Introduction India, with its immense human capital and burgeoning economy, is at a pivotal juncture…
MCQs on “The Role of Biotechnology in Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops”
1. What is the primary goal of genetically modifying crops?
a) Enhance aesthetic appeal
b) Improve productivity and resistance to stress
c) Reduce the nutritional value of crops
d) Increase water requirements
Answer: b) Improve productivity and resistance to stress
2. Which of the following is an example of a genetically modified (GM) crop?
a) Golden rice
b) Basmati rice
c) Organic wheat
d) Hybrid maize
Answer: a) Golden rice
3. What nutrient is enhanced in Golden Rice through genetic modification?
a) Vitamin A
b) Vitamin C
c) Iron
d) Calcium
Answer: a) Vitamin A
4. Which bacterium is commonly used in genetic engineering for creating GM crops?
a) Escherichia coli
b) Bacillus thuringiensis
c) Clostridium botulinum
d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Answer: b) Bacillus thuringiensis
5. What is the primary benefit of Bt cotton?
a) Increased color variety
b) Resistance to bollworm pests
c) Resistance to drought
d) Improved fiber strength
Answer: b) Resistance to bollworm pests
6. Which of the following is a potential environmental concern associated with GM crops?
a) Reduction in crop yield
b) Creation of pesticide-resistant pests
c) Increased soil fertility
d) Greater water consumption
Answer: b) Creation of pesticide-resistant pests
7. Which international protocol regulates the transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
a) Kyoto Protocol
b) Cartagena Protocol
c) Montreal Protocol
d) Nagoya Protocol
Answer: b) Cartagena Protocol
8. What is the term for transferring genes from one species to another in genetic engineering?
a) Selective breeding
b) Transgenesis
c) Cloning
d) Mutagenesis
Answer: b) Transgenesis
9. Which Indian regulatory body oversees the approval of GM crops?
a) Ministry of Environment
b) Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
c) National Biodiversity Authority
d) Central Pollution Control Board
Answer: b) Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
10. What is the primary concern of opponents of GM crops?
a) Reduced nutritional value
b) Health and environmental risks
c) Increased farming costs
d) Decreased resistance to pests
Answer: b) Health and environmental risks
11. Which of the following is NOT a GM crop currently cultivated in India?
a) Bt cotton
b) Bt brinjal
c) Herbicide-tolerant mustard
d) GM soybean
Answer: b) Bt brinjal
12. What does “Bt” in Bt cotton stand for?
a) Biotechnological technology
b) Bio-toxic
c) Bacillus thuringiensis
d) Bacterial transformation
Answer: c) Bacillus thuringiensis
13. Gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9 is considered a biotechnology technique for:
a) Modifying DNA precisely
b) Cloning plants
c) Increasing photosynthesis efficiency
d) Reducing crop maturity time
Answer: a) Modifying DNA precisely
14. Which GM crop was introduced to combat vitamin A deficiency?
a) Bt brinjal
b) Golden rice
c) Flavr Savr tomato
d) Herbicide-tolerant corn
Answer: b) Golden rice
15. The Flavr Savr tomato was engineered to:
a) Resist pests
b) Delay ripening
c) Increase nutritional value
d) Tolerate herbicides
Answer: b) Delay ripening
16. Which of the following is a method for introducing foreign DNA into plant cells?
a) Electroporation
b) Microinjection
c) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
17. Herbicide-tolerant GM crops allow farmers to:
a) Use less water
b) Apply broad-spectrum herbicides without harming crops
c) Increase crop rotation frequency
d) Reduce the need for fertilizers
Answer: b) Apply broad-spectrum herbicides without harming crops
18. Which country is the largest producer of GM crops globally?
a) Brazil
b) India
c) United States
d) China
Answer: c) United States
19. What is the primary benefit of GM drought-resistant crops?
a) Increased water consumption
b) Higher yield under water-scarce conditions
c) Reduced soil fertility requirements
d) Faster growth
Answer: b) Higher yield under water-scarce conditions
20. Cisgenic crops differ from transgenic crops because:
a) They use genes from the same species or a closely related one
b) They do not use genetic engineering
c) They rely on traditional breeding methods
d) They are more resistant to pests
Answer: a) They use genes from the same species or a closely related one
21. Which of the following is NOT a method to assess the safety of GM crops?
a) Toxicology tests
b) Allergenicity assessments
c) Yield optimization studies
d) Nutritional analysis
Answer: c) Yield optimization studies
22. Gene stacking in GM crops refers to:
a) Combining multiple desirable traits in a single crop
b) Using multiple fertilizers
c) Increasing the size of genes
d) Delaying crop harvest
Answer: a) Combining multiple desirable traits in a single crop
23. Which of the following traits can be introduced into crops using genetic modification?
a) Resistance to pests
b) Tolerance to herbicides
c) Increased nutritional value
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
24. Which plant hormone is involved in genetically engineering drought-resistant crops?
a) Auxin
b) Abscisic acid
c) Gibberellins
d) Cytokinins
Answer: b) Abscisic acid
25. GM crops can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by:
a) Increasing fertilizer usage
b) Decreasing the need for chemical inputs like pesticides
c) Enhancing photosynthesis efficiency
d) Using more water
Answer: b) Decreasing the need for chemical inputs like pesticides
26. Terminator seeds in GM crops are controversial because:
a) They enhance genetic diversity
b) They do not produce viable offspring seeds
c) They require less water
d) They increase pest resistance
Answer: b) They do not produce viable offspring seeds
27. Which Indian state leads in Bt cotton cultivation?
a) Punjab
b) Maharashtra
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Gujarat
Answer: d) Gujarat
28. The primary role of marker genes in genetic engineering is to:
a) Improve plant yield
b) Identify successfully modified cells
c) Increase plant size
d) Enhance nutrient content
Answer: b) Identify successfully modified cells
29. A major ethical concern surrounding GM crops is:
a) High yield
b) Intellectual property rights and patent issues
c) Reduced pest resistance
d) Increased water use
Answer: b) Intellectual property rights and patent issues
30. What is the first step in creating a genetically modified crop?
a) Planting seeds
b) Isolating the desired gene
c) Performing field trials
d) Testing for allergens
Answer: b) Isolating the desired gene
