Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products. Brewing and baking bread are examples of processes that fall within the concept of biotechnology (use of yeast (= living organism) to produce the desired product).

1. Biotechnology MCQ
Biotechnology is a wide field of Biology that involves living systems and organisms to
make new products beneficial for mankind. It has applications in various sectors such as
medicine and agriculture. It harnesses cellular and molecular processes to develop products
and technologies that help in improving the lives of people and the planet.
Given below are a few MCQs on Biotechnology which will help the students analyze
their conceptual knowledge. The answers are also provided for your reference.
Biotechnology MCQs
1. Restriction enzymes were discovered by
a. Smith and Nathans
b. Alexander Fleming
c. Berg
d. None
2. Bacteria protect themselves from viruses by fragmenting viral DNA with
a. Ligase
b. Endonuclease
c. Exonuclease
d. Gyrase
3. Klenow fragment is derived from
a. DNA Ligase
b. DNA Pol-I
c. DNA Pol-II
d. Reverse Transcriptase
4. Southern blotting is
a. Attachment of probes to DNA fragments
b. Transfer of DNA fragments from electrophoretic gel to a nitrocellulose sheet
c. Comparison of DNA fragments to two sources
d. Transfer of DNA fragments to electrophoretic gel from cellulose membrane
5. ELISA is
a. Using radiolabelled second antibody
b. Usage of RBCs
c. Using complement-mediated cell lysis
d. Addition of substrate that is converted into a coloured end product
6. The Golden Rice variety is rich in
a. Vitamin C
b. Β-carotene and ferritin
c. Biotin
d. Lysine
7. The DNA fragments have sticky ends due to
a. Endonuclease
b. Unpaired bases
c. Calcium ions

2. d. Free methylation
8. Plasmids are used as cloning vectors for which of the following reasons?
a. Can be multiplied in culture
b. Self-replication in bacterial cells
c. Can be multiplied in laboratories with the help of enzymes
d. Replicate freely outside bacterial cells
9. The human genome project was launched in the year
a. 1980
b. 1973
c. 1990
d. 1989
10. The vaccines prepared through recombinant DNA technology are
a. Third generation vaccines
b. First-generation vaccines
c. Second-generation vaccines
d. None
11. Which is a genetically modified crop?
a. Bt-cotton
b. Bt-brinjal
c. Golden rice
d. All
12. PCR technique was invented by
a. Karry Mullis
b. Boyer
c. Sanger
d. Cohn
13. The first transgenic plant to be produced is
a. Brinjal
b. Tobacco
c. Rice
d. Cotton
14. RNA interference helps in
a. Cell proliferation
b. Micropropagation
c. Cell defence
d. Cell differentiation
15. Which of the following is the quality of improved transgenic basmati rice?
a. Gives high yield but no characteristic aroma
b. Gives high yield and is rich in vitamin A
c. Does not require chemical fertilizers and growth hormones
d. Resistant to insects and diseases
16. The first clinical application of gene therapy over a 4 year old girl was for

3. a. Adenosine deaminase deficiency
b. Adenosine deficiency
c. Growth deficiency
d. Adenine deficiency
17. Excision and insertion of a gene is called
a. Biotechnology
b. Genetic engineering
c. Cytogenetics
d. Gene therapy
18. The expression of a transgene in the target tissue is identified by a
a. Transgene
b. Promoter
c. Enhancer
d. Reporter
19. ———– is used as a vector for cloning into higher organisms
a. Retrovirus
b. Baculovirus
c. Salmonella typhimurium
d. Rhizopus nigricans
20. Which bacterium is used in the production of insulin by genetic engineering?
a. Saccharomyces
b. Rhizobium
c. Escherichia
d. Mycobacterium
Answer key
1- a 2- b 3- b 4- b 5- d 6- b 7- b 8- b 9- 3 10- a
11- d 12- a 13- b 14- c 15- b 16- a 17- b 18- d 19- a 20- c
Biotechnology and Its Principles
Biotechnology is the use of technology for modifying or manipulating a biological
system. Biotechnology utilises a living system for making different products.
Biotechnology is widely used in several fields such as agriculture,
medicine, genetics and production of various commercial products such as alcohol, wine,
chemicals, etc. People have been using biotechnology for ages for brewing and baking purpose.
What is Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the life science, which generally deals with the study of living
organisms. It is an application of biology and different other techniques to change or to modify
products for specific human use. Biotechnology is also known as biological technology.

