1. What is a living organism?
a) Complex entity of biochemical component
b) Complex entity of physiochemical components
c) Simple entity of environment
d) Simple entity of biological surrounding
View Answer
Explanation: A living organism is defined as a complex entity of physiochemical components that is capable of surviving through self-regulatory mechanisms such as metabolism, reproducing, and coping with the external environment.
2. Which of the following is not an exclusive characteristic of living organisms?
a) Consciousness
b) Reproduction
c) Metabolism
d) Movement
View Answer
Explanation: Movement can occur in non-living organisms under the influence of high speed winds, high water current, pressure etc. Hence it cannot be considered as an exclusive characteristic to living organisms. Growth, reproduction, consciousness are considered as characteristic features because no non living organism can produce one of its kind by own, show metabolic changes or show signs of being conscious.
3. What does the concept of evolution state that present day living organisms have originated from ancestral life forms which had undergone ____________
a) Continuous modifications over period of time
b) Subsequent modifications over a period of time
c) Biochemical modifications over a period of time
d) Genetic modifications over a period of time
View Answer
Explanation: Evolution always involves continuous development and modifications in all aspects and not only in specific aspects such as genetic, biochemical etc. Subsequent, biological and genetic modifications are just parts of the overall continuous modifications.
4. Branch of science dealing with classification of organisms is called as ____________
a) Bioautonomy
b) Taxonomy
c) Nomenclature
d) Specialization
View Answer
Explanation: Taxonomy is the branch of science dealing with the classification of organisms, specially with systematics. Nomenclature is the naming of organisms according to their genus and specific epithet. Specialization and bioautonomy aren’t the terms used in the naming and classification of the living world.
5. Which of the following is not a part of 5 kingdom classification?
a) Monera
b) Protista
c) Pisces
d) Plantae
View Answer
Explanation: Pieces is a class in the subphylum vertebrata under the phylum chordate while all others mentioned are the names of 5 kingdom classes. The others i.e. monera, protista and plantae are the 5 kingdom classification hierarchy.
6. Which of the given consists of only ‘unicellular prokaryotic organisms’?
a) Fungi
b) Protista
c) Plantae
d) Monera
View Answer
Explanation: Monera consists of unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus and many of the specialized cell parts, called cell organelles. Hence they are termed to be prokaryotic. Monera mainly constitutes of bacterial organisms. All others mentioned are either unicellular or multicellular eukaryotes.
7. Which of the following is the characteristic feature of fungi?
a) Cells do not have nucleus and specialized organelles
b) Produce their own food for survival and reproduction
c) Acquire food from their surroundings
d) Obtain food from environment and process it through metabolic pathways for survival and reproduction
View Answer
Explanation: Fungi are generally either parasitic or symbiotic in nature. Hence they obtain their food from the host organism or the organism with which they hold a symbiotic relationship. They are unicellular eukaryotes and structurally they are made up of individual feathery filaments called hyphae.
8. Which of the following is not one of the steps acquired in the classification of living organisms?
a) Recognizing the problem
b) Gathering data through experiments
c) Formulating a hypothesis
d) Publishing it for cross check
View Answer
Explanation: Publishing for cross check is not an approved step by biologists in fact the step that is approved and similar to cross check is confirming, modifying, or rejecting the hypothesis. All others mentioned are the approved steps in the classification of organisms.
9. Which of the following processes was discovered by Charles Goodyear?
a) Polymerization
b) Liquefaction
c) Vulcanization
d) Sublimation
View Answer
Explanation: He accidently dropped a mixture of rubber and sulfur on a hot stove and found the mixture to be flexible and tough led to the discovery of vulcanization process. The other processes mentioned aren’t a part of his discovery. Polymerization is addition of monomer units, Liquefaction is conversion of a solid to liquid, and Sublimation is the direct conversion of solid to gas.
10. Taxonomic studies consider a group of individual organisms with fundamental similarities as___________
a) Species
b) Genus
c) Kingdom
d) Phylum
View Answer
Explanation: Individuals with fundamental similarities are known as species. Genus comprises of group of related species which has more characters in common in comparison to species of other genera. Kingdom is the ultimate and most superior hierarchy which holds the group of related phylum.
