Biotechnology — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Hyderabad

CDFD is an autonomous Indian bio-services organization located in Hyderabad. It provides high-tech DNA-based diagnostic services and forensic analysis. It functions under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology.

Correct Answer: A. Southern Blotting

Southern blotting combines gel electrophoresis and hybridization with a DNA probe. it is named after its inventor, Edwin Southern. Similarly, Northern blotting is used for RNA and Western blotting for proteins.

Correct Answer: B. Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering involves the manual addition of new DNA to an organism. This creates recombinant DNA, which is a combination of DNA from different sources. This technology is the core of modern biotechnology.

Correct Answer: C. Any living tissue or cell

Micropropagation uses tissue culture to produce a large number of plants from a small starting piece (explant). It relies on 'totipotency', the ability of a plant cell to grow into a whole plant. This method is used to produce disease-free and uniform plants.

Correct Answer: B. Fermentation

Yeast performs anaerobic fermentation, converting sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol. In baking, the CO2 helps the dough rise, and in brewing, it produces alcohol. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most commonly used yeast species.

Correct Answer: A. Circadian Rhythm

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that regulate sleep, metabolism, and hormone release. They are driven by internal biological clocks located in the brain. Biotechnology research often looks into how these rhythms affect health and drug effectiveness.

Correct Answer: B. Heat-stable DNA polymerase

Taq polymerase remains stable at the high temperatures required to separate DNA strands during PCR. It was isolated from a thermophilic bacterium found in hot springs. Its use allowed the PCR process to be automated efficiently.

Correct Answer: A. High-Yielding Varieties (HYV)

The Green Revolution used advanced plant breeding and selection techniques to create high-yielding wheat and rice. These crops were more responsive to fertilizers and irrigation. This scientific shift helped India achieve food self-sufficiency.

Correct Answer: B. Computer-based analysis of biological data

Bio-informatics uses software and mathematics to manage and analyze biological information like DNA sequences. It is crucial for large projects like sequencing the human genome. It helps in identifying genes associated with diseases.

Correct Answer: C. OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides standard definitions for biotech sectors. This definition emphasizes the integration of science and engineering with biology. It covers a wide range of industrial and environmental processes.