4. Biotechnology is an amalgamation of biology and technology for our betterment and
sustainable development. Modern biotechnology includes genetic engineering, bioinformatics
and bioprocess engineering.
Genetic engineering is used to alter genetic composition of an organism. It is widely
used to insert a gene of choice like pest-resistant or antibiotic-resistant genes, etc. to a host by
using a cloning vector. It integrates the desirable gene in the host genome and transformation
can be seen in the phenotype of the host.
In Bioprocess engineering, production of various products such as enzymes, antibodies,
organic acids, vaccines, etc. is facilitated and done on a large scale. The desired
microorganisms are grown under controlled, sterile and suitable conditions for this purpose.
Principles of Biotechnology
Modern biotechnology is highly dependent on genetic engineering.
Genetic Engineering
The principle of genetic engineering is to manipulate and modify the genetic material
of an organism or plants to insert desirable traits. Recombinant DNA technology is the main
pillar of genetic engineering.
Recombinant DNA Technology is a technique to alter genes of an organism or plant.
The desired gene is inserted into host using recombinant DNA technology. The host shows the
desired trait phenotypically, which is governed by the inserted gene.
The recombinant DNA technology involves following main steps:
 Selection of the desired gene
 Selection of vector for the transfer of the gene known as a cloning vector, e.g. plasmid
 Insertion of recombinant DNA into the host
 Maintaining the introduced DNA in the host so that it is passed on to the next generation
Recombinant DNA Technology requires various tools like vector, host and enzymes such
as restriction enzymes, ligases, polymerases, etc.
Process
 Restriction enzymes are known as molecular scissors, that cut the desired sequence of
DNA.
 This DNA is then ligated into the vector with the help of ligases before inserting it into
the host organism.
 The DNA-vector combination is known as the Recombinant DNA which is then
transformed into the host.
 This recombinant DNA, also known as the foreign DNA gets multiplied within the host.
 It is then provided with optimum conditions to induce the expression of the target
protein. This protein is known as the recombinant protein.
 Many genetically modified crops are produced using this technology, e.g. Bt cotton a
pest-resistant variety of cotton.
Bioprocess Engineering

5. Modern biotechnology is responsible for the advancement in the pharmaceutical
industry. It helped in the production and storage of products like antibiotics, enzymes, vaccines,
etc at a large scale.
A large amount of culture can be obtained by carrying out multiplication of organisms
in the bioreactors under sterile and optimum conditions. We get a higher yield of the required
product using bioprocess engineering.
Process
 The obtained products are subjected to a series of processes before being marketed.
 The products are purified by a process called downstream processing and formulated
by undergoing clinical trials.
 The product undergoes a strict quality check before it is subjected to further trials.
The modern processes in biotechnology are used for human welfare and have a significant
impact on our life. The products have greatly enhanced various medicines and food
production. Extensive research is going on this field to combat various diseases and improve
quality of life.
Importance of Biotechnology in Human Life
Biotechnology plays a very important role in human welfare and has revolutionized
mankind since its existence. It contributes much towards the human’s welfare and their health
needs.
Few of them are listed below:
Biotechnology In Agriculture
The application of biotechnology in agriculture field helps in improving food quality,
quantity, and processing. Bio-fertilizers and Bio-pesticides are eco-friendly sources for
agriculture, which contains the living microorganisms that help in promoting growth by
increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients. Farmers choose biotech crops to
increase the yield and in lower production costs.
Biotechnology in Medicine
In the field of medicines, Biotechnology is widely used in the development of several
innovative techniques for diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases. It helps in providing
effective treatments and prevention measures for different disease by its inventions of novel
drugs and recombinant vaccines.
The Therapeutic proteins have a greater effect against a variety of non-communicable
diseases, which was responsible for over 50-60% of deaths in developing countries.
With the help of modern biotechnology, many diagnostic tools have been introduced
for the detection of diseases in a quick and accurate manner.
Biotechnology in Flora and Fauna

6. Biotechnology develops the process of micropropagation system, a new method of
plant breeding for producing many new plant species and of new varieties with highly desirable
characteristics.
Productions of genetically engineered plants with highly desirable characteristics have
been very effective. These crops result from the alteration in the genetic makeup of the crops
and this modification leads to a number of potential advantages including the production of
crops, quality of crops, increased nutritional qualities of food crops, improved taste, texture or
appearance of food, reduced dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals and
lot more.
Biotechnology has a wide application in animal husbandry. Several transgenic animals
were produced to transfer the growth hormones, improve the efficiency of egg, meat and milk
production.
Biotechnology in Environment
Biotechnology is also involved in controlling the environmental pollution through
biodegradation of potential pollutants, recycling of wastes and other waste treatment
technologies.
Biotechnology plays a major role in monitoring and controlling the
environmental pollutions through the biological applications including
bioremediation, biomonitoring, biotreatment and biodegradation of all the solid, liquid and
gaseous wastes. Apart from these, there are many other biotechnological treatments applied to
monitor the different components of the environment.
Biotechnology in human health and their welfare
Biotechnology has been playing a dynamic role in improving the challenges regarding
human health and their welfare. There are many more research and investigation processes
carried out for improving the future technologies.
Biotechnology has played a significant role in improving human health by producing
enriched nutrients food products such as Golden Rice, potato, maize, groundnuts, and soybean
etc.
Trypsin is used for dissociating the tissue into single cells.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: Trypsin is a proteolytic enzyme and is used for dissociating the tissue into single
cells. During the primary culture, tissue samples are taken generally from the embryos rather
than the adult organism because of easy dissociation.
In the secondary culture, cells are obtained from _______________________
a) primary culture
b) the organism
c) organ culture
d) phenotypic culture

