21. Biotechnology

Question 1

Define Biotechnology.

Answer 1

The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products or any technological application that uses biological systems to derive specific goals.

Question 2

What do the ‘colors’ of biotechnology represent (Red Green White Blue)?

Answer 2

Red: Medical/Pharmaceutical; Green: Agricultural; White: Industrial; Blue: Marine/Aquatic.

Question 3

Define Gene Technology.

Answer 3

The broad field of biology that involves the manipulation of an organism’s DNA to change its characteristics.

Question 4

What is Recombinant Gene Technology?

Answer 4

The process of joining together DNA molecules from two different species and inserting them into a host organism to produce new genetic combinations.

Question 5

Define Molecular Cloning.

Answer 5

The process of making multiple copies of a specific DNA segment or gene.

Question 6

What is Cell Cloning?

Answer 6

The production of a population of cells from a single original cell through mitotic division.

Question 7

Define Organism Cloning.

Answer 7

The creation of a new multi-cellular organism that is genetically identical to another.

Question 8

Explain Reproductive Cloning.

Answer 8

The production of a genetic duplicate of an existing organism by transferring a somatic cell nucleus into an enucleated egg and implanting it into a surrogate mother.

Question 9

What is Therapeutic (Research) Cloning?

Answer 9

The production of embryonic stem cells from a cloned embryo for research or medical treatment purposes (not for creating a baby).

Question 10

Contrast Asexual and Sexual Cloning.

Answer 10

Asexual cloning (natural) involves reproduction without gametes (e.g. budding); Sexual cloning (artificial) typically involves SCNT (Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer) using components of sexual reproduction cells.

Question 11

Give an example of Natural Cloning.

Answer 11

Identical twins in humans or vegetative reproduction in plants (runners).

Question 12

Describe the significance of the Cloning of a Frog (Gurdon’s experiment).

Answer 12

It proved that a differentiated somatic cell nucleus retains all the genetic information necessary to direct the development of a whole new organism.

Question 13

What was unique about the cloning of Dolly (sheep) and Snoopy (dog)?

Answer 13

Dolly was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell; Snoopy was the first cloned dog (highly complex species to clone).

Question 14

Define Epigenetic Reprogramming in cloning.

Answer 14

The process of resetting the ‘epigenetic marks’ (like DNA methylation) of a somatic nucleus to an embryonic state so it can develop into all cell types.

Question 15

Contrast Illegitimate Recombination and Homologous Recombination.

Answer 15

Illegitimate: Random integration of DNA into the genome; Homologous: Precise integration at a specific site using sequence similarity.

Question 16

What is CRISPR-Cas9?

Answer 16

A gene-editing tool consisting of a Cas9 enzyme (the ‘scissors’) and a guide RNA (the ‘GPS’) used to cut specific DNA sequences.

Question 17

What is the role of the Cas9 protein?

Answer 17

It acts as an endonuclease that creates a double-strand break in the DNA at a location specified by the guide RNA.

Question 18

What is the function of Guide RNA (gRNA)?

Answer 18

It is a synthetic RNA sequence that binds to the target DNA sequence through base-pairing to guide the Cas9 enzyme to the correct spot.

Question 19

Define a Palindrome Sequence in DNA technology.

Answer 19

A sequence of DNA that reads the same from 5’ to 3’ on both strands; these are often recognized by restriction enzymes.

Question 20

Define Primary Cell Culture.

Answer 20

Cells taken directly from living tissue and established for growth in vitro; they have a limited lifespan.

Question 21

What are Immortalized Cell Lines?

Answer 21

Cells that have been modified to divide indefinitely (escaping senescence) usually through the expression of telomerase or viral oncogenes.

Question 22

What are Tumor Cell Lines?

Answer 22

Cell lines derived from cancer tissues that naturally possess the ability to proliferate indefinitely in culture.

Question 23

List common Gene Delivery techniques to cultured cells.

Answer 23

Chemical (Liposomes/Calcium Phosphate) Physical (Microinjection/Electroporation) and Biological (Viral vectors).

Question 24

How do Liposomes facilitate gene delivery?

Answer 24

They are lipid vesicles that encapsulate DNA and fuse with the cell membrane or are endocytosed to release the DNA into the cytoplasm.

Question 25

Define Transgene.

Answer 25

A gene that has been transferred naturally or by genetic engineering techniques from one organism to another.

Question 26

Contrast Transient Expression and Stable Expression.

Answer 26

Transient: The gene is not integrated into the host genome and is eventually lost; Stable: The gene integrates into the host genome and is passed to daughter cells.

Question 27

Define GMO (Genetically Modified Organism).

Answer 27

An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Question 28

What is a Transgenic Organism?

Answer 28

A subset of GMOs that contains DNA from a different species.

Question 29

Contrast Germ Line and Somatic Gene Delivery.

Answer 29

Germ line: DNA is delivered to reproductive cells (inherited by offspring); Somatic: DNA is delivered to body cells (not inherited).

Question 30

What is Pronuclear Microinjection?

Answer 30

A technique where DNA is injected directly into the nucleus of a fertilized egg to create transgenic animals.

