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Quizzes > Science

Biotechnology Quiz: Milestones and Discoveries Through History

Quick, free biotechnology trivia to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Breanna BellUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz illustration showing DNA helix, microscope, pipette and historical biotechnology icons on teal background

This quiz helps you review the history of biotechnology, from early breakthroughs to gene editing, and spot gaps before a test or class. Each question highlights key milestones and discoveries to make review quick and clear. Keep learning with biotechnology quiz questions, dig into biochemistry trivia, or broaden your scope with biology trivia.

Who first described the double helix structure of DNA?
Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins
Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin
Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase
James Watson and Francis Crick
James Watson and Francis Crick proposed the double helix model of DNA in 1953 based on X-ray diffraction data. Their work built on critical unpublished data from Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. The discovery revealed how genetic information is stored and replicated in living cells.
What discovery did Alexander Fleming make in 1928?
Penicillin
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Restriction enzymes
Insulin
In 1928 Alexander Fleming observed that a mold (Penicillium notatum) inhibited bacterial growth, leading to the discovery of penicillin, the world's first antibiotic. This breakthrough ushered in the antibiotic era and saved countless lives. Penicillin's mass production began during World War II.
What is the name of the laboratory technique invented by Kary Mullis in 1983 that amplifies DNA?
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Gel electrophoresis
Southern blot
DNA sequencing
Kary Mullis developed the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in 1983 to amplify specific DNA sequences exponentially. PCR revolutionized molecular biology by enabling rapid, precise DNA analysis. Mullis won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for this invention.
In 1978, what was the first recombinant protein approved for therapeutic use by the FDA?
Tissue plasminogen activator
Human insulin (Humulin)
Growth hormone
Erythropoietin
Humulin, a recombinant human insulin, was the first biotech drug approved by the FDA in 1982. It was produced in E. coli using recombinant DNA techniques developed by Genentech and Eli Lilly. Humulin provided a safer, more consistent insulin supply for diabetic patients.
Dolly, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, was born in what year?
1978
2001
1996
1986
Dolly the sheep was born in 1996 at the Roslin Institute in Scotland and was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell using nuclear transfer. This milestone proved that specialized cells could be reprogrammed to create an entire organism. Dolly's birth raised ethical and scientific discussions on cloning.
Which two scientists are credited with creating the first recombinant DNA organism in 1973?
Paul Berg and Kary Mullis
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna
James Watson and Francis Crick
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen
In 1973, Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer inserted DNA coding for antibiotic resistance into E. coli, creating the first recombinant DNA organism. Their work initiated the modern era of genetic engineering and biotech. This breakthrough led to widespread research on gene cloning.
Which milestone technique, developed by Edwin Southern in 1975, is used to detect specific DNA sequences in DNA samples?
Western blotting
Southern blotting
Eastern blotting
Northern blotting
Southern blotting, developed by Edwin Southern in 1975, transfers DNA from a gel to a membrane for hybridization with labeled probes. It enabled researchers to identify specific DNA fragments among complex mixtures. This method laid the groundwork for many molecular diagnostic tests.
Which 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery of restriction enzymes?
John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka
James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins
Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans and Hamilton Smith
Frederick Sanger, Paul Berg and Cesar Milstein
Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans, and Hamilton O. Smith won the 1978 Nobel Prize (awarded 1980) for discovering restriction enzymes. These proteins cut DNA at specific sequences, revolutionizing molecular cloning and genetic engineering. Their work provided essential tools for recombinant DNA technology.
When was the Human Genome Project officially completed?
2003
1999
2010
1990
The Human Genome Project was declared essentially complete in April 2003, providing a reference sequence of the entire human genome. It was an international effort that began in 1990 and transformed genetics by mapping all human genes. The data accelerated research in medicine and biotechnology.
Which genetically modified crop, engineered to produce its own insecticide, was first commercialized in 1996?
Roundup Ready soybeans
Bt cotton
Golden rice
Flavr Savr tomato
Bt cotton, engineered to express Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, was first planted commercially in 1996. It was designed to protect crops from insect pests without chemical pesticides. Bt cotton became one of the earliest widespread GM crops.
Which company, founded in 1976, is often considered the first biotechnology company?
Genentech
Monsanto
Amgen
Biogen
Genentech, founded in 1976 by Herbert Boyer and Robert Swanson, pioneered the commercial biotechnology industry. It produced the first recombinant human insulin and growth hormone. Its success demonstrated the viability of biotech startups.
What gene editing tool, developed in the early 2010s, revolutionized precise genetic modifications?
TALENs
ZFNs
RNA interference
CRISPR/Cas9
CRISPR/Cas9, adapted for genome editing by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2012, allows precise cuts and modifications in DNA. It is faster, cheaper, and more accurate than previous methods like ZFNs and TALENs. CRISPR has transformed research and holds therapeutic promise.
Who were the recipients of the 2006 Nobel Prize awarded for the discovery of RNA interference?
Sydney Brenner and Robert Horvitz
Andrew Fire and Craig Mello
James Watson and Francis Crick
Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier
Andrew Fire and Craig Mello received the 2006 Nobel Prize for discovering RNA interference (RNAi) in 1998. They showed how double-stranded RNA can silence specific genes, a mechanism now used widely in research and therapeutics. Their work opened up new ways to regulate gene expression.
Where was the first clinical gene therapy trial conducted in 1990 to treat a rare immunodeficiency?
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
University of Tokyo Hospital
The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland
Karolinska Institute
The first approved human gene therapy trial took place at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda in 1990, targeting ADA-SCID (adenosine deaminase deficiency). Researchers used modified retroviral vectors to introduce a functional ADA gene into patient cells. This trial marked a major milestone in clinical biotechnology.
What was the significance of the 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Diamond v. Chakrabarty?
It allowed the patenting of genetically modified organisms
It banned patents on living organisms
It prohibited field trials of GM crops
It granted patent rights to naturally occurring genes
In Diamond v. Chakrabarty (1980), the Supreme Court ruled that a human-modified bacterium could be patented, stating living organisms with markedly different characteristics from any found in nature are patentable. This decision paved the way for broad biotech patenting. It shaped intellectual property law in biotechnology.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall major milestones in biotechnology history -