7. Answer: a
Explanation: The culture that is done after the primary culture is known as the secondary
culture (the process termed passaging or subculturing). The primary culture is obtained from
the organism itself.
EDTA binds the ______________ ions.
a) magnesium
b) iron
c) carbon
d) calcium
Answer: d
Explanation: EDTA (ethylenediamine tetracetate) is a chelating agent that binds to calcium
ions and prevents cellular adhesion. A chelating agent reacts with metal ions to form a water-
soluble complex.
HeLa cells are a cell line.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: If a homogenous cell culture has the ability to grow indefinitely in vitro, it is
termed a cell line. Cell lines would never undergo apoptosis and senescence. HeLa is a
cancerous cell line derived from humans and was the first line to be maintained.
Under favorable conditions, the protoplasts can grow into a ______________
a) callus culture
b) organ culture
c) root culture
d) shoot culture
Answer: a
Explanation: Under favorable conditions and chemically defined media, the protoplasts can
grow into an undifferentiated cell mass, known as the callus culture. Protoplasts are the cells
whose plasma membranes have been removed.
The process of dedifferentiation in cell culture can give rise to _____________
a) induced-pluripotent stem cells
b) carcinoma cells
c) single protoplasts
d) fused protoplasts
Answer: a
Explanation: Dedifferentiation is the process by which the differentiated cells reprogram and
go back to their precursor counterparts. The cells that are induced to undergo
dedifferentiation are termed as induced pluripotent stem cells.
The growth of animal cells in vitro in a suitable culture medium is called___________
a) Gene expression
b) Transgenesis
c) Plant tissue culture

8. d) Animal cell culture
Answer: d
Explanation: Animal cell culture is the process of growing cell in vitro in a suitable culture
medium which contains a mixture of nutrients and growth factors.
Cells from kidney tissues cannot survive independently, it requires other surface for
attachment and survival.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: Cells derived from kidney tissues are anchorage dependent primary cell culture
which requires another surface for attachment and survival.
Name the type of culture which is prepared by inoculating directly from the tissue of an
organism to culture media?
a) Primary cell culture
b) Secondary cell culture
c) Cell lines
d) Transformed cell culture
Answer: a
Explanation: Primary cell culture is the direct inoculation of the tissues of an organism into a
culture medium without going prior to cell proliferation.
4. What is a cell line?
a) Multilayer culture
b) Transformed cells
c) Multiple growth of cells
d) Sub culturing of primary culture
Answer: d
Explanation: Cell line is defined as the sub culturing of primary cell culture. It can be a finite
cell line or a infinite cell line.
5. Name the organism on which first cell line was observed?
a) E.coli
b) Sheep
c) Mouse
d) Drosophila
Answer: c
Explanation: First cell line observed was mouse fibroblast L cell which was derived from
connective tissues of mouse by exposing it to a chemical carcinogen.
Which of the following is the characteristics of a normal cell?
a) Anchorage independent
b) Continuous cell lines
c) Dependent on external growth factor
d) No contact inhibition

9. Answer: c
Explanation: A normal cell needs external factors for its survival. It is anchorage dependent
and have a finite number of cell lines.
Name the cell line of the human embryonic lung?
a) HeLa
b) WISH
c) L
d) MRC-5
Answer: d
Explanation: MRC-5 is the cell line of the human embryonic lung while HeLa is the cell line
of human cervical carcinoma. L represents human connective tissue and WISH is the cell line
of human amnion.
Which of the following is NOT the part of growth medium for animal culture?
a) Starch
b) Serum
c) Carbon source
d) Inorganic salts
Answer: a
Explanation: Growth medium of an animal cell contains serum (5-20%), nitrogen sources,
inorganic salts, carbon sources, growth factors, buffer in water and vitamins.
Which of the following is NOT the major function of the serum?
a) Promotion of tuber and bulb formation
b) Stimulate cell growth
c) Enhance cell attachment
d) Provide transport proteins
Answer: a
Explanation: Serum is the primary component of growth medium which helps in cell
attachment and growth. It also provides transport protein for carrying hormone, lipids, and
minerals.
Prophylactic is also an antibiotic.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for “an advance guard”,
an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence. A
prophylactic is a medication or a treatment designed and used to prevent a disease from
occurring. For example, prophylactic antibiotics may be used after a bout of rheumatic fever
to prevent the subsequent development of Sydenham’s chorea. A prophylactic is also a drug
or device, particularly a condom, for preventing pregnancy.
Hybridoma cells have an application to produce:
a) Antigens
b) Antibodies
c) Cancer cells