Question 31

What are Knockout Animals?

Answer 31

Animals that have been genetically engineered to lack a specific gene to study that gene's function.

Question 32

Define Recombinant Protein.

Answer 32

A protein that is produced by an organism that has been transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule (e.g. human insulin in bacteria).

Question 33

What is the importance of Recombinant Insulin?

Answer 33

It provides a reliable high-purity supply of human-sequence insulin for diabetics replacing the use of bovine or porcine insulin.

Question 34

Contrast Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibodies.

Answer 34

Polyclonal: Secreted by multiple B-cell lineages (recognize multiple epitopes); Monoclonal: Secreted by a single B-cell clone (recognize one specific epitope).

Question 35

How are Antibiotics used in gene technology?

Answer 35

They serve as selection markers; only cells that have successfully taken up the plasmid containing the antibiotic-resistance gene will survive.

Question 36

What characterizes First Generation GMOs?

Answer 36

Modifications focused on producer-oriented traits like herbicide resistance or pesticide production (e.g. Bt corn).

Question 37

What characterizes Second Generation GMOs?

Answer 37

Modifications focused on consumer-oriented traits like improved nutritional quality (e.g. Golden Rice).

Question 38

What characterizes Third Generation GMOs?

Answer 38

Plants used as 'bio-factories' for industrial or pharmaceutical products (e.g. vaccines produced in plants).

Question 39

Explain the purpose of Golden Rice.

Answer 39

It is engineered to biosynthesize beta-carotene (Vitamin A precursor) to combat Vitamin A deficiency in developing nations.

Question 40

What is the goal of Transgenic Livestock?

Answer 40

To produce animals with faster growth improved meat/milk quality or to use them as 'bioreactors' for pharmaceutical proteins.

Question 41

Which 'color' of biotechnology focuses on industrial processes and biofuels? A) Red B) Green C) White D) Blue E) Yellow

Answer 41

C) White. (Explanation: White biotechnology uses enzymes and microorganisms for industrial production and environmental sustainability.)

Question 42

In the CRISPR-Cas9 system what determines the specificity of the DNA cut? A) The Cas9 enzyme B) The PAM sequence alone C) The Guide RNA (gRNA) D) The DNA polymerase E) The ligase

Answer 42

C) The Guide RNA (gRNA). (Explanation: The gRNA's 20-nucleotide sequence matches the target DNA to guide the enzyme.)

Question 43

Which cloning method was used to create Dolly the sheep? A) Therapeutic cloning B) Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) C) Molecular cloning D) Parthenogenesis E) Gene cloning

Answer 43

B) Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). (Explanation: SCNT involves transferring a somatic nucleus into an enucleated oocyte.)

Question 44

What is the primary risk of reproductive cloning related to biological consequences? A) Lack of DNA B) Excessive genetic diversity C) Epigenetic reprogramming errors D) Rapid evolution E) Immunity to all diseases

Answer 44

C) Epigenetic reprogramming errors. (Explanation: Incomplete resetting of DNA methylation can lead to Large Offspring Syndrome or premature aging.)

Question 45

What is the major difference between a Primary Cell Culture and an Immortalized Cell Line? A) Primary cells divide forever B) Immortalized cells have a Hayflick limit C) Primary cells have a finite lifespan D) Immortalized cells are always from plants E) There is no difference

Answer 45

C) Primary cells have a finite lifespan. (Explanation: Primary cells eventually undergo senescence while immortalized cells divide indefinitely.)

Question 46

A DNA sequence that reads the same in both directions (e.g. GAATTC) is called a: A) Transgene B) Palindrome C) Promoter D) Exon E) Intron

Answer 46

B) Palindrome. (Explanation: Palindromic sequences are the standard targets for Type II restriction endonucleases.)

Question 47

Which generation of GMOs is specifically designed for 'biopharming' (producing pharmaceuticals)? A) 1st Gen B) 2nd Gen C) 3rd Gen D) 4th Gen E) Natural Gen

Answer 47

C) 3rd Gen. (Explanation: 3rd generation GMOs focus on specialized industrial or medical products.)

Question 48

What does 'Transient Expression' mean in cell culture? A) The DNA is permanent B) The DNA is integrated into the chromosome C) The DNA is expressed temporarily and not inherited D) The cell dies immediately E) The cell becomes a tumor

Answer 48

C) The DNA is expressed temporarily and not inherited. (Explanation: The plasmid remains episomal and is lost during cell division.)

Question 49

Which technique is most commonly used to produce 'Knockout' mice via precise targeting? A) Liposome delivery B) Pronuclear microinjection C) Homologous recombination in ES cells D) Random integration E) Antibiotic bath

Answer 49

C) Homologous recombination in ES cells. (Explanation: Using homology allows the replacement of a functional gene with a non-functional one.)

Question 50

What is 'Golden Rice' engineered to produce? A) Pesticide B) Insulin C) Beta-carotene D) Antibiotics E) Herbicide resistance

Answer 50

C) Beta-carotene. (Explanation: It is a 2nd Gen GMO designed to address Vitamin A deficiency.)