Biotechnology and Genetic Modification
98 questions· page 1 of 10
What could be an advantage of genetically modifying crop plants?
Options
A increased biodiversity in an area
B increased chance that the inserted genes will transfer to wild species
C increased nutritional content of crop plants
D increased use of pesticides
An investigation is done to find out how effective different biological washing powders are at digesting protein.
Four equal-sized cubes of cooked egg white (protein) are cut and their masses measured.
The cubes of protein are then placed in test-tubes containing of solutions of four different biological washing powders of the same concentration. The cubes of protein are left in the solutions at room temperature.
After 24 hours, the cubes of protein are removed from the test-tubes and their masses remeasured.
| biological washing powder | mass of cube of protein / start of investigation | mass of cube of protein / end of investigation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.2 | 8.3 |
| 2 | 10.2 | 7.9 |
| 3 | 10.4 | 8.4 |
| 4 | 10.3 | 8.5 |
What is the percentage decrease in mass of the cube of protein in the most effective washing powder given to one decimal place?
Options
A 17.5%
B 19.2%
C 22.5%
D 29.1%
Which enzyme is added to fruit to aid juice production?
Options
A lactase
B lipase
C pectinase
D protease
Bread is made from a mixture of flour, sugar, water and yeast.
The mixture is left in a warm place to allow it to rise before being baked.
Which process makes the bread rise?
Options
A The yeast feeds on the flour and grows.
B The yeast reproduces to make the loaf bigger.
C The yeast uses sugar to respire and produces carbon dioxide.
D The yeast produces alcohol which it excretes.
Some stages in the production of human insulin are listed.
- Genetically modified E. coli bacteria are grown in large fermenters.
- The gene for human insulin is inserted into the DNA of an E. coli bacterium.
- The gene for human insulin is obtained from human pancreas cells.
- Human insulin is extracted and purified.
What is the correct sequence of these stages?
Options
A 3 → 1 → 2 → 4
B 4 → 3 → 2 → 1
C 3 → 2 → 4 → 1
D 3 → 2 → 1 → 4
In the process of genetic modification to make artificial insulin (a protein), which material is inserted into the host bacterium and what effects does this have?
Options
| material inserted | effects in bacterium | |
|---|---|---|
| A | bacterial DNA | synthesis of protein and multiplication of bacteria |
| B | bacterial DNA | synthesis of protein and cell death |
| C | human DNA | assembly of amino acids and synthesis of a protein |
| D | human DNA | assembly of amino acids and multiplication of bacteria |
In an industrial process, milk is poured over beads made of jelly that contain the enzyme lactase.
As the milk passes over the beads, it will come into contact with lactase.
Any digestion of the milk is completed by point X.
What is collected at X?
Options
A milk containing glucose and lactose
B milk containing sugars but no lactose
C milk containing lactose only
D milk containing lactase but no sugars
The gene for human insulin production can be inserted into bacterial DNA to enable the industrial production of insulin.
What is an advantage of using this type of insulin to treat a patient with diabetes?
Options
A Any offspring of the patient will be protected against developing diabetes.
B The patient’s pancreas will start producing insulin when it is needed by the body.
C The insulin gene will be replaced in the patient’s DNA in cells in the pancreas.
D The patient will not suffer any side effects from using insulin produced in animals.
Single-cell protein can be produced by growing a fungus in a fermenter.
Why is it necessary for the fermenter to have a cooling unit?
Options
A Fungi produce protein faster at low temperatures.
B The air bubbles generate heat as they float upwards.
C The glucose syrup is too warm when it is added to the fermenter.
D The fungus releases heat as it respires.
The diagram shows a fermenter that is used to grow the fungus Penicillium, to produce penicillin.
What is the function of the outer water jacket?
Options
A to add extra nutrients for the Penicillium
B to maintain the fermenter at a constant pH
C to maintain the fermenter at a constant temperature
D to monitor the oxygen concentration in the fermenter