10. d) Cell lines
Answer: b
Explanation: Hybridoma cells are obtained by fusing lymphocytes (normal blood cells that
make antibodies) with myeloma (cancer) cells. Lymphocytes producing antibodies grow
slowly and are mortal. After fusion with myeloma cells, hybridomas become immortal, can
reproduce indefinitely, and produce antibodies. Using hybridoma cells, highly specific,
monoclonal (originating from one cell) antibodies can be produced against specific antigens.
Monoclonal antibodies are also used for chromatographic separations.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: MAb’s are also used for chromatographic separations to purify protein
molecules. Purification of interferon by affinity chromatography is an example of the use of
MAb’s for protein purification purposes.
Monoclonal antibodies are referred as ___________
a) Magic bullets
b) Magic gun
c) Magic shots
d) Magic bomb
Answer: a
Explanation: In the early 1900s, German Nobel Laureate Paul Ehrlich imagined an ideal
therapy for disease, a drug precisely targeted to an invader, which if linked to a toxic
chemical would act like a missile, carrying a destructive payload directly to the disease.
Ehrlich said the drug would be a ‘Magische Kugel’, which in English means ‘Magic Bullet’.
Such a therapy, he theorized, would be ideal for countless diseases, including cancer.
Antibody fragments lack fc domain.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: There are a range of applications in which Fc mediated effects are not required
and are even undesirable. A common solution for applications where the antibody is only
being used to block a signalling molecule or receptor is the use of antibody fragments that
lack the Fc domain. This also helps to reduce the other main failure of therapeutic antibodies,
namely the lack of delivery, which is especially true for anti-cancer antibodies.
Antibody fragments are advantageous than Monoclonal antibodies.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: The large size of MAb’s has limited their ability to penetrate some tumors.
Antibody fragments can be used instead; these products can be made in nonmammalian cells.
The use of smaller fragments enables deeper penetration with the affinity of the antibody also
being critical and if it is too high this will restrict its ability to penetrate a tumour.

11. Interferon is a virus.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Explanation: Interferon (an anticancer glycoprotein secreted by animal cells upon exposure to
cancer causing agents) is an example of an immunoregulator produced by mammalian cells.
Interferon can be produced by either animal cells or recombinant (genetically engineered)
bacteria.
Lymphokines are produced both by T-cell and B-cell.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Explanation: Lymphokines are a subset of cytokines that are produced by a type of immune
cell known as a lymphocyte. They are protein mediators typically produced by T cells to
direct the immune system response by signaling between its cells. Lymphokines aid B cells to
produce antibodies.
Thymosins are:
a) Small proteins
b) Medium proteins
c) Large proteins
d) Globular proteins
Answer: a
Explanation: Thymosins are small proteins present in many animal tissues. They are named
thymosins because they were originally isolated from the thymus, but most are now known to
be present in many other tissues. Thymosins have diverse biological activities, and two in
particular, thymosins α1 and β4, have potentially important uses in medicine, some of which
have already progressed from the laboratory to the clinic. In relation to diseases, thymosins
have been categorized as biological response modifiers.
Subunit vaccines from Virus contain viral DNA.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Explanation: A vaccine which, through chemical extraction, is free from viral nucleic acid
and contains only specific protein subunits of a given virus; such vaccines are relatively free
of the adverse reactions (for example, influenza virus) associated with vaccines containing
the whole virion.
The poor antigen in a conjugate vaccine is:
a) Strong protein
b) Weak protein
c) A Polysaccharide
d) Non-polysaccharide
Answer: c
Explanation: A conjugate vaccine is created by covalently attaching a poor antigen to a strong

12. antigen thereby eliciting a stronger immunological response to the poor antigen. Most
commonly, the poor antigen is a polysaccharide that is attached to strong protein antigen.
Eicosanoids is a type of ________________
a) Hormone
b) Antibiotic
c) Vaccine
d) Antigen
Answer: a
Explanation: Eicosanoids are lipid hormones – hormones made from lipids, kinds of fats.
Amines is a type of hormone.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Explanation: There are two major chemical classes of hormones, peptides (proteins) and
steroid hormones. Protein based hormones can be divided into three categories: proteins,
peptides and amines.
Baculovirus infects insect cell lines and are also pathogenic to humans.
a) True
b) False
What do you mean by glycosylation?
a) Addition of sugar
b) Non-addition of sugar
c) Lysis of sugar moieties
d) Blockage of sugar molecules
Answer: a
Explanation: Glycosylation is a critical function of the biosynthetic-secretory pathway in the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. Approximately half of all proteins typically
expressed in a cell undergo this modification, which entails the covalent addition of sugar
moieties to specific amino acids.
What is animal tissue culture?
Animal tissue culture involves the growth and maintenance of animal cells Invitro
inappropriate nutrition media and growth conditions. Thus, when cells are grown and
maintained under laboratory conditions, the process is known as cell culture.
Basics terms used in cell culture
Organ culture: the term refers to the tissue that remains the same as in-vivo histological
features is known as organ culture. Cell Culture: the term refers to the disaggregated cells
obtained from the original tissue or cell line. Histotypic culture: the term refers to the cell
culture for their reaggregation to form a tissue-like structure Organotypic culture: the term
refers to the recombination of different types of cells to form more defined tissue or
organ Primary culture: the term refers to the culture freshly prepared from isolated tissue or
cells from an organism Cell line: the term refers to, when the primary cultures are

