Transgenic mice are being developed to potentially replace the use of which animal for testing the safety of polio vaccines?

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• Rabbits
• Monkeys
• Pigs
• Rats
Correct Option: B  [ Monkeys ]

Remark: Transgenic mice are being used to test the safety of the polio vaccine, and if successful and reliable, they could replace the use of monkeys for testing vaccine batches.

In chemical safety testing using transgenic animals, how are the animals genetically altered to allow rapid results?

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• They are made resistant to the toxic substances.
• They are made to carry genes that make them more sensitive to toxic substances.
• They are altered to produce neutralizing enzymes.
• They are altered to excrete toxins faster.
Correct Option: B  [ They are made to carry genes that make them more sensitive to toxic substances. ]

Remark: For chemical safety testing (toxicity/safety testing), transgenic animals are made that carry genes which make them more sensitive to toxic substances than non-transgenic animals. This allows results to be obtained in less time.

In India, the organization set up by the government to make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services is:

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• DBT (Department of Biotechnology)
• ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)
• GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee)
• CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Correct Option: C  [ GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee) ]

Remark: The Indian Government has set up organizations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which makes decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM-organisms for public services.

The term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organizations without proper authorization from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment is:

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• Bio-ethics violation
• Biopiracy
• Bioexploitation
• Patent infringement
Correct Option: B  [ Biopiracy ]

Remark: Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.

How many documented varieties of Basmati rice are specifically mentioned as being grown in India?

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• 2
• 27
• 200
• 200,000
Correct Option: B  [ 27 ]

Remark: Basmati rice is distinct for its unique aroma and flavour, and 27 documented varieties of Basmati are grown in India.

In 1997, which US office granted patent rights on Basmati rice to an American company, despite the variety being derived from Indian farmer’s varieties?

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• US Food and Drug Administration
• US Patent and Trademark Office
• US Department of Commerce
• US Department of Agriculture
Correct Option: B  [ US Patent and Trademark Office ]

Remark: In 1997, an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice through the US Patent and Trademark Office, claiming a "new" variety that had been derived from Indian farmer’s varieties.

Regarding bio-resources, the sources note that developing and underdeveloped countries are typically rich in:

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• Financial resources and technology
• Biodiversity and traditional knowledge
• Industrial scale production facilities
• Conventional breeding systems
Correct Option: B  [ Biodiversity and traditional knowledge ]

Remark: The developing and the underdeveloped world is rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge related to bio-resources, contrasting with industrialised nations which are financially rich but poor in these areas.

Which amendment of the Indian Patents Bill did the Indian Parliament recently clear to take issues of biopiracy and unauthorized exploitation into consideration?

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• First amendment
• Second amendment
• Third amendment
• Fourth amendment
Correct Option: B  [ Second amendment ]

Remark: The Indian Parliament has recently cleared the second amendment of the Indian Patents Bill, that takes issues of patent terms, emergency provisions, and research and development initiatives into consideration.

Why do conventional methods of diagnosis, such as serum and urine analysis, often fail to provide effective treatment?

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• They are too expensive for widespread use.
• They require complex molecular techniques.
• They often fail to provide early detection.
• They only detect proteins, not nucleic acids.
Correct Option: C  [ They often fail to provide early detection. ]

Remark: Using conventional methods of diagnosis (serum and urine analysis, etc.) early detection is not possible, which hinders effective treatment.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a powerful diagnostic technique because it can detect pathogens when their concentration is:

[Biotechnology-and-its-Applications] [class-xii ]

• Very high, after the symptoms have fully developed.
• Very low, even when the symptoms of the disease are not yet visible.
• High only in localized regions, not systemically.
• Only present in the patient’s antibodies.
Correct Option: B  [ Very low, even when the symptoms of the disease are not yet visible. ]

Remark: Very low concentrations of a bacteria or virus can be detected by amplification of their nucleic acid by PCR, even when disease symptoms are not yet visible.