    Identify key breakthroughs from the discovery of DNA's structure to the advent of CRISPR gene editing.

  2. Describe landmark discoveries and their innovators -

    Summarize the contributions of scientists like Watson, Crick, and Doudna in shaping modern biotech.

  3. Analyze the technological evolution of biotechnology -

    Compare early methods such as fermentation with modern genetic engineering techniques through a biotechnology timeline quiz.

  4. Evaluate the impact of biotech advancements -

    Assess how inventions like PCR and monoclonal antibodies revolutionized medicine, agriculture, and industry.

  5. Apply knowledge in biotechnology trivia -

    Use quiz questions to test your grasp on biotech history and reinforce learning through interactive challenges.

Cheat Sheet

  1. DNA Double Helix Discovery (1953) -

    James Watson and Francis Crick published the first accurate model of DNA's double helix in Nature, unveiling base pairing (A - T, C - G). Use the mnemonic "Apples in the Tree, Cars in the Garage" to remember A - T and C - G pairing. This breakthrough is a staple in the history of biotechnology quiz and will boost your confidence on biotech history questions.

  2. Recombinant DNA Technology (1973) -

    Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer created the first recombinant plasmid by inserting a gene into E. coli using restriction enzymes (EcoRI) and ligase. Think "cut and paste" to recall how specific restriction sites generate sticky ends that ligate target genes into vectors like pBR322. This milestone launched the biotechnology timeline quiz's classic section on cloning techniques and will help you tackle biotech trivia confidently.

  3. Polymerase Chain Reaction (1983) -

    Kary Mullis invented PCR using Taq polymerase to exponentially amplify DNA segments through cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension. Remember the acronym D-A-E ("Denature, Anneal, Extend") to recall each step. This method is often featured in biotechnology trivia as a game-changing tool for diagnostics and research, so mastering it ensures you ace related quiz questions.

  4. Recombinant Insulin Production (1982) -

    Eli Lilly and Genentech produced the first FDA-approved human insulin by expressing the human insulin gene in E. coli, ending reliance on animal extracts. Use "I-B-E" (Insulin in Bacteria, Expressed) as a quick mnemonic for this biotech history question. This commercial breakthrough exemplifies the evolution of biotechnology quiz's pharma milestone and is sure to boost your score.

  5. CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing (2012) -

    Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna adapted the bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 system to introduce precise genome edits using guide RNA and Cas9 nuclease. The phrase "Guide and Snip" helps recall how gRNA directs Cas9 to target DNA sites for cleavage. This recent Nobel-winning innovation is a highlight in any biotechnology timeline quiz and studying it will give you an edge.

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