13. subcultured which results in cell lines. Continuous cell lines are the indefinite growth of the
cells in subsequent sub-culturing. Whereas, finite cell lines refers to cell death after multiple
subcultures. Minimum laboratory requirement for animal cell culture technology
1. Infrastructure: animal house, microbial laboratory, clean and quite sterile area,
preparation facilities, storage facilities for glassware, chemicals, liquids, and small
equipment.
2. Equipment: equipment like Laminar flow, sterilizer, CO2 cylinder, refrigerator, ware
purifier, pipette washer, deep washing sink, liquid nitrogen freezer, inverted
microscope, balance, a slow cooling device for freezing cells, centrifuge are the
minimum requirement for animal cell tissue culture laboratory.
3. Culture vessels: vessels such as Petri dish, flasks, multiwell plates, stirrer bottles are
generally used for cell culture. They are made of glass or disposable plastics such as
polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, mentinex, and thermonex. The
material used in culture techniques is important because the surface of the vessel
serves as a substrate for cells to grow.
4. Contamination in tissue culture laboratories: several routes like materials i.e.
glassware, pipettes, types of equipment like incubators, refrigerators, laminar flow
hood, reagents like media, solutions are major factors responsible for the
contamination.
5. Aseptic condition: proper aseptic conditions are maintained to reduce contamination
from different microorganisms and viruses.
6. Sterilization: Dry heat sterilization at 160oC for one hour, moist heat of autoclave at
121oC for 15-20 mins, and sterilization by a filter of 0.1-0.2 µm size is used to kill
microorganisms, and destroying spores.
Advantages of Animal tissue culture
1. Cultured cells are easy to store for long period in liquid nitrogen
2. Cell categorization is easy for immunological and cytological studies
3. Biological studies can be easily done using cell cultures
4. Cell culture techniques can reduce the use of animals in various studies.
Limitations
1. Technical skill and expertise is required to carry tissue culture techniques
2. The cost factor for tissue culture production is very high
3. It is not easy to control environmental factors like pH. Temperature, dissolved gases,
etc.
4. Disposal of biohazards is not easy
5. Genetic instability is seen in continuous cell lines
Application of animal tissue culture
1. Intracellular activities like cell cycle, cell differentiation, etc can be studied
2. Studies on hormonal receptors, signal transduction can be done using cell culture
3. Cell cultures can be used to evaluate environmental interactions like genotoxicity,
mutagenesis, etc
4. Cell culture can be used for the production of vaccines e.g. malaria vaccine

14. 5. Production of high-value therapeutics such as plasminogen, interferons, blood clotting
factors, hormones, monoclonal antibodies, and erythropoietin can be done using
animal tissue culture.
The risk associated with Animal tissue culture
Risks category Factors
Maintenance ricks leakage of disposals, age, and condition
of the equipment
Personnel risks lack of interest and concentration and
inadequate training
Physical risks Intense cold, electric shocks, and fire
Chemical risks Exposure to toxic substances like
poisons, carcinogens, mutagen, irritants,
and allergens
Biohazards Viruses, pathogenic organisms, culture
cells, and DNA
Radioisotope risks Energy emission its penetrations and
ionization
Multiple-choice Questions
What is animal tissue culture?
a) Growth and maintenance of animal cells
b) Growth and selling of animal cells
c) Only maintenance of animal cells
d) All
Culture freshly prepared from isolated tissue is known as _____
a) Organ culture
b) Primary culture
c) Cell line
d) Histotypic culture
Recombination of different types of cells to form more defined tissue or organ is known
as __________________

15. a) Organotypic culture
b) Primary culture
c) Secondary culture
d) Cell line
______________is the primary equipment required for animal tissue culture
laboratories
a) Glasswares
b) Laminar flow
c) Sterilizers
d) All
The material used in culture techniques is important because the surface of the vessel
serves as a substrate for cells to grow.
a) True
b) False
The following are methods of sterilization EXCEPT:
a) Dry heat sterilization
b) Autoclaving
c) Sterilization by filters
d) Laminar airflow
The following are the routes of contamination in tissue culture laboratories EXCEPT:
a) Incubators
b) Refrigerators
c) Laminar flow hood
d) Autoclave
_____________is the advantage of animal tissue culture
a) It is cost-effective
b) No skilled personnel is required
c) Tissue cultures can be stored for a long time
d) Maintenance of environmental conditions is easy
_________________is one of the limitation of animal tissue culture
a) Disposal of biohazards is not easy
b) Cultured cells are not easy to store
c) Both

