201. A transgenic animal engineered to show an exaggerated response to a harmful industrial compound would be most useful in
ⓐ. bioremediation
ⓑ. vaccine preparation
ⓒ. chemical toxicity evaluation
ⓓ. somatic hybridisation
Correct Answer: chemical toxicity evaluation
Explanation: When an animal is made highly responsive to a toxic compound, it becomes a strong model for chemical safety testing. Researchers can then study harmful effects more efficiently and assess the risks of the substance. This application is directly related to toxicity evaluation.
202. Which statement best compares vaccine safety testing and chemical safety testing in transgenic animals?
ⓐ. Vaccine safety testing examines biological response to vaccines, whereas chemical safety testing examines harmful effects of toxic substances.
ⓑ. Vaccine safety testing uses plant cells, whereas chemical safety testing uses only fungi.
ⓒ. Vaccine safety testing is done only with Rosie, whereas chemical safety testing is done only with mice.
ⓓ. Vaccine safety testing measures milk proteins, whereas chemical safety testing measures crop yield.
Correct Answer: Vaccine safety testing examines biological response to vaccines, whereas chemical safety testing examines harmful effects of toxic substances.
Explanation: These two uses involve different types of test material and different goals. Vaccine safety testing focuses on whether a vaccine is safe before human use, while chemical safety testing focuses on detecting toxic effects of chemical substances. Both rely on the value of transgenic animals as biological models, but the purpose of testing is distinct. The comparison helps separate two nearby but different applications.
203. Why is regulation considered necessary in activities involving genetic manipulation of living organisms?
ⓐ. Because genetic manipulation always produces identical species
ⓑ. Because it removes all uncertainty from biological systems
ⓒ. Because manipulated organisms can never survive outside laboratories
ⓓ. Because it can help in some cases and harm in others
Correct Answer: Because it can help in some cases and harm in others
Explanation: Genetic manipulation can produce valuable outcomes, but it can also create risks that are not immediately obvious. Once altered organisms interact with natural systems, their effects may extend beyond the intended purpose, so regulation is necessary.
204. Which statement best explains the ethical concern associated with releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment?
ⓐ. Their effects on ecosystems may be difficult to predict fully.
ⓑ. They always become dominant over all natural species.
ⓒ. They can grow only in completely artificial nutrient media.
ⓓ. They immediately lose all introduced genes after release.
Correct Answer: Their effects on ecosystems may be difficult to predict fully.
Explanation: Ecosystems are complex, and a new genetically modified organism may interact with them in unexpected ways. The concern is not that every GMO will certainly cause harm, but that some effects may be difficult to foresee in advance. This uncertainty makes careful assessment important before introduction into open environments. Ethical and regulatory review therefore become necessary safeguards.
205. Ethical standards in biotechnology are mainly needed to
ⓐ. stop all biological research involving cells
ⓑ. replace scientific testing with public opinion
ⓒ. ensure that every experiment gives identical results
ⓓ. judge whether work involving living organisms is beneficial or harmful
Correct Answer: judge whether work involving living organisms is beneficial or harmful
Explanation: Ethical standards provide a framework for judging actions, not just their technical success. In biotechnology, something may be scientifically possible yet still require careful moral and social evaluation.
206. Which of the following is the most appropriate biosafety concern related to genetic modification?
ⓐ. GM organisms cannot be observed under a microscope.
ⓑ. A modified organism may produce unintended ecological effects.
ⓒ. Genetic modification always decreases biological diversity instantly.
ⓓ. GM organisms are unable to reproduce after release.
Correct Answer: A modified organism may produce unintended ecological effects.
Explanation: Biosafety concerns focus on what may happen when genetically modified organisms interact with living systems and the environment. One important issue is the possibility of unintended ecological consequences, such as unexpected interactions with other organisms. This concern does not assume automatic disaster, but it does justify careful review. The risk comes from uncertainty in biological behavior outside controlled settings.
