NEET Practice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Solutions

The text states secondary structure arises due to 'hydrogen bonding between C=O and –NH– groups.' For tertiary and quaternary structures, it mentions 'hydrogen bonds, disulphide linkages, van der Waals and electrostatic forces of attraction,' indicating disulfide linkages are found at these higher levels, but not explicitly mentioned for secondary structure stabilization.

The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) has given a definition of biotechnology that encompasses both traditional view and modern molecular biotechnology. The definition given by EFB is as follows: 'The integration of natural science and organisms, cells, parts thereof, and molecular analogues for products and services'.

Among many, the two core techniques that enabled birth of modern biotechnology are: (i) Genetic engineering: Techniques to alter the chemistry of genetic material (DNA and RNA), and (ii) Bioprocess engineering: Maintenance of sterile conditions to enable growth of desired microbe/eukaryotic cell in large quantities for the manufacture of biotechnological products.

The applications of biotechnology include therapeutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, waste treatment, and energy production. Space exploration is not mentioned as an application.

Plants, bacteria, fungi and animals whose genes have been altered by manipulation are called Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). GM plants have been useful in many ways.

Genetic modification has: (v) enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., golden rice, i.e., Vitamin 'A' enriched rice.

Let us take a look at the three options that can be thought for increasing food production: (i) agro-chemical based agriculture; (ii) organic agriculture; and (iii) genetically engineered crop-based agriculture.

By application of these methods it is possible to achieve propagation of a large number of plants in very short durations. This method of producing thousands of plants through tissue culture is called micro-propagation.

This capacity to generate a whole plant from any cell/explant is called totipotency.

Bt toxin is produced by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt for short). Bt toxin gene has been cloned from the bacteria and been expressed in plants to provide resistance to insects without the need for insecticides; in effect created a bio-pesticide.