16. d) None
Exposure to carcinogens is a contributing factor for _________
a) Chemical risk
b) Biohazards
c) Physical risk
d) Personnel risk
Sometimes cell lines can be cultured for such a long time that they apparently develop
the potential to be subcultured indefinitely in vitro. Such cells lines are called
1. established cell lines
2. primary cell lines
3. secondary cell lines
4. propagated cell lines
Answer : 1
Higher dissolved oxygen concentration in the culture media are toxic and lead to
1. DNA degradation
2. lipid peroxidation
3. metabolism of nutrients in culture media at a rate greater than that required for
consumption
4. all of the above
Answer : 4
Which of the following is the technique used for the embryo culture?
1. Organ cultures on plasma clots
2. Organ cultures on agar
3. Whole embryo cultures
4. All of these
Answer : 4
The major problem associated with the isolation of free cells and cell aggregates from
organs is that of
1. releasing the cells from their supporting matrix
2. inhibiting the cells from their supporting matrix
3. disintegrating the cells from their supporting matrix
4. none of the above
Answer : 1
The technique of organ culture may be divided on the basis of employing
1. solid medium
2. liquid medium
3. both (1) and (2)
4. semi-solid medium
Answer : 3
At low glucose concentration, below 0.25 mmol/litre, large portions of glucose and
glutamine is shunted via
1. oxidative pathway
2. anaerobic pathway
3. both (1) and (2)
4. none of these
Answer : 1

17. An established cell line can be called where it has been subcultured at least
1. 70 times at an interval of 3 days between subcultures
2. 40 times at an interval of 3 days between subcultures
3. 70 times at an interval of 1 day between subcultures
4. 50 times at an interval of 3 days between subcultures
Answer : 1
Specific oxygen consumption rates for mammalian cells are in the range of
(where n and prepresents to nano and pico respectively)
1. 0.05-5 nmol of O2/cell/h
2. 5 – 10 nmol of O2 /cell/h
3. 0.05-5 pmol of O2/cell/h
4. 5 – 10 pmol of O2/cell/h
Answer : 3
Which of the following is not a source of energy in active muscle cells?
1. Creatine phosphate
2. ATP
3. Lactic acid
4. Glucose
Answer : 3
In animal cell culture, particularly mammalian cell culture, transformation means
1. uptake of new genetic material
2. phenotypic modifications of cells in culture
3. both (1)and (2)
4. release of genetic information
Answer : 2
How does CO2 help in the cell metabolism during cell culture?
1. It participates in the de novo synthesis of purines and pyrimidines
2. Helps in the cells respiration
3. For monitoring pH of the culture
4. All of the above
Answer : 1
Which of the following is not the explantation technique?
1. Slide culture
2. Carrel flask culture
3. Roller test tube culture
4. Adherent primary culture
Answer : 4
Cells which have undergone transformation frequently become
1. anchorage independent
2. anchorage dependent
3. stable
4. unstable
Answer : 1
During the growth of animal cells in culture, it is noticed that the cells do not look very
healthy. After an investigation, this is found that there is a lot of lactic acid in the
culture fluid. What is probably wrong with this culture?
1. Ethyl alcohol is being produced in excess
2. The cells have too much oxygen
3. Glycolysis is being inhibited

18. 4. The cells do not have enough oxygen
Answer : 4
Range of optimum glucose concentration present in the culture media is
1. 5.5 – 55 mmol/litre
2. 55 – 75 mmol/litre
3. 75-105 mmol/litre
4. 105-150 mmol/litre
Answer : 1
Range of optimum glutamine concentration present in the culture media is
1. 1-2 mmol/litre
2. 2-7 mmol/litre
3. 7-15 mmol/litre
4. 15 – 20 mmol/litre
Answer : 2
The human fibroplast is a classical example of
1. stable primary cell lines
2. established cell lines
3. cell transformations
4. none of these
Answer : 1
pH of culture medium is initially controlled by
1. presence of CO2
2. presence of bicarbonate buffer
3. addition of bases
4. none of these
Answer : 2
Which of the following abnormality, resulted from the inheritance of an unbalanced
complement of chromosomes can be diagnosed through karotyping?
1. Down’s syndrome
2. Turner’s syndrome
3. Klinefelter’s syndrome
4. all of these
Answer : 4
What is the concentration of CO2 required for culturing animal cells?
1. 2-5%
2. 1-10%
3. 10-15%
4. 15-20%
Answer : 2
Which of the following is correct?
1. ECL can be established in suspension cultures whereas it is exceptional for primary cell
lines (PCL)
2. ECL and PCL can be established in suspension cultures
3. PCL can be established in suspension cultures
4. none of the above
Answer : 1
Which of the followings are the metabolic products of glucose and glutamine?
1. CO2 and NH3
2. CO2 and lactate
3. Lactate and ammonium

