Biotechnology and Its Applications NEET PYQReal NEET & AIPMT 2005–2021 questions, year-tagged, with solutions
By the RankUp team, founded by Dr. Deepak Sahu (MBBS Gold Medalist, NEET PG AIR 1731) · Updated
Every Biotechnology and Its Applications question from the NEET & AIPMT papers on this site (2005–2021), newest first. Each is tagged with its paper. Tap an option to check your answer and read the explanation.
- Chapter
- NCERT Class 12
- PYQs here
- 49
- Papers
- NEET & AIPMT 2005–2021
- In the app
- 599+ questions
Biotechnology and Its Applications previous year questions
49 questions. Tap an option to check your answer.
Q1NEET 2021
Which of the following is not an application of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) ?
Not quite — the answer is C.
PCR amplifies nucleic acid sequences, which is used in molecular diagnosis, gene amplification and detecting gene mutations. It does not act on proteins, so it cannot purify an isolated protein.
Q2NEET 2021
When gene targetting involving gene amplification is attempted in an individual's tissue to treat disease, it is known as :
Not quite — the answer is B.
Introducing or targeting genes in a person's cells or tissues to correct a genetic defect and treat disease is gene therapy. Molecular diagnosis only detects a disease, and biopiracy is the unauthorised use of bio-resources.
Q3NEET 2021
With regard to insulin choose correct options. (a) C-peptide is not present in mature insulin. (b) The insulin produced by rDNA technology has C-peptide. (c) The pro-insulin has C-peptide. (d) A-peptide and B-peptide of insulin are interconnected by disulphide bridges. Choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Not quite — the answer is C.
Pro-insulin carries an extra C-peptide that is removed to give mature insulin, whose A and B chains are joined by disulphide bridges. Eli Lilly's rDNA insulin was made by producing the A and B chains separately and joining them, so it has no C-peptide; hence (a), (c) and (d).
Q4NEET 2021
The Adenosine deaminase deficiency results into :
Not quite — the answer is A.
Adenosine deaminase is needed for the immune system to work, and its deficiency causes severe combined immunodeficiency; it was the first disease treated by gene therapy. Parkinson's and Addison's diseases have no link with this enzyme.
Q5NEET 2020 · Q35
Which of the following statements is not correct?
Not quite — the answer is C.
In mature insulin the A and B polypeptide chains are joined by disulphide bridges, not by hydrogen bonds. Insulin is indeed made as proinsulin with an extra C-peptide that is removed, and Eli Lilly made human insulin chains in E. coli in 1983.
Q6NEET 2020 · Q43
Bt cotton variety that was developed by the introduction of toxin gene of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is resistant to:
Not quite — the answer is A.
The cry genes of Bacillus thuringiensis code for crystal proteins that kill insect larvae such as cotton bollworms, so Bt cotton resists insect pests. It gives no protection against fungi, and nematode resistance is made by RNA interference, not by Bt toxin.
Q7NEET 2020 · Q55
Match the following columns and select the correct option. Column - I | Column - II (a) Bt cotton | (i) Gene therapy (b) Adenosine deaminase deficiency | (ii) Cellular defence (c) RNAi | (iii) Detection of HIV infection (d) PCR | (iv) Bacillus thuringiensis
Not quite — the answer is A.
Bt cotton carries genes from Bacillus thuringiensis, ADA deficiency was the first disease treated by gene therapy, RNA interference is a natural cellular defence against viruses and is used against nematodes, and PCR detects HIV in suspected AIDS patients. Hence Bacillus thuringiensis, gene therapy, cellular defence, HIV detection is correct.
Q8NEET 2019 · Q152
Which of the following is true for Golden rice ?
Not quite — the answer is A.
Golden rice is a transgenic rice enriched in β-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A; the original version carried a phytoene synthase gene from daffodil. Pest resistance with a Bt gene describes Bt crops, not golden rice.
Q9NEET 2019 · Q174
What triggers activation of protoxin to active Bt toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis in boll worm ?
Not quite — the answer is C.
The inactive Bt protoxin crystals are solubilised and activated by the alkaline pH of the insect gut, after which the toxin binds midgut cells and creates pores. An acidic pH does not activate it, which is why it is harmless in the acidic human stomach.
Q10NEET 2018 · Q98
Which of the following is commonly used as a vector for introducing a DNA fragment in human lymphocytes?
Not quite — the answer is C.
In gene therapy (for example ADA deficiency), a functional gene is put into a patient's lymphocytes using a disarmed retroviral vector, because retroviruses integrate their DNA into the host genome. λ phage and pBR322 are vectors for bacteria and the Ti plasmid is used for plants.
Q11NEET 2018 · Q99
Use of bioresources by multinational companies and organisations without authorisation from the concerned country and its people is called
Not quite — the answer is B.
Biopiracy is the use of a country's bioresources and traditional knowledge by multinational companies without proper authorisation or compensation to the country and its people. Biodegradation is breakdown of matter by microbes, and the other two terms are not the standard name for this practice.
Q12NEET 2018 · Q100
In India, the organisation responsible for assessing the safety of introducing genetically modified organisms for public use is
Not quite — the answer is D.
The Indian Government set up GEAC to decide on the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM organisms for public services. RCGM oversees research-level work, while CSIR and ICMR are general research councils.
Q13NEET 2018 · Q103
A 'new' variety of rice was patented by a foreign company, though such varieties have been present in India for a long time. This is related to
Not quite — the answer is D.
In 1997 an American company obtained a patent on a Basmati-derived rice, although Basmati varieties have been grown in India for centuries; NCERT cites it as an example of biopiracy. Lerma Rojo and Sharbati Sonora are wheat varieties and Co-667 is a sugarcane variety.
Q14NEET 2017 (Gujarati paper) · Q51
Which of the following is not true for callus culture?
Not quite — the answer is C.
Callus is an undifferentiated mass of parenchyma that grows only by repeated mitosis; meiosis does not occur in callus culture. Somaclonal variation does arise in callus and callus can be used to regenerate many plantlets, so those statements are true.
Q15NEET 2017 (Gujarati paper) · Q93
Which technique helps to identify a bacterial or viral pathogen in a human body even when its concentration is very low and clinical symptoms are not yet visible?
Not quite — the answer is C.
PCR amplifies the pathogen's nucleic acid many times, so a bacterium or virus can be detected at very low concentration, before symptoms appear. ELISA detects antigens or antibodies and needs a larger pathogen load or an immune response, and leucocyte counts are not pathogen-specific.
Q16NEET 2017 (Gujarati paper) · Q108
In gene therapy to treat adenosine deaminase deficiency disorder, which of the patients blood cells are used?
Not quite — the answer is B.
In the first gene therapy (1990) for ADA deficiency, lymphocytes from the patient's blood were grown in culture, given a functional ADA cDNA using a retroviral vector, and returned to the patient. Erythrocytes lack a nucleus, so they cannot carry and express the introduced gene.
Q17NEET 2017 (Gujarati paper) · Q131
What is the meaning of Bt in Bt cotton?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis; Bt cotton carries its cry gene coding for an insecticidal protein toxin that kills bollworms. Baculoviruses are separate biocontrol agents, and Bt cotton gives insect resistance rather than resistance to microbial infection.
Q18NEET 2016 Phase 2 · Q129
Which kind of therapy was given in 1990 to a four-year-old girl with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency?
Not quite — the answer is A.
In 1990 the first clinical gene therapy was given to a four-year-old girl with ADA deficiency: her lymphocytes were given a working ADA gene with a retroviral vector and returned to her body. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy do not replace a missing gene.
Q19NEET 2016 Phase 1 · Q134
Which part of the tobacco plant is infected by Meloidogyne incognita?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Meloidogyne incognita is a root-knot nematode that infects tobacco roots and reduces yield; RNA interference was used to make nematode-resistant tobacco. It does not attack flowers, leaves or stems.
Q20AIPMT 2015
The crops engineered for glyphosate are resistant/tolerant to:
Not quite — the answer is A.
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide, and glyphosate-tolerant (e.g. Roundup Ready) crops survive spraying that kills weeds. Insect resistance is a different trait, given by Bt genes.
Q21AIPMT 2015
In Bt cotton, the Bt toxin present in plant tissue as pro-toxin is converted into active toxin due to:
Not quite — the answer is B.
Bt toxin is made as an inactive protoxin crystal. The alkaline pH of the insect gut dissolves the crystal and activates the toxin, which then binds the midgut cells and makes pores. An acidic gut would not activate it.
Q22AIPMT 2015
Which body of the Government of India regulates GM research and safety of introducing GM organisms for public services?
Not quite — the answer is D.
The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is the Indian body that decides on the validity of GM research and the safety of releasing GM organisms for public use. The Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation and institutional bio-safety committees handle research-level oversight only.
Q23AIPMT 2014
The first human hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology is:
Not quite — the answer is D.
Human insulin (Humulin, by Eli Lilly in 1983) was the first human hormone produced through recombinant DNA technology, by making the A and B chains separately in E. coli. Estrogen, progesterone and thyroxine are not proteins and were not made this way.
Q24NEET 2013
Which of the following Bt crops is being grown in India by the farmers?
Not quite — the answer is B.
Bt cotton, carrying cry genes from Bacillus thuringiensis, is the Bt crop approved and grown by Indian farmers. Bt brinjal was developed but its commercial release was put under moratorium.
Q25AIPMT 2012 Mains
Tobacco plants resistant to a nematode have been developed by the introduction of DNA that produced (in the host cells)
Not quite — the answer is A.
Nematode-resistant tobacco uses RNA interference. The introduced DNA makes both sense and antisense RNA, which pair into double-stranded RNA that silences the nematode's mRNA, so no toxin or hormone is involved.
Q26AIPMT 2012 Mains
The first clinical gene therapy was given for treating
Not quite — the answer is D.
The first clinical gene therapy (1990) was given to a four-year-old girl with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, putting a functional ADA cDNA into her lymphocytes. Diabetes is treated with recombinant insulin, which is not gene therapy.
Q27AIPMT 2012 Prelims
Consumption of which one of the following foods can prevent the kind of blindness associated with vitamin 'A' deficiency?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Golden rice is genetically engineered to make β-carotene (provitamin A), so eating it helps prevent the night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency. Bt-brinjal is pest resistant and Flavr Savr tomato has delayed ripening.
Q28AIPMT 2011 Mains
Read the following four statements (A–D) about certain mistakes in two of them: (A) The first transgenic buffalo Rosie produced milk which was human alpha-lactalbumin enriched (B) Restriction enzymes are used in isolation of DNA from other macro-molecules (C) Downstream processing is one of the steps of R-DNA technology (D) Disarmed pathogen vectors are also used in transfer of R-DNA into the host Which are the two statements having mistakes?
Not quite — the answer is B.
Rosie was a transgenic cow, not a buffalo, and restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific sites; isolation of DNA from other macromolecules uses enzymes such as lysozyme, cellulase, ribonuclease and protease. Downstream processing is a recognised step of recombinant DNA technology and disarmed pathogens are used as vectors, so those two statements are correct.
Q29AIPMT 2011 Mains
Silencing of mRNA has been used in producing transgenic plants resistant to
Not quite — the answer is D.
RNA interference, in which double-stranded RNA silences the parasite's mRNA, was used to make tobacco plants resistant to the nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Bollworm resistance comes from cry genes (Bt toxin), not mRNA silencing.
Q30AIPMT 2011 Mains
Bacillus thuringiensis forms protein crystals which contain insecticidal protein. This protein:
Not quite — the answer is C.
Bt protoxin is activated by the alkaline pH of the insect's gut; the active toxin binds to midgut epithelial cells, makes pores and kills the insect. The bacterium is not harmed because it keeps the toxin as an inactive protoxin, not because it is resistant, and acid pH does not activate it.
Q31AIPMT 2011 Prelims
Maximum number of existing transgenic animals is of
Not quite — the answer is C.
Although transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows and fish have been produced, more than 95 percent of all existing transgenic animals are mice.
Q32AIPMT 2011 Prelims
The process of RNA interference has been used in the development of plants resistant to
Not quite — the answer is B.
Using Agrobacterium vectors, nematode-specific genes were introduced into tobacco so that the plant makes dsRNA that silences a vital mRNA of the nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The parasite then cannot survive in the transgenic host, giving nematode-resistant plants.
Q33AIPMT 2010 Mains · Q16
Which one of the following is now being commercially produced by biotechnological procedures?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Human insulin is now made by recombinant DNA technology: Eli Lilly produced the A and B chains separately in E. coli and then joined them. Nicotine, morphine and quinine are plant alkaloids still obtained mainly from plants.
Q34AIPMT 2010 Prelims · Q193
DNA or RNA segment tagged with a radioactive molecule is called
Not quite — the answer is C.
A probe is a single-stranded DNA or RNA labelled with a radioactive marker. It finds its complementary sequence by hybridisation, as in DNA fingerprinting and molecular diagnosis. A plasmid or vector carries genes but is not labelled.
Q35AIPMT 2010 Prelims · Q195
The genetically-modified (GM) brinjal in India has been developed for
Not quite — the answer is B.
Bt brinjal carries a Bacillus thuringiensis cry gene whose toxin protects the crop against the fruit and shoot borer, making it insect-resistant. Delayed ripening (longer shelf life) was the trait of the Flavr Savr tomato, not brinjal.
Q36AIPMT 2010 Prelims · Q196
Genetic engineering has been successfully used for producing
Not quite — the answer is B.
NCERT states that transgenic mice are used to test the safety of vaccines, specifically polio vaccine, before they are used in humans. Rosie's milk was enriched with human alpha-lactalbumin protein, not fat. The disease models NCERT lists are cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's, not cardiac disease.
Q37AIPMT 2010 Prelims · Q198
Some of the characteristics of Bt cotton are
Not quite — the answer is A.
Bt cotton expresses the cryIAc and cryIIAb genes, whose toxins control cotton bollworms (lepidopteran larvae), cutting pest losses and raising yield. The cry genes in Bt cotton act on bollworms, not on dipterans such as flies and mosquitoes, aphids or beetles.
Q38AIPMT 2010 Prelims · Q199
An improved variety of transgenic basmati rice
Not quite — the answer is C.
Transgenic rice has been engineered with genes for β-carotene (the vitamin A precursor), known as Golden Rice, so 'rich in vitamin A' is the intended answer. No crop is completely resistant to all pests, none can do without fertilisers, and losing the aroma would not count as an improvement.
Q39AIPMT 2009 Prelims · Q62
What is true about Bt toxin?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Bacillus thuringiensis makes Bt toxin as an inactive protoxin crystal; the alkaline pH of the insect gut solubilises and activates it, and it binds the midgut epithelium, creating pores that kill the insect. It is not active inside the bacterium, which is why the bacterium is unharmed, and it does not act on the ovaries.
Q40AIPMT 2009 Prelims · Q75
The genetic defect – adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency may be cured permanently by:
Not quite — the answer is B.
NCERT notes that if the gene from bone marrow cells producing ADA is introduced into cells at early embryonic stages, it could be a permanent cure. Infusing engineered lymphocytes is not permanent because lymphocytes are not immortal and the infusion must be repeated; enzyme replacement is also only a treatment.
Q41AIPMT 2009 Prelims · Q136
Transgenic plants are the ones:
Not quite — the answer is A.
