What term is used for the naked plant cells (surrounded only by plasma membranes) obtained after digesting their cell walls?

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

• Somaclones
• Explant
• Protoplasts
• Meristems
Correct Option: C  [ Protoplasts ]

Remark: Scientists have isolated single cells from plants and, after digesting their cell walls, have been able to isolate naked protoplasts (surrounded by plasma membranes).

Which type of transgenic animals are most common, accounting for over 95 per cent of all existing transgenic animals?

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

• Rabbits
• Pigs
• Mice
• Cows
Correct Option: C  [ Mice ]

Remark: While transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows and fish have been produced, over 95 per cent of all existing transgenic animals are mice.

Transgenic animals are created to serve as models for human diseases. For which neurological disease does an existing transgenic model help increase understanding?

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

• Diabetes
• Emphysema
• Polio
• Alzheimer’s
Correct Option: D  [ Alzheimer’s ]

Remark: Transgenic models exist for many human diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s.

What benefit is provided by the human alpha-lactalbumin contained in the milk of the transgenic cow Rosie?

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

• It acts as an antibiotic.
• It makes the milk nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies.
• It provides immunity against common viruses.
• It prolongs the shelf life of the milk.
Correct Option: B  [ It makes the milk nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies. ]

Remark: The milk produced by Rosie contained the human alpha-lactalbumin and was nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies than natural cow-milk.

In chemical safety testing using transgenic animals, the goal is to obtain results in less time. This is achieved by making the animals:

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

• Highly resistant to toxic substances.
• More sensitive to toxic substances.
• Capabable of rapid excretion of toxins.
• Non-reactive to placebo compounds.
Correct Option: B  [ More sensitive to toxic substances. ]

Remark: Transgenic animals are made to carry genes which make them more sensitive to toxic substances than non-transgenic animals, allowing for results in less time.

The Indian Parliament recently cleared the second amendment of the Indian Patents Bill primarily to address issues related to:

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

• The cost of recombinant therapeutics.
• Biopiracy and unauthorized exploitation of traditional knowledge.
• Funding for basic biotechnology research.
• Regulation of animal husbandry.
Correct Option: B  [ Biopiracy and unauthorized exploitation of traditional knowledge. ]

Remark: The Indian Parliament cleared the second amendment of the Indian Patents Bill to take issues of patent terms, emergency provisions, research and development initiatives, and unauthorized exploitation of bio-resources into consideration.

Which of the following conditions might lead to the initiation of RNA interference (RNAi) through the source of complementary RNA?

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

• Infection by viruses having RNA genomes.
• Fusion of naked protoplasts.
• High concentration of chemical pesticides.
• Development of Bt toxin crystals.
Correct Option: A  [ Infection by viruses having RNA genomes. ]

Remark: The source of the complementary dsRNA that initiates RNAi could be from an infection by viruses having RNA genomes or mobile genetic elements (transposons) that replicate via an RNA intermediate.

In the context of the nematode Meloidegyne incognitia infestation, the dsRNA in the host plant acts to silence the parasite's specific:

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

• DNA genome.
• tRNA.
• mRNA.
• rRNA.
Correct Option: C  [ mRNA. ]

Remark: RNAi involves the silencing of a specific mRNA due to a complementary dsRNA molecule that binds to and prevents translation of the mRNA (silencing). This was used against the nematode Meloidegyne incognitia.

What advantage do genetically modified crops provide concerning mineral usage?

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

• They allow faster uptake of all minerals.
• They decrease the overall mineral requirement.
• They increase the efficiency of mineral usage, preventing early exhaustion of soil fertility.
• They allow the plant to utilize atmospheric nitrogen directly.
Correct Option: C  [ They increase the efficiency of mineral usage, preventing early exhaustion of soil fertility. ]

Remark: Genetic modification has increased the efficiency of mineral usage by plants, which prevents the early exhaustion of the fertility of the soil.

The term "Biopiracy" refers to the unauthorized use of bio-resources without which two conditions being met?

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

• Government funding and compensatory payment.
• Proper authorization and compensatory payment.
• Scientific peer review and government approval.
• Chemical analysis and industrial application.
Correct Option: B  [ Proper authorization and compensatory payment. ]

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