19. 4. Lactate only
Answer : 3
To prevent the accumulation of lactate
1. low glutamine concentration is required
2. high glutamine concentration is required
3. low glucose concentration is required
4. high glucose concentration is required
Answer : 3
What are the main constituents of culture for animal cell growth?
1. Glucose and Glutamine
2. Growth factors
3. Cytokines
4. All of these
Answer : 1
When dissolved oxygen is lower than the critical concentration, viable cell concentration
declines because of
1. incomplete glutamine oxidation
2. increase in specific lactate production from glucose
3. both (1) and (2)
4. accumulation of ammonia
Answer : 3
According to Eagle, the growth of L-strain and Hela-strain cultures require to have
mandatory presence of
1. 6 amino acids
2. 8 amino acids
3. 10 amino acids
4. 12 amino acids
Answer : 4
Excess CO2 suppress cell growth and productivity by
1. inhibiting respiration
2. altering intracellular pH by diffusing across cell membrane
3. both (1) and (2)
4. altering pH of the medium
Answer : 3
Which of the following is incorrect?
1. Established cell lines (ECL) have short doubling time
2. ECL are invariably aneuploid
3. ECL grow in higher density
4. ECL do not show much evidence of spatial orientation
Answer : 3
What is the effect of excess accumulation of metabolite products (lactate and
ammonium) on cells?
1. They act as growth promoters
2. They act as growth inhibitors
3. Have no effect on cells
4. Lactate helps in the growth while ammonium inhibits the growth
Answer : 4
For culturing, plasma from the adult chicken is preferred to mammalian plasma
because
1. it forms a clear and solid coagulum even after dilution

20. 2. it is too opaque
3. it doesn’t produce solid clots
4. it forms a semi solid coagulum
Answer : 1
Toxicity due to accumulation of ammonia can be overcome
1. by substituting glutamine by glutamate
2. by controlled addition of glutamine at low level
3. by removal of ammonia or ammonium from culture medium
4. all of the above
Answer : 4
Range of osmolarity tolerated/accepted in mOsm/Kg of H2O by mammalian cells is
1. 150-300
2. 280-360
3. 300-325
4. 360-400
Answer : 2
Disaggregating of cells can be achieved by
1. physical disruption
2. enzymatic digestion
3. treating with chelating agents
4. all of the above
Answer : 4
Accumulation of lactate leads to
1. increase in pH
2. no change in pH
3. reduction in the pH of culture hence loss of cell viability
4. no loss of cell viability
Answer : 3
Complete the sentence by selecting the correct option from the three options below.
Plotting a semi-logarithmic graph of the rate of cell proliferation over time produces a
______ _____.
a) growth curve
b) log phase
c) contact inhibition
The following are a list of essential components of cell culture media. Match them to the
requirements for effective cell culture which they fulfil.
Phenol red pH indicator
Glutamine Glucose and amino acids for respiration
Inorganic salts Regulation of osmotic pressure and membrane potential

21. Bicarbonate pH buffer
The following oxygen tensions are commonly encountered in cell culture when replicating in
vivo conditions. Match them to the concentrations they describe.
Hypoxic =5 %
Normoxic ~20%
Anoxic =1%
Subculturing a cell line always increase the passage number. Is this true or false?
a) True
b) False
A cell line always requires enzymatic dissociation before it can be distributed between
new culture vessels. Is this true or false?
a) True
b) False
Senescence refers to the process by which a cell line is found to contain chromosomes
characteristics of another cell line due to cross-contamination. Is this true or false?
a) True
b) False
The total number of cells in a culture is counted using the trypan blue exclusion assay
and is found to be 2.7 x 106 cells/ml. The culture is diluted 1:27 and then 100μl seededper
well into a 96 well plate. What is the final cell density per well?
a) 1 x105
b) 2.7 x 104
c) 2.7 x 105
d) 1 x 104
The total number of cells in a culture is counted using the trypan blue exclusion assay
and is found to be 6.8 x 106 cells/ml. Each well in a 6 well plate requires 2 x 105 cells.
How should the solution be diluted so that 1ml can be added to each well?
a) 1:6.8 then 1:10

