NEET UG - Principles and processes of biotechnology - recombinant DNA technology, gene cloning Online Test (MCQ Quiz)

1. What is the primary goal of recombinant DNA technology?

A) To isolate DNA from a single cell B) To introduce foreign DNA into an organism C) To combine DNA from different sources to create a new DNA molecule D) To amplify DNA using PCR

2. Which enzymes are crucial for cutting DNA at specific recognition sites in recombinant DNA technology?

A) Ligases B) Polymerases C) Restriction enzymes D) Reverse transcriptase

3. What is the function of DNA ligase in gene cloning?

A) To cut DNA strands B) To synthesize new DNA strands C) To join DNA fragments together D) To methylate DNA

4. A palindromic sequence in DNA is one that:

A) Reads the same forwards and backwards on the same strand B) Reads the same forwards and backwards on opposite strands C) Contains only purine bases D) Is rich in G-C content

5. What are 'sticky ends' in the context of restriction enzymes?

A) Overhanging single-stranded DNA sequences that can anneal with complementary sequences B) Blunt-ended DNA fragments C) DNA fragments with nicks in their phosphodiester backbone D) Regions of DNA resistant to enzyme cleavage

6. What is a 'vector' in gene cloning?

A) The gene of interest B) An enzyme that cuts DNA C) A DNA molecule used to carry foreign genetic material into a host cell D) A method for amplifying DNA

7. Which of the following is a common type of cloning vector?

A) Ribosome B) Plasmid C) Centriole D) Lysosome

8. What is the role of a selectable marker gene in a cloning vector?

A) To facilitate the insertion of foreign DNA B) To provide a specific recognition site for restriction enzymes C) To allow identification of transformed cells D) To replicate the DNA within the host cell

9. The process of introducing recombinant DNA into a bacterial cell is called:

A) Transformation B) Transduction C) Conjugation D) Replication

10. Which of the following is a method used to increase the efficiency of transformation in bacterial cells?

A) Centrifugation B) Electrophoresis C) Heat shock or electroporation D) Chromatography

11. What does PCR stand for?

A) Protein Chain Reaction B) Polymerase Chain Reaction C) Plasmid Cloning Reaction D) Prokaryotic Cell Replication

12. What is the purpose of the denaturation step in PCR?

A) To anneal primers to the DNA template B) To extend the primer and synthesize new DNA C) To separate the double-stranded DNA into single strands D) To ligate DNA fragments

13. What enzyme is used in PCR to synthesize new DNA strands?

A) Restriction endonuclease B) DNA ligase C) Taq polymerase D) Reverse transcriptase

14. What is the role of primers in PCR?

A) To denature the DNA template B) To provide a starting point for DNA synthesis C) To join DNA fragments D) To stabilize the DNA molecule

15. The amplification of specific DNA sequences in PCR occurs through repeated cycles of:

A) Denaturation, annealing, and ligation B) Denaturation, annealing, and extension C) Annealing, extension, and ligation D) Restriction, ligation, and transformation

16. What is a genomic library?

A) A collection of all RNA molecules in a cell B) A collection of DNA fragments representing the entire genome of an organism C) A collection of proteins synthesized by a cell D) A collection of all possible restriction enzyme sites

17. What is a cDNA library?

A) A library of DNA sequences that code for ribosomal RNA B) A library of DNA sequences representing the genes that are actively transcribed into mRNA C) A library of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial genome D) A library of DNA sequences that are not actively transcribed

18. Complementary DNA (cDNA) is synthesized from:

A) mRNA using DNA polymerase B) DNA using RNA primers C) mRNA using reverse transcriptase D) tRNA using DNA ligase

19. What is gene cloning?

A) The process of identifying genes B) The process of creating multiple identical copies of a specific DNA fragment C) The process of sequencing a genome D) The process of altering gene expression

20. Which of the following is NOT a basic step in recombinant DNA technology?

A) Isolation of DNA B) Fragmentation of DNA C) Ligase-mediated joining of DNA fragments D) Cellular respiration

21. What is the term for a plasmid that has been engineered to contain a foreign gene and is used for cloning?

A) Competent cell B) Recombinant plasmid C) Host cell D) Origin of replication

22. The 'recognition site' for a restriction enzyme is typically:

A) A short, single-stranded sequence B) A long, double-stranded sequence C) A palindromic sequence D) A GC-rich sequence

23. What is the primary advantage of using Taq polymerase in PCR?

A) It is highly specific for eukaryotic DNA B) It is thermostable and can withstand high temperatures C) It requires a high concentration of dNTPs D) It synthesizes DNA at a very slow rate

24. Which of the following is a method for screening recombinant cells?

A) Centrifugation B) Gel electrophoresis C) Blue-white screening D) Spectrophotometry

