Official PYQ Paper

GATE BT 2012 Question Paper & Solutions

Full official paper with all 65 questions solved with official answer keys.

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Questions Directory (Q1 – Q65)

Q1 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

In mismatch correction repair, the parental DNA strand is distinguished from the daughter strand by (A) acetylation (B) phosphorylation (C) methylation (D) glycosylation

Q2 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The basis for blue-white screening with pUC vectors is (A) intraallelic complementation (B) intergenic complementation (C) intragenic suppression (D) extragenic suppression

Q3 MCQ • 1M

Linear Algebra

Idiotypic determinants of an antibody are associated with the (A) constant region of the heavy chains (B) constant region of the light chains (C) variable region (D) constant regions of light and heavy chains

Q4 MCQ • 1M

Downstream processing (chromatography, filtration)

Identification of blood groups involves (A) precipitation (B) neutralization (C) opsonization (D) agglutination

Q5 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

B-lymphocytes originate from the bone marrow whereas T-lymphocytes originate from (A) thymus (B) bone marrow (C) spleen (D) liver

Q6 MCQ • 1M

Cell structure and signaling

A humanized antibody is one in which the

Q7 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used as a cryopreservant for mammalian cell cultures because

Q8 MCQ • 1M

Recombinant DNA technology

Nude mice refers to (A) mice without skin (B) mice without thymus (C) knockout mice (D) transgenic mice

Q9 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Heat inactivation of serum is done to inactivate (A) prions (B) mycoplasma (C) complement (D) pathogenic bacteria

Q10 MCQ • 1M

Cell structure and signaling

Choose the correct signal transduction pathway.

Q11 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

A protein is phosphorylated at a serine residue. A phosphomimic mutant of the protein can be generated by substituting that serine with (A) glycine (B) alanine (C) aspartate (D) threonine

Q12 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

A truncated polypeptide is synthesized due to a nonsense mutation. Where would you introduce another mutation to obtain a full-length polypeptide? (A) Ribosomal protein gene (B) Transfer RNA gene (C) DNA repair gene (D) Ribosomal RNA gene

Q13 MCQ • 1M

Downstream processing (chromatography, filtration)

Protein-DNA interactions in vivo can be studied by (A) gel shift assay (B) Southern hybridization (C) chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (D) fluorescence in situ hybridization assay

Q14 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The direction of shell coiling in the snail Limnaea peregra is a classic example of (A) chromosomal inheritance (B) extra-chromosomal inheritance (C) chromosomal translocation (D) homologous recombination

Q15 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

During photorespiration under low CO 2 and high O 2 levels, O 2 reacts with ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate to yield

Q16 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Which one of the following is NOT a protoplast fusion inducing agent? (A) Inactivated Sendai virus (B) Ca2+ at alkaline pH (C) Polyethylene glycol (D) