Introduction India, with its immense human capital and burgeoning economy, is at a pivotal juncture…
MCQs with answers on the topic “Ethical Issues in Biotechnology: Cloning and Genetic Engineering”
1. Which of the following best defines ‘cloning’ in the context of biotechnology?
a) The process of creating an identical copy of an organism
b) The introduction of foreign DNA into an organism
c) The manipulation of genes to produce new traits
d) The study of the genetic makeup of organisms
Answer: a) The process of creating an identical copy of an organism
2. Which of the following is a significant ethical concern regarding human cloning?
a) Environmental impact
b) Violation of natural genetic diversity
c) Animal welfare
d) Biodiversity loss
Answer: b) Violation of natural genetic diversity
3. Genetic engineering involves the modification of an organism’s genome using:
a) Traditional breeding methods
b) Chemical reactions
c) Recombinant DNA technology
d) Natural selection
Answer: c) Recombinant DNA technology
4. What is one of the primary ethical concerns associated with genetic engineering in humans?
a) Loss of biodiversity
b) Creation of genetically modified animals
c) Safety of genetically modified food
d) Genetic discrimination and inequality
Answer: d) Genetic discrimination and inequality
5. Which of the following is the first genetically modified organism (GMO) approved for human consumption?
a) Bt corn
b) Golden rice
c) Roundup Ready soybeans
d) Insulin-producing bacteria
Answer: b) Golden rice
6. Which of the following is an example of a cloned organism?
a) Genetically modified tomato
b) Genetically modified bacterium
c) Dolly the sheep
d) Transgenic plant
Answer: c) Dolly the sheep
7. The practice of creating genetically identical organisms, like clones, raises ethical concerns related to:
a) Genetic diversity
b) Reproductive rights
c) Environmental sustainability
d) Animal testing
Answer: a) Genetic diversity
8. Which of the following is an ethical concern related to genetically modified crops?
a) Their potential to reduce pesticide use
b) The risk of cross-breeding with wild plants
c) Increased agricultural productivity
d) Increased vitamin content in crops
Answer: b) The risk of cross-breeding with wild plants
9. What is the primary goal of cloning in agricultural biotechnology?
a) To increase genetic diversity
b) To produce identical crops with desired traits
c) To modify plant DNA for higher yield
d) To create drought-resistant crops
Answer: b) To produce identical crops with desired traits
10. The use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in genetic engineering allows for:
a) Modifying the gene sequence of any organism
b) Only modifying human DNA
c) Cloning organisms
d) Producing genetically modified food only
Answer: a) Modifying the gene sequence of any organism
11. What ethical dilemma arises from the use of CRISPR technology for human germline editing?
a) It may alter the genetic makeup of future generations
b) It is not efficient enough to be applied
c) It may lead to genetic cloning
d) It is only effective in plants and animals
Answer: a) It may alter the genetic makeup of future generations
12. Which of the following is a potential benefit of genetic engineering in medicine?
a) Creating more genetically diverse species
b) Curing genetic disorders
c) Increasing genetic pollution
d) Reducing environmental pollution
Answer: b) Curing genetic disorders
13. The ‘slippery slope’ argument in ethical discussions about cloning suggests that:
a) Cloning should be banned globally
b) The technology could lead to unintended negative consequences
c) Cloning is always harmful to the environment
d) Cloning will soon be completely regulated
Answer: b) The technology could lead to unintended negative consequences
14. What is the ethical concern related to the use of genetic engineering in agriculture?
a) The economic impact on small farmers
b) The ecological effects of GMOs on biodiversity
c) The cultural acceptance of new food varieties
d) The risk of climate change
Answer: b) The ecological effects of GMOs on biodiversity
15. Which of the following is a common argument in favor of cloning animals for agricultural purposes?
a) It enhances genetic diversity
b) It increases food production by reproducing animals with desirable traits
c) It reduces the need for genetic modification
d) It prevents diseases in livestock
Answer: b) It increases food production by reproducing animals with desirable traits
16. A major concern regarding human genetic engineering is its potential to lead to:
a) Social inequalities and genetic class divisions
b) A reduction in the need for medical treatment
c) Universal healthcare accessibility
d) Development of non-genetically modified children
Answer: a) Social inequalities and genetic class divisions
17. What is the focus of bioethics in biotechnology?
a) Increasing the profitability of biotech companies
b) Ensuring the moral and legal implications of biotechnological advances
c) Maximizing the economic potential of genetic modifications
d) Reducing the costs of genetic modifications
Answer: b) Ensuring the moral and legal implications of biotechnological advances
18. Which of the following is an argument against cloning for reproductive purposes?
a) It could lead to a decrease in biodiversity
b) It ensures a higher success rate for pregnancies
c) It provides opportunities for stem cell research
d) It helps preserve endangered species
Answer: a) It could lead to a decrease in biodiversity
19. Which of the following technologies is used to insert foreign genes into a target organism?
a) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
b) Gene editing (CRISPR)
c) Genetic mapping
d) DNA sequencing
Answer: b) Gene editing (CRISPR)
20. The ethical concerns associated with gene editing techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 include:
a) The potential to eliminate genetic diseases in all humans
b) The ability to change traits passed to future generations
c) The inability to modify human genes
d) The increase in genetic diseases
Answer: b) The ability to change traits passed to future generations
21. A primary ethical issue in cloning humans for reproductive purposes is:
a) The potential for societal disruption and harm
b) The ability to enhance human intelligence
c) The lack of legal regulations for cloning
d) The financial cost of cloning technology
Answer: a) The potential for societal disruption and harm
22. One of the key concerns about genetically modified (GM) foods is their potential to:
a) Help solve the global hunger crisis
b) Lead to allergic reactions in some individuals
c) Increase the cost of farming products
d) Improve food storage and preservation
Answer: b) Lead to allergic reactions in some individuals
23. Which of the following is a valid ethical argument in favor of genetic modification in agriculture?
a) GM crops may lead to loss of biodiversity
b) GM crops can help combat food insecurity
c) GM crops have a high risk of causing environmental harm
d) GM crops lead to the extinction of traditional farming methods
Answer: b) GM crops can help combat food insecurity
24. Ethical concerns related to cloning in medicine mainly involve:
a) The risk of cloning becoming a widespread reproductive tool
b) The potential to exploit clones for organ harvesting
c) The creation of superior human traits
d) The regulation of cloning for fertility purposes
Answer: b) The potential to exploit clones for organ harvesting
25. Which of the following is a major concern with the use of genetic engineering in human embryos?
a) It may eliminate inherited diseases in all future generations
b) It could lead to the designer baby phenomenon
c) It guarantees that all genetic mutations are corrected
d) It could increase the availability of affordable healthcare
Answer: b) It could lead to the designer baby phenomenon
26. What ethical dilemma arises from gene therapy for genetic disorders?
a) Whether it can be applied to all genetic disorders
b) The fear that genetic mutations might be enhanced
c) The cost and accessibility for all populations
d) The potential of gene therapy to alter human evolution
Answer: c) The cost and accessibility for all populations
27. Which of the following is an ethical concern regarding the commercial production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
a) Lack of control over the modification process
b) Increased biodiversity
c) Loss of intellectual property rights for biotech companies
d) The monopolization of food production by large corporations
Answer: d) The monopolization of food production by large corporations
28. Which of the following could result from genetic modification of plants and animals in agriculture?
a) Invention of new, genetically pure species
b) Reduction of the natural gene pool and biodiversity
c) Increased food waste due to modified crops
d) Decreased efficiency in farming practices
Answer: b) Reduction of the natural gene pool and biodiversity
29. The development of ‘designer babies’ could lead to:
a) A reduction in genetic diseases across the world
b) The enhancement of human intelligence and capabilities
c) A more equitable distribution of wealth
d) A society divided by genetically enhanced and non-enhanced people
Answer: d) A society divided by genetically enhanced and non-enhanced people
30. Which of the following is an ethical issue related to the use of biotechnology in human cloning?
a) Creating human clones could undermine family values
b) Human cloning would encourage genetic diversity
c) Human cloning helps cure infertility
d) Human cloning could be used for space exploration
Answer: a) Creating human clones could undermine family values
