterial conjugation✓
3. CRepair damaged DNA✓
4. DRegulate the bacterial cell cycle✓

In genetic engineering, a vector refers to a DNA molecule used to

1. ACarry a foreign gene into a host cell✓
2. BCut DNA at specific sequences✓
3. CAmplify RNA into cDNA✓
4. DStain DNA fragments for visualization✓

Which biotechnology technique allows exponential amplification of a specific DNA segment in vitro without using living cells

1. AGel electrophoresis✓
2. BPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)✓
3. CSouthern blotting✓
4. DHybridoma technology✓

Reverse transcriptase, an enzyme used to synthesize cDNA from mRNA in genetic engineering, is naturally found in

1. ABacteriophages✓
2. BRetroviruses✓
3. CPlasmids✓
4. DFungal cells✓

Which of the following is an example of a first-generation (input trait) genetically modified crop

1. AGolden rice✓
2. BBt cotton (pest resistance)✓
3. CVitamin-fortified banana✓
4. DDrought-tolerant biofortified wheat✓

The Nobel Prize for developing the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tool was awarded to

1. AJennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier✓
2. BJames Watson and Francis Crick✓
3. CKary Mullis and Frederick Sanger✓
4. DIan Wilmut and Alec Jeffreys✓

A transgenic animal engineered to produce a therapeutic human protein in its milk is an example of

1. ABiopharming (molecular farming)✓
2. BGene knockout technology✓
3. CTissue culture✓
4. DBioremediation✓

Which of the following best defines biotechnology

1. AThe use of living organisms or their products to develop useful products/processes✓
2. BThe study of fossils and ancient life forms✓
3. CThe classification of organisms into taxonomic groups✓
4. DThe study of ecosystems and their interactions✓

In recombinant DNA technology, the desired gene and the vector must be cut with the same

1. ADNA polymerase✓
2. BDNA ligase✓
3. CRestriction enzyme✓
4. DReverse transcriptase✓

Which of the following is a widely used selectable marker gene in plant genetic engineering to identify transformed cells

1. AA gene for flower color only✓
2. BA gene causing cell death✓
3. CAn antibiotic resistance gene✓
4. DA gene for chlorophyll production only✓

Which of the following statements about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) is correct

1. AAll GMOs are produced solely through traditional selective breeding✓
2. BGMOs cannot carry genes from a different species✓
3. CGMO crops cannot be regulated by any government agency✓
4. DGMOs contain genetic material altered using genetic engineering techniques✓

Which vector is commonly used to introduce foreign genes specifically into animal cells, including in gene therapy

1. ATi plasmid✓
2. BBacterial plasmid only✓
3. CCosmid✓
4. DModified virus (viral vector)✓

Which of the following best explains why bacteria are commonly chosen as hosts in recombinant DNA technology

1. AThey have a nucleus that protects foreign DNA✓
2. BThey cannot reproduce quickly✓
3. CThey reproduce rapidly and are easy to genetically manipulate✓
4. DThey naturally produce human hormones✓

Northern blotting, similar to Southern blotting, is used specifically to detect and analyze

1. ADNA fragments✓
2. BRNA molecules✓
3. CProtein fragments✓
4. DLipid molecules✓

The main goal of pharmacogenomics, a branch of biotechnology, is to

1. AClone entire human organs✓
2. BTailor drug therapy based on an individual's genetic makeup✓
3. CProduce genetically modified crops✓
4. DSequence bacterial genomes only✓

A genetic marker used in biotechnology research refers to

1. AA physical tag attached to a chromosome during mitosis✓
2. BAn enzyme that repairs mutated DNA✓
3. CA hormone that regulates gene expression✓
4. DA known DNA sequence used to identify a gene, individual, or trait✓

In vitro fertilization (IVF) combined with genetic screening of embryos before implantation is known as

1. ASomatic cell nuclear transfer✓
2. BGene knockout screening✓
3. CSouthern blotting✓
4. DPreimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)✓

Which of the following best describes induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

1. AStem cells extracted directly from a human embryo✓
2. BAdult somatic cells reprogrammed to an embryonic stem-cell-like state✓
3. CStem cells found only in umbilical cord blood✓
4. DCancerous cells with unlimited totipotency✓

Biosafety regulations for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) primarily aim to assess risks to

1. AOnly the profitability of biotech companies✓
2. BThe speed of crop growth✓
3. CHuman health and the environment✓
4. DThe taste of the modified food product✓

Which of the following crops was one of the first commercially grown genetically modified food crops

1. AWheat✓
2. BSoybean (herbicide-tolerant)✓
3. CBarley✓
4. DSugarcane✓

The technique of amplifying and copying a gene of interest by inserting it into a bacterial plasmid host is called

1. AGene knockout✓
2. BGene cloning✓
3. CGene therapy✓
4. DGene silencing✓

Somatic cell nuclear transfer, the technique used to create Dolly the sheep, involves

1. AFusing two sperm cells together✓
2. BInjecting a virus into an egg cell✓
3. CTransferring the nucleus of a body cell into an enucleated egg cell✓
4. DMixing DNA from two different species randomly✓