25. In blue-white screening, what indicates the presence of a recombinant plasmid?

A) White colonies B) Blue colonies C) No colonies D) Red colonies

26. What does the 'ampR' gene on a plasmid typically confer resistance to?

A) Heat B) Antibiotics like ampicillin C) UV radiation D) Heavy metals

27. What is the process of introducing a plasmid into a plant cell called?

A) Transformation B) Transduction C) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation D) Biolistics

28. Biolistics (gene gun) is a method used for introducing foreign DNA into:

A) Animal cells B) Bacterial cells C) Plant cells D) Fungal cells

29. What is the function of the 'ori' (origin of replication) sequence on a plasmid?

A) To allow the plasmid to be cut by restriction enzymes B) To initiate DNA replication C) To provide a site for primer annealing D) To select for transformed cells

30. Which type of restriction enzyme cuts at a specific recognition sequence and requires ATP for its activity?

A) Type I B) Type II C) Type III D) Type IV

31. Restriction enzymes that produce blunt ends are often used in gene cloning because:

A) They are easier to ligate B) They are more specific C) They require less DNA D) They are more abundant

32. What is the term for a DNA molecule that is capable of replicating independently of the host chromosome and is used as a vector?

A) Genome B) Chromatid C) Replicon D) Plasmid

33. What is the main challenge in cloning a gene that is interrupted by introns in eukaryotes?

A) Restriction enzymes cannot cut introns B) Prokaryotic host cells cannot splice introns C) Introns are too large to be cloned D) Introns interfere with primer binding

34. To overcome the challenge of introns, scientists often clone the gene's:

A) Genomic DNA B) cDNA C) Promoter sequence D) Terminator sequence

35. What is a bacteriophage used for in gene cloning?

A) As a host cell for transformation B) As a vector to deliver foreign DNA into bacteria C) As an enzyme to cut DNA D) As a selectable marker

36. What is the process of inserting a gene of interest into a specific location in the genome called?

A) Gene cloning B) Gene amplification C) Gene targeting D) Gene expression

37. Which of the following is a key component of a recombinant DNA molecule?

A) Only DNA from a single organism B) DNA from two or more different organisms C) Only RNA and DNA D) Only protein and DNA

38. What is the term for a host cell that has successfully taken up the recombinant DNA?

A) Wild-type cell B) Transformed cell C) Parental cell D) Lysogenic cell

39. What is the purpose of using a linker in gene cloning?

A) To add a specific restriction site to a DNA fragment B) To increase the size of the DNA fragment C) To reduce the number of DNA fragments D) To prevent DNA degradation

40. In the context of gene cloning, what does the term 'chimeric DNA' refer to?

A) DNA synthesized entirely in vitro B) DNA synthesized using only synthetic nucleotides C) DNA molecule composed of fragments from different sources D) DNA molecule with a single strand

41. What is the function of a promoter in a gene cloning construct?

A) To terminate transcription B) To initiate transcription C) To join DNA fragments D) To mark the gene for selection

42. When using restriction enzymes, what is the term for the enzyme that methylates DNA, often preventing the enzyme from cutting?

A) Methylase B) Ligase C) Polymerase D) Endonuclease

43. What is the primary advantage of using a shuttle vector in gene cloning?

A) It can replicate in only one type of host cell B) It can replicate in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cells C) It contains only one selectable marker D) It is resistant to restriction enzymes

44. What is the process of separating DNA fragments based on their size using an electric current?

A) Chromatography B) Spectrophotometry C) Gel electrophoresis D) Centrifugation

45. What is the significance of the term 'competent' when referring to bacterial cells for transformation?

A) The cells are resistant to antibiotics B) The cells are capable of taking up foreign DNA C) The cells have a high rate of replication D) The cells produce specific enzymes

46. Which enzyme is responsible for removing RNA primers during DNA replication and is also used in some molecular cloning techniques?

A) DNA polymerase I B) DNA polymerase III C) Reverse transcriptase D) RNase H

47. What is a 'stop codon' in the context of gene expression?

A) A codon that initiates protein synthesis B) A codon that signals the termination of translation C) A codon that codes for an amino acid D) A codon that is recognized by RNA polymerase

48. What is the primary application of creating a cDNA library?

A) To study non-coding regions of the genome B) To study genes that are actively expressed in a particular cell type or tissue C) To identify all possible restriction sites D) To determine the complete genomic sequence

49. Which of the following is a method for generating blunt ends from sticky ends?

A) Using a DNA polymerase with a proofreading activity B) Using a ligase enzyme C) Using a restriction enzyme that produces blunt ends D) Using a nuclease that degrades single strands

50. What is the term for the process where a gene is inserted into a vector, and this vector is then introduced into a host cell for replication?

A) Gene expression B) Gene silencing C) Gene cloning D) Gene therapy

Principles and processes of biotechnology - recombinant DNA technology, gene cloning - Online Test

Test Results