NEET Zoology — MCQ Practice Questions & Answers

Question 1

In the context of gene therapy, what does 'ex vivo' gene therapy mean?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: A. Gene therapy administered outside the body to isolated cells — Ex vivo gene therapy involves isolating cells from the patient, modifying them genetically outside the body, and then reintroducing them, reducing immune reactions.

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B. Gene therapy administered directly into the patient's body

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C. Gene therapy using viral vectors only

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D. Gene therapy that affects only the lungs

Question 2

Which of the following statements about RNAi (RNA interference) is correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. It silences gene expression by degrading specific mRNA molecules — RNAi uses small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to target and degrade specific mRNA molecules, leading to gene silencing.

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A. It increases protein synthesis from target mRNA

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C. It is only applicable in prokaryotes

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D. It requires DNA ligase for function

Question 3

What is a chimeric gene in the context of genetic engineering?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. A gene composed of DNA sequences from different sources combined to create a new functional unit — Chimeric genes combine regulatory sequences from one organism with coding sequences from another, creating novel genetic constructs for transgenic organism development.

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A. A gene that codes for a hybrid protein

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C. A gene that only exists in chimeric animals

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D. A mutated gene with no function

Question 4

In the year 2023-24, which Indian institute developed the CRISPR-based diagnostic kit for disease detection?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. CSIR-IGIB — CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) has been at the forefront of developing CRISPR-based diagnostic tools for various diseases in India.

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A. IIT Delhi

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C. IIT Bombay

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D. All of the above

Question 5

What is the primary concern regarding the large-scale cultivation of Bt crops in India?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. Development of insect resistance and impact on non-target organisms — Major concerns include the development of resistance in target insects, impacts on non-target beneficial organisms, and long-term ecological effects of Bt crop cultivation.

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A. Increased soil fertility

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C. Improved nutritional content

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D. Reduced water requirements

Question 6

In gene editing using base editors, what advantage do they offer over traditional CRISPR-Cas9?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: A. They can edit genes without creating double-strand breaks — Base editors (BEs) convert one DNA base to another without creating double-strand breaks, reducing off-target effects and cellular damage compared to standard CRISPR-Cas9.

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B. They only work in prokaryotes

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C. They require less complex equipment

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D. They are less specific than Cas9

Question 7

In the context of organ transplantation, what is the potential application of xenotransplantation biotechnology?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: A. To reduce the need for immunosuppressive drugs by genetically modifying animal organs — Xenotransplantation involves genetically modifying animal organs (usually pig organs) to reduce immune rejection, potentially addressing the chronic shortage of human donor organs.

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B. To eliminate the need for organ donation entirely

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C. To replace only viral infections

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D. To cure all genetic disorders

Question 8

What is the mechanism by which TALEN (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nuclease) technology achieves site-specific gene editing?

Accepted Answer

Correct answer: B. Proteins derived from plant pathogens that recognize specific DNA sequences and direct FokI nuclease to cut — TALENs are proteins from Xanthomonas bacteria that recognize specific DNA sequences with modular repeat domains and direct FokI endonuclease for precise DNA cleavage.

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A. Using zinc fingers to recognize DNA sequences directly

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C. Using guide RNA complementarity only

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D. Random cutting followed by selection

NEET Zoology - MCQ Practice Questions