207. Which body is responsible for taking decisions about the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services?
ⓐ. PCR
ⓑ. ELISA
ⓒ. GEAC
ⓓ. ADA
Correct Answer: GEAC
Explanation: GEAC is the regulatory body associated with decision-making on genetically modified research and its safe public use. Its role includes examining whether GM work is valid and whether introduction of GM organisms is appropriate from a safety perspective. It is therefore a governance body rather than a laboratory technique. The other options are tools or biological terms, not regulatory authorities.
208. The primary function of GEAC is to
ⓐ. detect gene mutations in suspected patients
ⓑ. produce recombinant insulin for therapy
ⓒ. remove toxins from contaminated soil
ⓓ. evaluate GM research and biosafety before public introduction
Correct Answer: evaluate GM research and biosafety before public introduction
Explanation: GEAC is concerned with oversight and approval, especially where genetically modified organisms may affect society or the environment. It examines both the validity of GM-related work and the safety of using such organisms in public services. This role is regulatory rather than experimental. It exists to support responsible decision-making in biotechnology.
209. Which statement correctly distinguishes GEAC from PCR and ELISA?
ⓐ. GEAC is a therapeutic product, whereas PCR and ELISA are diseases.
ⓑ. GEAC is a regulatory authority, whereas PCR and ELISA are diagnostic techniques.
ⓒ. GEAC is used for tissue culture, whereas PCR and ELISA are used for pollination.
ⓓ. GEAC is a toxin gene, whereas PCR and ELISA are plant hormones.
Correct Answer: GEAC is a regulatory authority, whereas PCR and ELISA are diagnostic techniques.
Explanation: GEAC belongs to the area of biosafety regulation and approval, not laboratory diagnosis. PCR and ELISA are methods used to detect nucleic acids or antigen-antibody reactions, respectively. The distinction is important because it separates governance from experimental technique. Confusing them mixes up institutional oversight with molecular tools.
210. A new genetically modified crop is proposed for public agricultural use. Which type of body would assess whether its introduction is safe and valid?
ⓐ. A tissue culture unit
ⓑ. A retroviral vector unit
ⓒ. A body such as GEAC
ⓓ. A meristem culture unit
Correct Answer: A body such as GEAC
Explanation: When a genetically modified organism is proposed for public use, technical development alone is not enough. A regulatory authority such as GEAC must examine whether its introduction is valid and safe.
211. Which statement about GEAC is incorrect?
ⓐ. It is linked with decisions about GM research.
ⓑ. It has a role in biosafety-related evaluation.
ⓒ. It is concerned with introduction of GM organisms for public services.
ⓓ. It is a molecular test based on antigen-antibody interaction.
Correct Answer: It is a molecular test based on antigen-antibody interaction.
Explanation: Antigen-antibody interaction describes ELISA, not GEAC. GEAC is a regulatory and approval body concerned with decisions related to genetically modified research and public safety. Its work belongs to governance and biosafety assessment.
212. Which statement best summarizes the need for ethical oversight in biotechnology?
ⓐ. Scientific power to alter organisms must be matched by safety and ethical judgment.
ⓑ. Ethical oversight is needed only when experiments fail completely.
ⓒ. Ethical oversight matters only for medical biotechnology and not for agriculture.
ⓓ. Once a gene is inserted successfully, no further evaluation is necessary.
Correct Answer: Scientific power to alter organisms must be matched by safety and ethical judgment.
Explanation: Biotechnology gives humans powerful ways to alter living systems, but technical success does not automatically guarantee responsible use. Ethical oversight helps examine safety, public impact, and possible ecological consequences.
213. A patent claim becomes controversial in biotechnology when it is made on
ⓐ. a newly discovered mineral salt used in tissue culture
ⓑ. a completely unknown synthetic polymer with no biological use
ⓒ. a biological resource or product long used in traditional practice
ⓓ. a laboratory instrument used for DNA amplification
Correct Answer: a biological resource or product long used in traditional practice
Explanation: Patent-related controversy often arises when a product or process already known in traditional communities is claimed as a novel invention. In such cases, the issue is not just legal ownership but also fairness and recognition of prior knowledge. Biological resources used for food or medicine are especially sensitive in this context.