Engineering Biology MCQ on Cell : Basic Unit of Life
11. Which of the following can be synonymous with growth?
a) Meiosis
b) Mitosis
c) Cell differentiation
d) Cell aggregation
View Answer
Explanation: Mitosis can be synonymous with growth because it is an equational division of cells. Whereas when it comes to meiosis, the numbers of chromosomes become half the number of chromosomes before meiosis. Cell aggregation and cell differentiation are the concepts which are no way related to cell division.
12. By whom were the first cells discovered?
a) Leeuwenhoek
b) Robert Koch
c) Robert Hooke
d )Alexander Fleming
View Answer
Explanation: First cells were discovered by Robert Hooke. He watched cork cells under a self made simple microscope. Leeuwenhoek discovered animalcules. Robert Koch discovered a disease called anthrax. Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the antibiotic for destroying the metabolic pathways of bacteria.
13. In which year the first cells were discovered?
a) 1665
b) 1668
c) 1675
d) 1688
View Answer
Explanation: The first cells were discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665. He examined thin slices of cork under a self made simple microscope and found pores in it. His examination did not indicate any nucleus or cell organelles because the cells he saw were dead cells which did not possess any metabolic system.
14. Which of the following is not a statement of cell theory?
a) All living things and organisms are made up of cells and their products
b) Cells are the basic building units of life
c) New cells arise from pre existing cells by division
d) Cells form an aggregate to form tissues
View Answer
Explanation: All the above mentioned are statements of cell theory based upon the observation of Robert Hooke except the d) statement which is factually correct that cells aggregate to form tissues but is actually not a part of cell theory and observations based on experiment of Robert Hooke.
15. Different body parts possess different cell type because_____________
a) The cells should act as totipotent
b) Size of organs varies
c) Functions of organs is different
d) Different genes are activated in different cells
View Answer
Explanation: Each cell consists of its own unique gene system which has the ability to replicate within the cell itself. The other mentioned options such as totipotency aren’t applicable in this case because totipotency is cell specialization. Organ size and function also doesn’t have any relation with different body parts possessing different cells.
16. Keratin is a content of which of the following?
a) Bone
b) Hair
c) Nails
d) Both Hair & Nails
View Answer
Explanation: Bones do not contain Keratin. Their major content is calcium. Whereas hair and nails contain keratin as their major content. These are the basic chemically building units of nails and hairs which provide them strength.
17. Which of the following is not a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?
a) They do not have well defined nucleus
b) They do not have membrane bound organelles
c) They have structure called nucleolus which holds the genetic material
d) Everything is openly accessible within the cell
View Answer
Explanation: The structure that holds the genetic material is called plasmids and not nucleolus which holds the simplified form of the genetic material in prokaryotes specifically bacteria. Other characteristics are that they do have membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplast etc.
18. Which of the following are prokaryotes?
a) Bacteria
b) Archae
c) Virus
d) Both Bacteria & Archae
View Answer
Explanation: Bacteria and archae are the two kinds of prokaryotes which do not have well defined nucleus and cell organelles. Viruses fall neither in the category of living nor in that of non- living. They are the intermediate or connection between living and non-living organisms.
19. What are flagella made up of?
a) Protein
b) Keratin
c) Calcium
d) Chitin
View Answer
Explanation: Flagella are structures which enable movement of an organism be it unicellular or multicelllular. They are made up of protein. An organism may be uniflagellate, biflagellate or multiflagellate depending upon the efficiency required by the organism.
20. Which proteins are associated with the DNA in the eukaryotic cells?
a) Fibrous
b) Histone
c) Granular
d) Membrane
View Answer
Explanation: The protein associated with the DNA of eukaryotic organisms is known as histone protein. This protein is bonded to a structure known as octamer and together they form a histone octamer. The other proteins mentioned i.e. fibrous, granular and membrane proteins are not related to the genetic aspects of a eukaryotic cell.
Engineering Biology MCQ on Cell Structure and Function
21. Which of the following cell organelles does not possess a cell membrane?
a) Mitochondria
b) Chloroplast
c) Golgi apparatus
d) Microtubules
View Answer
Explanation: Microtubules are filamentous intracellular structures that are responsible for various kinds of movements in all eukaryotic cells. They do not possess cell membranes whereas all other mentioned i.e. Mitochondria, chloroplast and Golgi apparatus possess a well defined and intact cell membrane.
