Biotechnology and genetic modification — IGCSE Biology (0970) questions by topic
Biotechnology and genetic modification questions ask candidates to link yeast's anaerobic respiration products to biofuel and bread production, explain why bacteria suit manufacturing human proteins, sequence the steps of inserting human DNA into bacterial plasmids, and calculate juice yield from pectinase-treated fruit data.
Choose, identify, state, describe and calculate lead 27 real questions worth 1 to 15 marks from 2023 to 2025 papers. Because the genetic modification process has a fixed correct order of steps, submitting each traced sequence for instant marking flags immediately if a step, such as isolating the gene before inserting it into a plasmid, has been placed wrongly.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Which hormone is produced by the pancreas? A adrenaline B insulin C oestrogen D testosterone
Answer this question and get it marked →The table shows the features of four different types of bacteria. Which type of bacteria would be the most useful to use for biotechnology? reproduction rate / number of cell…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Why are bacteria useful in biotechnology and genetic modification? 1 They can make complex molecules. 2 They have a rapid reproduction rate. 3 They have cell walls. A 1, 2 and 3 B…
Answer this question and get it marked →The graph shows how changing the temperature affects the rate of stain removal from clothes, using a biological washing powder. The curve of rate of stain removal against…
Answer this question and get it marked →The flow chart shows some of the processes involved in making biofuel: grind up plant biomass to extract K → filter to remove waste → add organism L for anaerobic respiration of K…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
Some of the processes involved in the production of insulin by genetic modification are listed. 1 cutting of bacterial plasmid DNA with restriction enzymes 2 expression in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 22
Which features make bacteria useful in biotechnology? 1 They are unaffected by antibiotics. 2 They do not contain plasmids. 3 They make complex molecules. 4 They reproduce…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
Scientists developed genetically modified (GM) maize. Fig. 3.1 shows the mass of GM maize grown in one country from 2000 to 2015. It is a bar chart with year (2000 to 2015) on the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
What is a use of yeast in biotechnology? A aerobic respiration to make biofuels B anaerobic respiration to make bread C aerobic respiration to make alcohol D anaerobic respiration…
Answer this question and get it marked →Why are bacteria used in biotechnology? A Bacteria reproduce rapidly. B Bacterial cells contain a nucleus. C Bacterial cells contain cytoplasm. D Bacterial cells do not produce…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
A gene is added to the genetic material of an avocado plant. This gene makes the avocado fruits stay ripe for longer before they start to decompose. What is this process an…
Answer this question and get it marked →What is a use of ethanol? A biofuel production B biological washing powder C bread-making D fruit juice production
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 21
Which types of organisms are used in genetic modification because they have plasmids? A arachnids B bacteria C myriapods D ferns
Answer this question and get it marked →What is an example of the use of genetic modification in agriculture? A choosing cattle to breed so that alleles for high milk yield will be passed on to their offspring B…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 22
Yeast can produce carbon dioxide and ethanol. What can be made using these products? Columns: carbon dioxide; ethanol. A biofuel; washing powder B washing powder; fruit juice C…
Answer this question and get it marked →Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce a human protein. What is the first step in this process? A insertion of human DNA into bacterial plasmid DNA B insertion of…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 22
The diagram shows a bacterial cell that is used in genetic modification with four structures labelled A, B, C and D. Structure C appears to be the plasmid (small circular DNA).…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows some apparatus that was used to produce lactose-free milk. Alginate beads containing X are in a column; milk flows through and produces milk containing Y. The…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 32
Fig. 6.1 is a photograph of intensive egg production on a chicken farm, showing rows of cages with chickens and a worker collecting eggs on a conveyor belt. In 1905, each chicken…
Answer this question and get it marked →A scientist investigated the effect of the enzyme pectinase on the volume of fruit juice produced by the same mass of two different fruits. Fig. 7.1 shows the results: a bar chart…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
Which statement about genetic modification is correct? A It involves choosing which individual organisms are used for breeding. B It is always done using genes from the same…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
Bacteria are useful for manufacturing products for human use. Which statement explains why they are useful? A Bacteria can be grown without nutrients. B Bacteria do not have a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 21
The diagram shows a bacterial cell with parts A, B, C and D. Which part is useful in genetic modification? A B C D
Answer this question and get it marked →Which statement about genetic modification is correct? A It involves choosing which individual organisms are used for breeding. B It is always done using genes from the same…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 22
The diagram shows a bacterial cell containing a plasmid. What is inserted into the plasmid if this cell is to be used for the production of insulin? A a length of DNA from a human…
Answer this question and get it marked →Yeast carries out anaerobic respiration, making carbon dioxide and ethanol as end-products. Which end-products can be used to make biofuel and bread? Columns: biofuel; bread. A…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
The diagram shows how a human gene can be inserted into a bacterium: a gene is removed from a human chromosome (step 1), a bacterial plasmid is removed and cut (step 2), a human…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Biology topics
- Human nutrition (75)
- Organisms and their environment (64)
- Coordination and response (62)
- Reproduction (53)
- Organisation of the organism (cells) (50)
- Plant nutrition (42)
- Characteristics and classification of living organisms (40)
- Variation and selection (40)
- Transport in animals (39)
- Inheritance (39)
- Movement into and out of cells (38)
- Transport in plants (38)