22. b) 1:10 then 1:2
c) 1:3.4 then 1:10
d) 1.3.4 then 1:2
The foundation for the development of cell culture technique was laid by
(a) Roux
(b) Arnold
(c) Ross
(d) Harrison
Who is regarded as the father of tissue culture
(a) Harrison
(b) Arnold
(c) Ross
(d) Roux
The limited replicative capacity of human cells in culture is called
(a) Hayflick effect
(b) Brownian effect
(c) Contact inhibition
(d) None of the above
HAT medium used for the selectionof fused hybrid cells in hybridoma culture was
introduced by
(a) Littlefield and Miller
(b) Kohler and Milstein
(c) Frish and Jentoft
(d) Eagle and Karl
Which of the following is HGPRT+ and survives in HAT medium
(a) B cells
(b) Myeloma cells
(c) Hybrid cells
(d) Both a and c
Use of trypsin to free cells from tissue matrix for cell culture was described by
(a) Jolly and Koch
(b) Beebe and Ewing
(c) Sims and Stillman
(d) Gottieb Maberland
Cells used in feeder layer
(a) Should have ability to divide
(b) Have ability to metabolize
(c) These properties are obtained by exposing cells to irradiation
(d) All of the above
Cell culture technique became simpler only after advent of
(a) Antibiotics
(b) Trypsin
(c) Cell culture media
(d) All of the following
Which of the following is true regarding animal cell culture technique
(a) Lactic acid is source of carbon
(b) Cells have high requirement of L-glutamine

23. (c) Cholin is necessary for cell adhesion and cytoskeleton
(d) All of the following
Which of the following is the structural fibre in cell culture system
(a) Collagen
(b) Elastin
(c) Fibronectin
(d) Both a and b
Optimum pH required for the growth of mammalian cells is
(a) 5.3-7.0
(b) 6.5-7.0
(c) 7.2-7.4
(d) 8.1-8.9
The optimum temperature of any cell or organ is called
(a) Critical temperature
(b) Threshold temperature
(c) Ceiling temperature
(d) None of the above
For culture of avian cells the optimum temperature requirement is
(a) 37 ̊C
(b) 40 ̊C
(c) 42 ̊C
(d) 35 ̊C
Which of the following is the oldest cell line
(a) Hela cell line
(b) Vero cell line
(c) CHO cell line
(d) BHK cell line
Which cell line is used for production of recombinant sex hormones
(a) BHK cell line
(b) Vero cell line
(c) Hela cell line
(d) CHO cell line
The ratio of CO2 : O2 used in cell culture systemshould be
(a) 1:5
(b) 1:13
(c) 1:19
(d) 1:25
Which of the following is most commonly used cell fusing agent
(a) PEG
(b) NaNO3
(c) Sendai virus
(d) Polyvinyl alcohal
Which of the following virus is used for cell fusion
(a) Sendai virus
(b) Herpes virus
(c) Myxovirus
(d) All of the following
Which of the following is easy and rapid method to interpret viability of cells in culture
system
(a) Trypan blue dye exclusion

24. (b) Neutral red assay
(c) Fluorescein dye assay
(d) All of the following
Vero cell line is obtained from Kidney cells of
(a) African green monkey
(b) Chinese hamster
(c) Calf
(d) Swine
ANSWERS
1.(a) 2.(a) 3.(a) 4.(a) 5.(d) 6.(c) 7.(d) 8.(d) 9.(d) 10.(d) 11.(C) 12.(c) 13.(b) 14.(a) 15.(d)
16.(c) 17.(a) 18.(d) 19.(a) 20.(a)
Animal Biotechnology involves---
a. Production of valuable products in animals using
b. rDNA technology
c. Rapid multiplication of animals of desired genotypes
d. All of these
Animal cell cultures are used widely for the production of---
a. Insulin
b. Somatisation
c. Mabs
d. Thyroxine
The first vaccine developed from animal cell culture was---
a. Hepatitis B vaccine
b. Influenza vaccine
c. Small pox vaccine
d. Polio vaccine
Which of the following are commonly produced in a animal cell cultures
a. Interferon
b. Mabs
c. Vaccine
d. All of these
The cell line used for the production of Polio vaccine was---
a. Primate kidney cell line
b. Mouse fibroblast cell line
c. CHO cell line
d. Dog kidney cell line
Recombinants proteins are-----
a. Protein synthesized in animals
b. Proteins synthesized by transgene in host cells by rDNA technology
c. Proteins synthesized in cells that are produced by protoplast fusion

25. d. Proteins synthesized in mutated cell lines
Interferon’s are---
a. Anti-bacterial proteins
b. Anti-viral proteins
c. Bacterials proteins
d. All of these
The virus commonly used to infect cell cultures for the production of interferon is----
a. Corona virus
b. Sendai virus
c. Bacteriostatic virus
d. All of these
Hybrid Antibodies are---
a. Antibodies produced in cell cultures
b. Antibodies designed using rDNA technology produced in cell cultures
c. Antibodies produced in cell cultures
d. Both a & b
The technique used in Animal Biotechnology for the rapid multiplication and production of
Animals with a desirable genotype is---
a. Protoplast fusion & embryo transfer
b. Hybrid selection and embryo transfer
c. In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer
d. All of these
The production of complete animals from somatic cells of an Animal is called---
a. Gene cloning
b. Animal cloning
c. Cell cloning
d. All of these
The first successfully cloned animal was---
a. Monkey
b. Gibbon
c. Rabbit
d. Sheep
In humans, the babies produced by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer was popularly
called as----
a. In-vitro babies
b. Testtube babies
c. Invitro-invivo babies
d. All of these