Q.1 Which microorganism is commonly used in the production of penicillin?
Aspergillus niger
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Penicillium chrysogenum
Escherichia coli
Explanation - Penicillium chrysogenum is the mold responsible for large-scale industrial production of penicillin.
Correct answer is: Penicillium chrysogenum
Q.2 Which process uses microorganisms to convert sugars into ethanol?
Photosynthesis
Fermentation
Respiration
Nitrogen fixation
Explanation - Fermentation by yeast converts sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide, widely applied in brewing and biofuel production.
Correct answer is: Fermentation
Q.3 What is the main advantage of using immobilized enzymes in industrial microbiology?
They are cheaper to produce
They can be reused
They grow faster
They produce more heat
Explanation - Immobilized enzymes are fixed onto a support, allowing repeated use and continuous processes, making them cost-effective.
Correct answer is: They can be reused
Q.4 Which microorganism is used for the large-scale production of citric acid?
Candida albicans
Aspergillus niger
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Explanation - Aspergillus niger is industrially important for citric acid production due to its high yield.
Correct answer is: Aspergillus niger
Q.5 What is the role of plasmids in genetic engineering?
To store proteins
To transfer genes
To produce energy
To digest cellulose
Explanation - Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules used as vectors to transfer foreign genes into host organisms.
Correct answer is: To transfer genes
Q.6 Which bacterium is commonly used in recombinant insulin production?
E. coli
Bacillus subtilis
Staphylococcus aureus
Pseudomonas fluorescens
Explanation - Genetically engineered Escherichia coli is widely used for the production of human insulin.
Correct answer is: E. coli
Q.7 Which process is primarily used for wastewater treatment?
Anaerobic digestion
Photosynthesis
Sterilization
Electrophoresis
Explanation - Anaerobic digestion uses microorganisms to break down organic matter in wastewater treatment.
Correct answer is: Anaerobic digestion
Q.8 Which of the following is NOT a product of microbial fermentation?
Alcohol
Vinegar
Yogurt
Steel
Explanation - Alcohol, vinegar, and yogurt are microbial products, but steel is not produced by microorganisms.
Correct answer is: Steel
Q.9 What is the main role of lactic acid bacteria in food biotechnology?
Spoiling food
Enhancing flavor and preservation
Producing antibiotics
Generating electricity
Explanation - Lactic acid bacteria ferment sugars into lactic acid, enhancing flavor and preserving foods like yogurt and cheese.
Correct answer is: Enhancing flavor and preservation
Q.10 Which microbial product is used as a clot-dissolving agent in medicine?
Streptokinase
Penicillin
Amylase
Insulin
Explanation - Streptokinase, produced by Streptococcus bacteria, is used clinically to dissolve blood clots.
Correct answer is: Streptokinase
Q.11 Which technique allows amplification of specific DNA sequences?
PCR
ELISA
Fermentation
Centrifugation
Explanation - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) enables amplification of DNA fragments for analysis and biotechnology.
Correct answer is: PCR
Q.12 Which microorganism is used in bread-making?
E. coli
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Aspergillus niger
Clostridium botulinum
Explanation - The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferments sugars, producing carbon dioxide that makes bread rise.
Correct answer is: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Q.13 Which type of fermentation is used in the production of yogurt?
Alcoholic fermentation
Lactic acid fermentation
Acetic acid fermentation
Butyric fermentation
Explanation - Lactic acid fermentation by Lactobacillus species produces yogurt from milk.
Correct answer is: Lactic acid fermentation
Q.14 Which microorganism is commonly used for producing vitamin B12?
Propionibacterium
Bacillus subtilis
Streptococcus pyogenes
Candida albicans
Explanation - Propionibacterium species are utilized industrially to produce vitamin B12.
Correct answer is: Propionibacterium
Q.15 Which is the first genetically modified crop approved for human consumption?
Bt cotton
Golden rice
Flavr Savr tomato
Roundup Ready soybean
Explanation - Flavr Savr tomato was the first genetically modified crop approved in 1994 for delayed ripening.
Correct answer is: Flavr Savr tomato
Q.16 Which method is commonly used for sterilizing heat-sensitive biological solutions?
Autoclaving
Filtration
Incineration
Pasteurization
Explanation - Filtration allows removal of microorganisms without heat, making it suitable for heat-sensitive solutions.
Correct answer is: Filtration
Q.17 Which bacterium is responsible for vinegar production?
Acetobacter
Lactobacillus
Clostridium
Pseudomonas
Explanation - Acetobacter oxidizes ethanol to acetic acid, which is vinegar.
Correct answer is: Acetobacter
Q.18 What is the main industrial use of amylases?
Breaking down starch
Producing antibiotics
Clot dissolution
Bioremediation
Explanation - Amylases hydrolyze starch into sugars and are widely used in food and brewing industries.
Correct answer is: Breaking down starch
Q.19 Which technology involves the use of living organisms to remove pollutants?
Bioremediation
Chemotherapy
Pasteurization
Cloning
Explanation - Bioremediation uses microbes to detoxify and degrade pollutants in the environment.
Correct answer is: Bioremediation
Q.20 Which microorganism is used to produce the antibiotic streptomycin?
Streptomyces griseus
Penicillium chrysogenum
E. coli
Clostridium tetani
Explanation - Streptomyces griseus is the actinomycete that produces streptomycin.
Correct answer is: Streptomyces griseus
Q.21 Which technique separates DNA fragments based on size?
Gel electrophoresis
Fermentation
Autoclaving
Centrifugation
Explanation - Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size using an electric field across a gel matrix.
Correct answer is: Gel electrophoresis
Q.22 What is the function of bioreactors in biotechnology?
Store DNA samples
Provide controlled environment for microbial growth
Measure protein concentration
Destroy toxins
Explanation - Bioreactors maintain optimal conditions for large-scale microbial cultivation and product formation.
Correct answer is: Provide controlled environment for microbial growth
Q.23 Which is an example of a single-cell protein source?
Fungi
Algae
Bacteria
All of the above
Explanation - Single-cell protein can be derived from fungi, algae, and bacteria as alternative protein sources.
Correct answer is: All of the above
Q.24 Which genetically engineered product helps in managing diabetes?
Recombinant insulin
Streptokinase
Vitamin B12
Tetracycline
Explanation - Recombinant insulin is produced using genetically engineered bacteria to treat diabetes.
Correct answer is: Recombinant insulin
Q.25 What is the primary use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in agriculture?
Nitrogen fixation
Pest control
Soil enrichment
Producing alcohol
Explanation - Bt produces crystal proteins toxic to insect pests, used in biopesticides and Bt crops.
Correct answer is: Pest control