22. What is the chief function of cell membranes?
a) Keep the cell intact
b) Provide proper structure and shape to the cell
c) Provide proper nutrition to the cell
d) Regulate passage of materials in and out of the cell
View Answer
Explanation: The chief function of cell membranes is to regulate the passage of materials which is generally selective in nature. Keeping the cell intact, providing proper structure and shape are the accessory functions of the cell membrane which are also important for the cell growth and development.
23. Nucleoli are the subunits for_____________
a) Ribosome
b) Golgi apparatus
c) Mitochondria
d) Lysosomes
View Answer
Explanation: Nucleoli are the structures present inside the nucleus which may be present in one, two or more than two in number. These form the subunits for ribosome which are involved in the synthesis of protein. The nucleoli are involved in the assembly and synthesis of ribosome.
24. What is the cytoskeleton made up of?
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Phospholipids
d) Chitin
View Answer
Explanation: The cytoskeleton is cellular “scaffolding” or “skeleton” contained within the cytoplasm and is made out of protein. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells contain cytoskeleton. It has structures such as flagella, cilia and lamellipodia and plays important roles in both intracellular transport and cellular division.
25. Centrioles play a role in____________
a) Providing nutrition to the cell
b) Maintaining osmolarity
c) Formation of spindle apparatus
d) Providing mechanical strength to cell
View Answer
Explanation: Centrioles play a role in the formation of the spindle apparatus which is an essential feature for both mitosis and meiosis. They are present as a pair of cylindrical rods in many eukaryotic cells. They do not have any role in providing nutrition, osmolarity etc to the cell.
26. What is the infoldings of the inner membrane of the mitochondria called?
a) Cristae
b) Lamella
c) Pilli
d) Fimbiriae
View Answer
Explanation: The inner membrane foldings of the mitochondria is known as cristae. Cristae project into the interior of the organelle and have a variety of enzymes embedded in them. Pilli and Fimbriae have no relation with foldings. In fact they are the locomotion structures in different bacterial forms.
27. What are the sacs present in endoplasmic reticulum called?
a) Cristae
b) Lysosomes
c) Cisternae
d) Vacuole
View Answer
Explanation: The endoplasmic reticulum serves many general functions, including the facilitation of protein folding and the transport of synthesized proteins in sacs called cisternae. Only properly folded proteins are transported from the rough ER to the Golgi complex.
28. What is the function of smooth ER (SER)?
a) Protein production
b) Provides smoothness to the cell
c) Provides attachment with mitochondria
d) Synthesis and transport of lipids
View Answer
Explanation: Smooth ER does not contain any ribosome and is associated with cellular regions which are involved in the synthesis and transport of lipids or the detoxifications of a variety of poisons. It consists of tubules and vesicles that branch forming a network. The network of SER allows increased surface area for the action or storage of key enzymes and the products of these enzymes.
29. What is the “central dogma” of biology?
a) Tissues are made up of cells
b) DNA is used to make RNA, which, in turn, is used to make protein
c) Organs are made up of tissues
d) Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins
View Answer
Explanation: The central dogma states what b option mentions. The DNA sequence in genes is copied into an mRNA. Ribosomes then read the information in this RNA and use it to create proteins. This process is known as translation i.e., the ribosome “translates” the genetic information from RNA into proteins.
30. What is the function of cell wall in plants?
a) Facilitate selective transport of substances
b) Provides structural support and protection to the cell
c) Controls turgidity of the cell
d) Both Provides structural support and protection to the cell and Controls turgidity of the cell
View Answer
Explanation: Cell wall is a structure made out of polysaccharide, peptidoglycan or glycoprotein that provides structural support and protection to the cell. In combination with the vacuole, which is large in plant cells, the other cell wall function includes controlling the turgidity of the cell.
Engineering Biology MCQ on Genetic Information and Protein Synthesis
31. Where is the genetic information found?
a) Centriole
b) Nucleus
c) Golgi Apparatus
d) Ribosomes
View Answer
Explanation: The genetic information is found in the nucleus of the cell. The cell nucleus contains the majority of the cell’s genetic material in the form of multiple linear DNA molecules organized into structures called chromosomes. Each human cell contains roughly two meters of DNA.
32. Genetic information is important because____________
a) For reproduction of species
b) For checking genetic diseases
c) For transferring of information to different parts of cell
d) For providing nutritional support
View Answer
Explanation: The genetic information passed from parent to offspring is contained in genes carried by chromosomes in the nucleus. Sexual reproduction produces offspring that resemble their parents, but are not identical to them. Asexual reproduction produces offspring – clones – which are genetically identical to their parents.
33. In how many types of monomeric units a polymeric molecule of genetic information divided?
a) six
b) three
c) four
d) two
View Answer
Explanation: DNA and RNA are both capable of encoding genetic information, because there are biochemical mechanisms which read the information coded within a DNA or RNA sequence and use it to generate a specified protein. Hence the monomeric units are defined such to form the large polymeric molecule.
34. Which of the following is a chemical basis of heredity in the cell?
a) Mitochondria
b) DNA
c) RNA
d) Ribosomal RNA
View Answer
Explanation: The genetic substance of all living creatures, from viruses to man is a complex chemical compound – the nucleic acid DNA. Chromosomes are made from DNA. Genes are short sections of DNA. DNA carries the genetic code that determines the characteristics of a living thing. A gene is a short section of DNA. Each gene codes for a specific protein by specifying the order in which amino acids must be joined together. The cell’s nucleus contains chromosomes made from long DNA molecules.
35. A polynucleotide consisting of nucleotides is____________
a) Nucleic acid
b) Protein
c) Nucleoside
d) Chromosomes
View Answer
Explanation: Nucleotides are the subunit that is polymerized (connected into a long chain) to make nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Nucleotides consist of three smaller components: a ribose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and phosphate group.
36. Which of the following is not a component of a nucleotide?
a) Pentose sugar
b) Hexose sugar
c) Nitrogenous base
d) Phosphate
View Answer
Explanation: Nucleotides always have a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or more phosphates. When nucleotides are polymerized, or joined together, they form a nucleic acid, such as DNA or RNA. Each nucleotide’s phosphate is joined to another’s sugar, forming a sugar-phosphate backbone with the nitrogenous bases hanging off the side.
37. Which of the following positions of carbon chain contain phosphate groups?
a) 1 & 2
b) 3 & 5
c) 4 & 5
d) 1 & 5
View Answer
Explanation: It is the characteristic of a nucleotide to contain phosphate group in their carbon chain at 3rd and 5th positions each. All nucleotides have a common structure: a phosphate group linked by a phosphor-ester bond to a pentose (a five-carbon sugar molecule) that in turn is linked to an organic base.
38. At which position is the nitrogenous base linked in pentose sugar?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 1
d) 2
View Answer
Explanation: A nitrogenous base is simply a nitrogen containing molecule that has the same chemical properties as a base. They are particularly important since they make up the building blocks of DNA and RNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil.
39. Which major factor differentiates DNA from RNA?
a) Guanine
b) Cytosine
c) Thymine
d) Uracil
View Answer
Explanation: In RNA, uracil replaces thymine as the usual complement of adenine. Thus, thymine is usually seen only in DNA and uracil only in RNA. Methylation of uracil produces thymine, providing a mechanism for repair and protection of DNA and improvement of DNA replication. One of the common mutations of DNA involves two adjacent thymines.
40. What is the overall charge of nucleic acid?
a) Positive
b) Negative
c) Neutral
d) Magnetic
View Answer
Explanation: The nucleus of an atom contains two things: Protons and neutrons. Because neutrons have no charge and protons have positive charge, the overall charge of the nucleus is positive. The DNA of the cell being negatively charged even does not affect the nucleus from being positively charged.
Engineering Biology MCQ on Protein Structure
41. About how much percentage of the dry weight of a cell do the proteins constitute?
a) 10%
b) 35%
c) 50%
d) 65%
View Answer
Explanation: The proteins constitute about 50% of the dry weight of the cell with the essential proteins required for nourishment and transportation. Whereas the other 50% is constituted by the other cell constituents as well as the water content in the cell required for hydration of the cell.
42. Which of the following are largely responsible for expressing the information present in a DNA molecule?
a) Chromosomes
b) Carbohydrates
c) Lipids
d) Proteins
View Answer
Explanation: Proteins are largely responsible for expressing the information present in DNA. The flow of genetic information, or gene expression, in normal cells is – This flow of information is dependent on the genetic code, which defines the relation between the sequence of bases in DNA (or its mRNA transcript) and the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
43. About how much stabilization energy each hydrogen bond contributes for the protein structure?
a) 12 kJ/mol
b) 15 kJ/mol
c) 18kJ/mol
d) 24kJ/mol
View Answer
Explanation: About 12 kJ/mol of stabilization energy is contributed by each hydrogen bond. The core of most protein structures is composed of secondary structures such as α helix and β sheet. This satisfies the hydrogen‐bonding potential between main chain carbonyl oxygen and amide nitrogen buried in the hydrophobic core of the protein.
44. The interactions formed due to non-polar side chains of amino acids and other non-polar solutes prefer to cluster in a non-polar environment is called____________
a) Covalent
b) Hydrophobic
c) Hydrophilic
d) Van der Waals
View Answer
Explanation: The side chains of amino acid which contain non polar nature are held in interactions called hydrophobic interactions. The tendency of non-polar molecules in a polar solvent (usually water) to interact with one another is called the hydrophobic effect. The interactions between the nonpolar molecules are called hydrophobic interactions.
45. The protein may consist of_____________
a) Polar residues
b) Non polar residues
c) Slightly polar residues
d) Polar residues and non polar residues
View Answer
Explanation: Proteins consists of polar as well as non polar residues. The non-polar side chains are pushed to the interior of the protein allowing them to avoid water molecule and giving the protein a globular shape. There is, however, a substantial difference in how the polar side chains react to the water.
46. What is the nature of charges that amino acid side chains carry?
a) Positive
b) Negative
c) Neutral
d) A and B
View Answer
Explanation: When an amino acid is incorporated into a polypeptide, the charges on the amino and carboxyl groups disappear. Among the 20 common amino acids, five have a side chain which can be charged. At pH=7, two are negative charged: aspartic acid and glutamic acid (acidic side chains), and three are positive charged: lysine, arginine and histidine.
47. Which of the following complicates the electrostatic interactions between charged groups on a protein surface?
a) Sugars
b) High temperature
c) Salts
d) High cellular thrust
View Answer
Explanation: The formation of protein complexes or aggregates in aqueous buffers is determined by a number of factors: physical properties of the protein itself, pH, temperature, type and concentration of the used co-solvent (salt). Salts interfere with intramolecular interactions mediated by non-covalent forces such as hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions, which, at high co-solvent concentrations, results in protein denaturation.
48. What is the magnitude of individual Van der Waals interactions?
a) 4.0 to 1.2 kJ/mol
b) 3.5 to 5.0 kJ/mol
c) 0.25 to 3.0 kJ/mol
d) 4.0 to 0.25 kJ/mol
View Answer
Explanation: Van der Waals forces are driven by induced electrical interactions between two or more atoms or molecules that are very close to each other. Van der Waals interaction is the weakest of all intermolecular attractions between molecules. However, with a lot of Van der Waals forces interacting between two objects, the interaction can be very strong.
49. The polypeptide chain of the amino acid sequence of a protein is called as_____________
a) Primary structure
b) Secondary structure
c) Tertiary structure
d) Quaternary structure
View Answer
Explanation: Protein primary structure is the linear sequence of amino acids in peptide or protein. By convention, the primary structure of a protein is reported starting from the amino-terminal (N) end to the carboxyl-terminal (C) end. Protein biosynthesis is most commonly performed by ribosomes in cells. Peptides can also be synthesized in the laboratory. Protein primary structures can be directly sequenced, or inferred from DNA sequences.
50. What is the functional region of the tertiary and quaternary structure of the protein called?
a) Working site
b) Stimulated site
c) Active site
d) Passive site
View Answer
Explanation: Because of secondary and tertiary structures, proteins adopt specific shapes. The spot at which two molecules with specific shapes fit together to interact is called the active site. This active site is the basis of the lock and key model. The active site is called active because interaction of the molecules in this way usually results in some chemical change or reaction.
More MCQs on Engineering Biology:
- Reproduction in Organisms MCQ
- Biological Classification MCQ
- Plant Kingdom MCQ
- Structural Organisations in Animals< MCQ
- Biomolecules MCQ
- Cell Cycle MCQ
- Transport in Plants MCQ
- Neural Control and Coordination MCQ
- Reproductive Health MCQ
- Biotechnology MCQ
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