Biotechnology: Principles and Processes NEET PYQs (2005–2026) with Solutions

10 solved Biotechnology: Principles and Processes PYQs

Real NEET and AIPMT questions from this chapter, newest first. Try each one, then open the answer and the step-by-step explanation.

1. Question 1 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026EasyTools of Biotechnology

   Match List I with List II: Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

   1. AOption A: A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
   2. BOption B: A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
   3. COption C: A-I, B-IV, C-III, D-II
   4. DOption D: A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III

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   Correct answer: (A) A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV

   Explanation

   Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism; thermostable DNA polymerase is obtained from Thermus aquaticus; Ti plasmid is from Agrobacterium tumefaciens; pBR322 is a cloning vector in Escherichia coli. Hence option (A) is correct.

2. Question 2 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026EasyTools of Biotechnology

   Identify the correct sequence of steps in each cycle of Polymerase Chain Reaction:

   1. AOption A: Extension → Annealing → Denaturation
   2. BOption B: Annealing → Denaturation → Extension
   3. COption C: Denaturation → Extension → Annealing
   4. DOption D: Denaturation → Annealing → Extension

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   Correct answer: (D) Denaturation → Annealing → Extension

   Explanation

   PCR steps occur in the order: Denaturation (DNA strands separate) → Annealing (primers bind) → Extension (DNA synthesis by polymerase). Hence option (D) is correct.

3. Question 3 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026MediumSomatic Hybridization

   Arrange the following steps of somatic hybridisation in a correct sequence. A. Digestion of cell walls. B. Isolation of naked protoplasts. C. Fusion of protoplasts to get hybrid protoplast. D. Isolation of single cells from two different varieties of plants. E. Growing of hybrid protoplast to form a new plant. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

   1. AOption A: D, A, B, C, E
   2. BOption B: E, B, A, D, C
   3. COption C: D, B, A, E, C
   4. DOption D: E, A, B, C, D

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   Correct answer: (A) D, A, B, C, E

   Explanation

   Somatic hybridization proceeds as: isolation of single cells → digestion of cell walls → isolation of protoplasts → fusion to form hybrid protoplast → regeneration into a new plant.

4. Question 4 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026MediumTools of Biotechnology

   Which of the following statements are not true regarding restriction endonucleases? A. They are called molecular scissors. B. These are the enzymes responsible for restricting the growth of bacteriophages in E. coli. C. They cut the DNA only at the centre of the palindromic sites. D. They remove nucleotides only from the ends of DNA fragments. E. They recognise specific palindromic base-pair sequences.

   1. AOption A: A and B only
   2. BOption B: A and E only
   3. COption C: D and E only
   4. DOption D: C and D only

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   Correct answer: (D) C and D only

   Explanation

   Restriction endonucleases recognize specific palindromic sequences and act as molecular scissors. They do not necessarily cut at the exact center of palindromes, and removal of nucleotides from DNA ends is performed by exonucleases, not restriction endonucleases.

5. Question 5 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026EasyPolymerase chain reaction (PCR)

   During PCR, primers bind to the DNA strands in the ______step.

   1. AOption A: denaturation
   2. BOption B: extension
   3. COption C: annealing
   4. DOption D: ligation

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   Correct answer: (C) annealing

   Explanation

   Each PCR cycle has three steps: denaturation (the double-stranded DNA is separated by heat), annealing (two sets of primers, small chemically synthesised oligonucleotides, bind to the complementary regions of the single DNA strands) and extension (thermostable Taq DNA polymerase extends the primers using nucleotides). Ligation is not a PCR step; it is the joining of DNA fragments by DNA ligase. So primers bind in the annealing step, option (C).

6. Question 6 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026EasyPlasmids as cloning vectors

   Given below are two statements : Statement I : Plasmids are autonomously replicating DNA. Statement II : Plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

   1. AOption A: Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
   2. BOption B: Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
   3. COption C: Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
   4. DOption D: Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

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   Correct answer: (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct

   Explanation

   NCERT describes plasmids as autonomously replicating circular extra-chromosomal DNA found in bacteria (they replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA). So Statement I (autonomously replicating) and Statement II (extrachromosomal) are both correct. Hence option (A).

7. Question 7 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026EasyIsolation of genetic material (DNA)

   Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R. Assertion A : In recombinant DNA technology, lysozyme is used for disrupting bacterial cells while cellulase is for plant cells. Reason R : Isolation of genetic material needs disruption of cells. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

   1. AOption A: Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
   2. BOption B: Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A
   3. COption C: A is correct but R is not correct
   4. DOption D: A is not correct but R is correct

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   Correct answer: (A) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A

   Explanation

   To obtain pure DNA free of other macromolecules, the cells must first be broken open to release the DNA, since it is enclosed within membranes and cell walls. So R is correct. NCERT states this is done by treating bacterial cells, plant or animal tissue with enzymes such as lysozyme (bacteria), cellulase (plant cells) and chitinase (fungus). So A is correct. These enzymes are used precisely because isolating the genetic material requires disrupting the cells, so R explains A. Hence option (A).

8. Question 8 (NEET 2026)

   NEET 2026EasyFeatures of cloning vectors

   Match List-I with List-II. List-I: A. Transformation B. Cloning site C. Selection D. Ori List-II: I. Restriction enzyme II. Transfer DNA to host bacteria III. Replication IV. Antibiotic Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

   1. AOption A: A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
   2. BOption B: A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
   3. COption C: A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I
   4. DOption D: A-IV, B-I, C-III, D-II

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   Correct answer: (A) A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III

   Explanation

   A. Transformation is the procedure through which a piece of DNA is introduced into a host bacterium → II. B. A cloning site is a recognition site for a restriction enzyme; the vector should preferably have a single recognition site for the enzyme used to link the alien DNA → I. C. Selection of transformants uses selectable markers, commonly genes encoding resistance to antibiotics such as ampicillin, tetracycline or kanamycin → IV. D. Ori is the origin of replication, the sequence from where replication starts; it also controls the copy number of the linked DNA → III. So A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III, option (A).

9. Question 9 (NEET 2025)

   NEET 2025MediumRecombinant DNA Technology

   In the above represented plasmid an alien piece of DNA is inserted at EcoRI site. Which of the following strategies will be chosen to select the recombinant colonies?

   1. AOption A: Using ampicillin & tetracyclin containing medium plate.
   2. BOption B: Blue color colonies will be selected.
   3. COption C: White color colonies will be selected.
   4. DOption D: Blue color colonies grown on ampicillin plates can be selected.

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   Correct answer: (C) White color colonies will be selected.

   Explanation

   Insertion of foreign DNA at the EcoRI site within the β-galactosidase gene disrupts its function. Recombinant colonies cannot produce β-galactosidase and therefore appear white in blue-white screening.

10. Question 10 (NEET 2025)

    NEET 2025MediumGene Cloning

    Which of the following enzyme(s) are NOT essential for gene cloning? A. Restriction enzymes B. DNA ligase C. DNA mutase D. DNA recombinase E. DNA polymerase Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

    1. AOption A: C and D only
    2. BOption B: A and B only
    3. COption C: D and E only
    4. DOption D: B and C only

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    Correct answer: (A) C and D only

    Explanation

    Restriction enzymes, DNA ligase and DNA polymerase are commonly used in gene cloning. DNA mutase and DNA recombinase are not essential enzymes for the cloning process.