Introduction India, with its immense human capital and burgeoning economy, is at a pivotal juncture…
MCQs on “The Role of Biotechnology in Environmental Conservation”
1. Which branch of biotechnology focuses on using biological processes to address environmental issues?
a) Red Biotechnology
b) White Biotechnology
c) Green Biotechnology
d) Blue Biotechnology
Answer: c) Green Biotechnology
2. What is the primary goal of bioremediation in environmental conservation?
a) Increasing crop yields
b) Cleaning up polluted environments using microbes
c) Developing vaccines
d) Enhancing genetic diversity
Answer: b) Cleaning up polluted environments using microbes
3. Which organism is commonly used in the bioremediation of oil spills?
a) E. coli
b) Pseudomonas
c) Saccharomyces
d) Bacillus
Answer: b) Pseudomonas
4. What does GM stand for in the context of genetically modified organisms?
a) Green Molecule
b) Genetic Manipulation
c) Genetically Modified
d) Growth Management
Answer: c) Genetically Modified
5. Which type of pollution can phytoremediation effectively address?
a) Noise pollution
b) Soil contamination
c) Electromagnetic pollution
d) Light pollution
Answer: b) Soil contamination
6. The term “biosorption” refers to the use of biological materials to:
a) Capture greenhouse gases
b) Absorb heavy metals from water
c) Improve crop productivity
d) Monitor biodiversity loss
Answer: b) Absorb heavy metals from water
7. Which plant is widely used in phytoremediation to extract heavy metals from contaminated soil?
a) Neem
b) Mustard
c) Tulsi
d) Bamboo
Answer: b) Mustard
8. Bt crops are genetically modified to resist:
a) Drought
b) Pests
c) Salinity
d) Fungal infections
Answer: b) Pests
9. Mycoremediation uses fungi for environmental conservation. What is its primary function?
a) Producing biofuels
b) Breaking down pollutants
c) Enhancing soil fertility
d) Fixing atmospheric nitrogen
Answer: b) Breaking down pollutants
10. Which enzyme is used in the treatment of wastewater to break down organic pollutants?
a) Amylase
b) Lipase
c) Protease
d) Laccase
Answer: d) Laccase
11. What is the primary advantage of biofuels over fossil fuels?
a) Higher energy output
b) Low production cost
c) Renewable and eco-friendly
d) No land use competition
Answer: c) Renewable and eco-friendly
12. What role does biotechnology play in combating climate change?
a) Producing synthetic chemicals
b) Enhancing carbon sequestration
c) Increasing fossil fuel extraction
d) Reducing ocean acidity
Answer: b) Enhancing carbon sequestration
13. Which type of bioplastic is derived from agricultural products?
a) Polyethylene
b) Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
c) Polystyrene
d) Polyvinyl chloride
Answer: b) Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
14. The term “gene editing” in biotechnology primarily refers to:
a) Cloning organisms
b) Modifying DNA sequences
c) Mapping genomes
d) Sequencing proteins
Answer: b) Modifying DNA sequences
15. What is the main purpose of a constructed wetland in biotechnology?
a) Producing biofertilizers
b) Treating wastewater naturally
c) Generating renewable energy
d) Enhancing aquaculture productivity
Answer: b) Treating wastewater naturally
16. Which gas is primarily reduced through the use of biofilters in industrial setups?
a) Carbon dioxide
b) Methane
c) Sulfur dioxide
d) Ammonia
Answer: c) Sulfur dioxide
17. What is the role of algal biotechnology in environmental conservation?
a) Treating radioactive waste
b) Producing biofuels and absorbing CO₂
c) Mining heavy metals
d) Manufacturing synthetic drugs
Answer: b) Producing biofuels and absorbing CO₂
18. The term “biopesticides” refers to pest control substances derived from:
a) Synthetic chemicals
b) Petroleum products
c) Natural organisms
d) Radioactive materials
Answer: c) Natural organisms
19. Which technology uses bacteria to convert organic waste into methane for energy production?
a) Aerobic digestion
b) Anaerobic digestion
c) Composting
d) Fermentation
Answer: b) Anaerobic digestion
20. CRISPR technology is widely used for:
a) DNA sequencing
b) Gene editing
c) Protein synthesis
d) Environmental monitoring
Answer: b) Gene editing
21. Which is a potential benefit of GM crops in environmental conservation?
a) Increasing greenhouse gas emissions
b) Reducing pesticide usage
c) Enhancing fossil fuel reliance
d) Increasing water pollution
Answer: b) Reducing pesticide usage
22. Which biological process is central to the treatment of sewage water?
a) Nitrification
b) Denitrification
c) Both nitrification and denitrification
d) Phosphorylation
Answer: c) Both nitrification and denitrification
23. What is the significance of “biosensors” in environmental biotechnology?
a) Enhancing genetic diversity
b) Detecting environmental pollutants
c) Producing bioenergy
d) Altering microbial genomes
Answer: b) Detecting environmental pollutants
24. Which of the following biotechnological approaches helps reduce soil salinity?
a) Genetic engineering of salt-tolerant crops
b) Use of synthetic fertilizers
c) Irrigation with seawater
d) Monocropping
Answer: a) Genetic engineering of salt-tolerant crops
25. Bioaugmentation involves:
a) Increasing the concentration of synthetic fertilizers
b) Adding specific microorganisms to degrade pollutants
c) Enhancing fossil fuel use
d) Reducing crop yields
Answer: b) Adding specific microorganisms to degrade pollutants
26. Which sector benefits from microbial fuel cells in environmental biotechnology?
a) Wastewater treatment
b) Transportation
c) Healthcare
d) Space exploration
Answer: a) Wastewater treatment
27. Vermitechnology involves the use of which organism in waste management?
a) Earthworms
b) Algae
c) Fungi
d) Bacteria
Answer: a) Earthworms
28. Which biotechnology product helps mitigate methane emissions from livestock?
a) Growth hormones
b) Anti-methanogenic feed additives
c) Bioplastics
d) Genetically modified vaccines
Answer: b) Anti-methanogenic feed additives
29. What is the role of cyanobacteria in sustainable practices?
a) Nitrogen fixation in soil
b) Increasing soil acidity
c) Causing algal blooms
d) Absorbing heavy metals
Answer: a) Nitrogen fixation in soil
30. Which biotechnology technique is used to detect heavy metal contamination in water?
a) PCR
b) DNA barcoding
c) Bioluminescent microbial assays
d) Genetic cloning
Answer: c) Bioluminescent microbial assays
