NEET Practice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Solutions

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This allows for the introduction of new traits or characteristics that are not naturally found in the organism. GMOs are widely used in agriculture to enhance crop yield, resistance to pests, and adaptability to environmental conditions.

The full form of GMO is Genetically Modified Organism. This term refers to organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering. The modification is typically done to achieve desired traits such as increased resistance to pests, improved nutritional content, or greater tolerance to environmental stress.

Viruses are a common cause of diseases in plants. They can infect a wide variety of plant species and lead to symptoms such as mosaic patterns on leaves, stunted growth, and reduced crop yields. Unlike pesticides and herbicides, which are chemicals used to control pests and weeds respectively, viruses are biological agents that specifically target and disrupt the normal functioning of plant cells.

Double-stranded RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) is a simple and rapid method of silencing gene expression in a range of organisms

The earlier sources of insulin were indeed from cattle (bovine) and pigs (porcine). Insulin was extracted from the pancreas of these animals. The amino acid sequence of bovine insulin differs slightly from human insulin, while porcine insulin is more similar to human insulin, making it a better substitute. This practice was common before the development of recombinant DNA technology that allows for the production of human insulin synthetically.

In germ line gene therapy, the functional gene is incorporated into the genome of germ cells (sperm or eggs). This ensures that the modifications are heritable and will be passed on to future generations. Somatic gene therapy, on the other hand, targets only the somatic (body) cells and does not result in heritable changes.

Selective breeding is the method by which genetic characteristics of animals are improved by mating individuals with desired traits. This process involves choosing parent organisms with specific phenotypic traits to reproduce, thereby enhancing those traits in future generations.

Transgenic mice were earlier used to test the safety of the Polio Vaccine. These mice were genetically modified to be susceptible to poliovirus, making them suitable for vaccine testing.

Organisms that can be used to gain commercial benefits are called bioresources. Bioresources refer to biological materials, particularly plants, animals, and microorganisms, that are used for economic gain.

Transgenic animals are produced by the incorporation of a foreign gene into the nucleus of a fertilized egg. This method ensures that the foreign gene is present in every cell of the developing organism, including germ cells, so the trait can be passed on to future generations.