Transgenic (GM) plants carry a foreign gene that was introduced into a cell, from which a whole plant is regenerated. Protoplast fusion produces somatic hybrids, not transgenic plants.
Q42AIPMT 2008 Prelims · Q180
A transgenic food crop which may help in solving the problem of night blindness in developing countries is
Not quite — the answer is A.
Golden rice is engineered to make β-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A, whose deficiency causes night blindness. Flavr Savr tomato was modified for delayed ripening and Bt crops for insect resistance, neither of which targets vitamin A.
Q43AIPMT 2008 Prelims · Q191
Cry 1 endotoxins obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis are effective against
Not quite — the answer is A.
NCERT notes that the proteins coded by cryIAc and cryIIAb control cotton bollworms, and cryIAb controls the corn borer. Nematodes are controlled by RNA interference in the NCERT example, not by Cry toxins.
Q44AIPMT 2008 Prelims · Q195
Main objective of production/use of herbicide resistant GM crops is to
Not quite — the answer is B.
Herbicide-tolerant crops survive a broad-spectrum herbicide that kills the weeds around them, so fields can be weeded chemically instead of by manual labour. Herbicides are still sprayed, so 'without the use of herbicides' is wrong.
Q45AIPMT 2008 Prelims · Q197
Human insulin is being commercially produced from a transgenic species of
Not quite — the answer is B.
Eli Lilly produced human insulin (1983) by inserting DNA for the A and B chains into plasmids of E. coli and then joining the chains. Saccharomyces has also been used, but the standard NCERT answer is Escherichia coli.
Q46AIPMT 2008 Prelims · Q200
What is antisense technology?
Not quite — the answer is D.
Antisense technology uses an RNA (or DNA) strand complementary to a target mRNA. It pairs with the mRNA and blocks its translation, silencing the gene, the same principle as RNA interference in NCERT. Making DNA from RNA is reverse transcription, not antisense technology.
Q47AIPMT 2006 Prelims · Q103
Golden rice is a promising transgenic crop. When released for cultivation, it will help in :
Not quite — the answer is A.
Golden rice is genetically engineered to make beta-carotene (provitamin A) in the grain, so it is meant to reduce vitamin A deficiency. Pest resistance is the trait of Bt crops, not golden rice.
Q48AIPMT 2005 Prelims · Q195
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains have been used for designing novel :
Not quite — the answer is C.
Bt makes Cry protein toxins that kill specific insect larvae. Transferring cry genes into crops (Bt cotton, Bt brinjal) produces insect-resistant transgenic plants. Bt is not a biofertiliser and plays no part in metal extraction.
Q49AIPMT 2005 Prelims · Q199
Golden rice is a transgenic crop of the future with the following improved trait :
Not quite — the answer is D.
Golden rice is engineered to make β-carotene (provitamin A) in its grain, which gives it a golden colour and helps fight vitamin A deficiency. Insect resistance is the trait of Bt crops, and high lysine is the trait of quality-protein maize.
How often Biotechnology and Its Applications came up
Questions from this chapter in each paper on this site.
- NEET 2021: 4
- NEET 2020: 3
- NEET 2019: 2
- NEET 2018: 4
- NEET 2017 (Gujarati paper): 4
- NEET 2016 Phase 2: 1
- NEET 2016 Phase 1: 1
- AIPMT 2015: 3
- AIPMT 2014: 1
- NEET 2013: 1
- AIPMT 2012 Mains: 2
- AIPMT 2012 Prelims: 1
- AIPMT 2011 Mains: 3
- AIPMT 2011 Prelims: 2
- AIPMT 2010 Mains: 1
- AIPMT 2010 Prelims: 5
- AIPMT 2009 Prelims: 3
- AIPMT 2008 Prelims: 5
- AIPMT 2006 Prelims: 1
- AIPMT 2005 Prelims: 2
Keep going
PYQs show what NEET asks. For the full Biotechnology and Its Applications bank (599+ questions with solutions), use the RankUp app.
