Genetic Modification Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. Which feature of bacteria makes them particularly useful for genetic modification in biotechnology?
- A. They contain plasmids which can be used to introduce foreign DNA
- B. They have a nucleus which makes DNA insertion easier
- C. They reproduce slowly, allowing time for genetic changes to stabilise
- D. They can only be modified using viral vectors
2. Why is the rapid reproduction rate of bacteria considered an advantage in biotechnology?
- A. It allows for quicker production of useful proteins and molecules in large quantities
- B. It prevents any ethical concerns about manipulating living organisms
- C. It eliminates the need for plasmids in genetic modification
- D. It makes bacterial DNA identical to human DNA
3. Which of the following best explains why there are fewer ethical concerns when genetically modifying bacteria compared to other organisms?
- A. Bacteria are single-celled organisms without sentience, and are not considered to have welfare concerns in the same way as multicellular animals
- B. Bacteria cannot survive outside a laboratory environment
- C. Genetic modification of bacteria is illegal in most countries
- D. Bacteria are incapable of being genetically modified using plasmids
4. A biotechnology company wants to produce a specific enzyme on a large scale. Why would using genetically modified bacteria be more efficient than using genetically modified mammals?
- A. Bacteria reproduce rapidly, have few ethical concerns, and can be cultured easily in large bioreactors to produce large quantities quickly
- B. Mammals produce enzymes that are more active than those produced by bacteria
- C. Bacteria can only produce enzymes if they contain plasmids, whereas mammals cannot
- D. Genetically modified mammals reproduce faster than bacteria
5. A scientist is designing an experiment to produce a therapeutic protein using biotechnology. She must choose between using bacteria or plant cells. Which characteristic specific to bacteria would be the primary advantage for this application?
- A. The possession of plasmids that can act as vectors for introducing the foreign gene, combined with rapid reproduction allowing quick and efficient protein production at scale
- B. The ability of bacteria to photosynthesise and produce their own energy source
- C. The presence of a cell wall that prevents contamination
- D. The larger size of bacterial cells compared to plant cells, making them easier to manipulate