214. Which statement best explains the concern behind biopatent disputes involving traditional knowledge?
ⓐ. A long-used community resource may be wrongly treated as a new private invention.
ⓑ. Traditional knowledge cannot be linked with any useful biological product.
ⓒ. Patent law applies only to machines and not to biological materials.
ⓓ. Every patent on a plant automatically becomes invalid after one year.
Correct Answer: A long-used community resource may be wrongly treated as a new private invention.
Explanation: Traditional knowledge often exists in communities long before any formal documentation or patent application. When such knowledge is claimed as if it were newly invented, conflict arises over originality and ownership. The problem is therefore deeply tied to justice and proper recognition.
215. Basmati became part of a biotechnology-related controversy mainly because of a dispute over
ⓐ. vaccine safety testing in rice plants
ⓑ. production of recombinant proteins in cereal grains
ⓒ. use of meristem culture to obtain virus-free plants
ⓓ. patent claims connected with a rice type developed from farmer-associated material
Correct Answer: patent claims connected with a rice type developed from farmer-associated material
Explanation: The Basmati dispute centered on a patent claim involving a rice line associated with a long history of cultivation and farmer selection. The issue was whether such material could be treated as a novel private claim.
216. Which year is associated with the American patent claim linked with the Basmati controversy?
ⓐ. 1983
ⓑ. 1997
ⓒ. 1990
ⓓ. 2001
Correct Answer: 1997
Explanation: The Basmati patent controversy is commonly associated with the year 1997. That date is remembered because it marks the patent claim that triggered strong concern about novelty, ownership, and use of farmer-derived biological resources. The issue gained attention far beyond a single crop. It became an example of larger ethical and legal problems in biotechnology.
217. Which statement about Basmati is correct?
ⓐ. It is discussed mainly as a transgenic cereal made for pest resistance.
ⓑ. It is cited as a bacterial product used in medical therapy.
ⓒ. It is valued for its distinct aroma and flavour.
ⓓ. It is a standard example of vaccine production in plants.
Correct Answer: It is valued for its distinct aroma and flavour.
Explanation: Basmati rice is valued for its characteristic aroma and flavour. Those qualities are part of what made the patent dispute especially sensitive.
218. The number of documented Basmati varieties referred to in this context is
ⓐ. 27
ⓑ. 12
ⓒ. 30
ⓓ. 95
Correct Answer: 27
Explanation: The number 27 is used to indicate the documented diversity of Basmati varieties. This detail supports the idea that Basmati has a long agricultural history and is not a single newly invented product. It strengthens the argument against casual novelty claims. The figure is therefore important in understanding the dispute.
219. Which pair is commonly cited as examples of traditional biological knowledge involved in patent controversies?
ⓐ. Insulin and ADA
ⓑ. Bt cotton and pomato
ⓒ. PCR and ELISA
ⓓ. Turmeric and neem
Correct Answer: Turmeric and neem
Explanation: Turmeric and neem are classic examples used in discussions about patent claims over traditional knowledge. Both have long histories of use in local medicinal or practical contexts. Their mention highlights how biological resources known to communities may become subjects of controversial ownership claims. These examples are therefore strongly linked with biopatent debates.
220. Biopiracy is best defined as
ⓐ. transfer of genes from one species to another in a laboratory
ⓑ. use of bioresources without proper authorisation and without compensatory payment
ⓒ. rapid multiplication of plants through tissue culture
ⓓ. patenting any newly synthesized chemical compound
Correct Answer: use of bioresources without proper authorisation and without compensatory payment
Explanation: Biopiracy means exploiting biological resources or associated knowledge without proper permission and without fair compensation. The idea is closely tied to questions of ownership, justice, and benefit sharing.
