Free Biotechnology MCQs with Answers

731 Biotechnology MCQs from Biology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Biotechnology in health care applies biological organisms, cells or enzymes to diagnose and treat disease. The subject includes recombinant DNA, genetically engineered insulin, vaccines, antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy and techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, while distinguishing therapeutic applications from agricultural and industrial biotechnology.

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731 questions · page 3 of 37

Moderate
  • A. a single essential amino acid
  • B. protein rich biomass grown from microorganisms for food and feed
  • C. a strand of DNA
  • D. an industrial enzyme

Explanation: Bacteria, yeasts and algae can be farmed on cheap substrates to yield protein far faster than crops or livestock.

Correct answer: protein rich biomass grown from microorganisms for food and feed
Moderate
  • A. bioremediation
  • B. vaccination
  • C. fermentation
  • D. electrophoresis

Explanation: Oil spills and industrial wastes can be cleaned by microbes that feed on the contaminants, a gentle alternative to chemical treatment.

Correct answer: bioremediation
  • A. cloning
  • B. hybridisation
  • C. pollination
  • D. in vitro fertilisation

Explanation: IVF brings gametes together in a dish, and the resulting embryo is then placed in the uterus.

Correct answer: in vitro fertilisation
Fairly easy
  • A. ovary
  • B. vagina
  • C. uterus
  • D. kidney

Explanation: The uterus is the organ of implantation and pregnancy, so the embryo must reach it to develop.

Correct answer: uterus
Moderate
  • A. genetic disorders of the fetus
  • B. the mother's blood pressure
  • C. the father's blood group
  • D. the colour of the fetus's eyes

Explanation: Amniocentesis collects fetal cells from the fluid for karyotyping and biochemical tests, revealing chromosome disorders before birth.

Correct answer: genetic disorders of the fetus
Moderate
  • A. grow the crop without water
  • B. spray herbicide to kill weeds without damaging the crop
  • C. skip photosynthesis
  • D. avoid all insect pests

Explanation: The crop carries a gene that withstands a broad spectrum herbicide, so spraying clears weeds while the crop survives.

Correct answer: spray herbicide to kill weeds without damaging the crop
  • A. works without binding to any receptor
  • B. contains DNA as well as protein
  • C. has exactly the human amino acid sequence and rarely causes allergic reactions
  • D. never needs injection

Explanation: Animal insulins differ slightly in sequence and can provoke immune reactions, while bacterial factories produce authentic human insulin in…

Correct answer: has exactly the human amino acid sequence and rarely causes allergic reactions
Moderate
  • A. biometry
  • B. bioenergetics
  • C. biogeography
  • D. bioinformatics

Explanation: Bioinformatics grew out of the genome projects, applying software to sequences and protein structures.

Correct answer: bioinformatics
Moderate
  • A. Random sites
  • B. Specific recognition sequences
  • C. Only ends
  • D. Only bacterial DNA

Explanation: Restriction endonucleases recognize and cut at specific palindromic DNA sequences.

Correct answer: Specific recognition sequences
Easy
  • A. Cut DNA
  • B. Amplify DNA
  • C. Sequence DNA
  • D. Translate DNA

Explanation: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifies specific DNA sequences exponentially.

Correct answer: Amplify DNA
Moderate
  • A. DNA polymerase I
  • B. Taq polymerase
  • C. RNA polymerase
  • D. Reverse transcriptase

Explanation: Taq polymerase (from Thermus aquaticus) is heat-stable and used in PCR to withstand denaturation temperatures.

Correct answer: Taq polymerase
Moderate
  • A. Sequence
  • B. Size
  • C. Charge only
  • D. GC content

Explanation: DNA fragments are separated by size (smaller fragments move faster) through an agarose gel matrix.

Correct answer: Size
Moderate
  • A. Pig pancreas
  • B. Human cadavers
  • C. Recombinant bacteria
  • D. Synthetic chemistry only

Explanation: Human insulin is produced by recombinant DNA technology using E. coli or yeast with the human insulin gene.

Correct answer: Recombinant bacteria
Moderate
  • A. Cut DNA
  • B. Join DNA fragments
  • C. Copy DNA
  • D. Separate DNA strands

Explanation: DNA ligase seals nicks in DNA by forming phosphodiester bonds, joining DNA fragments together.

Correct answer: Join DNA fragments
Hard
  • A. DNA template
  • B. RNA template
  • C. Protein template
  • D. Lipid template

Explanation: Complementary DNA (cDNA) is synthesized from mRNA using reverse transcriptase; it lacks introns.

Correct answer: RNA template
Very hard
  • A. Multipotent
  • B. Pluripotent
  • C. Unipotent
  • D. Differentiated

Explanation: Pluripotent stem cells (e.g., embryonic stem cells) can differentiate into any of the three germ layers.

Correct answer: Pluripotent
  • A. Integrated disease management
  • B. Hydroponic culture technique
  • C. Pasteurization
  • D. Bioremediation

Explanation: Bioremediation uses living organisms, especially microorganisms or plants, to break down, remove, or detoxify environmental pollutants.

Correct answer: Bioremediation
  • A. Louis Pasture
  • B. Edward Jenner
  • C. Jaber Ibn Hayan
  • D. Aristotle

Explanation: Edward Jenner developed the first successful vaccine by using cowpox material to provide protection against smallpox.

Correct answer: Edward Jenner
  • A. It is used to preserve yogurt and milk
  • B. It was developed by Louis Pasteur.
  • C. It involves heating the substance at high temperature for just few sec.
  • D. It can be used to preserve vegetables and meat.

Explanation: Pasteurization is mainly used for liquids such as milk and fruit juice, using controlled heating to destroy harmful microorganisms without…

Correct answer: It can be used to preserve vegetables and meat.
  • A. Tissue culture techniques
  • B. Cloning
  • C. Pasterisation
  • D. Hydroponic culture technique

Explanation: Hydroponic culture grows plants without soil by supplying water, mineral nutrients and suitable environmental conditions directly to the…

Correct answer: Hydroponic culture technique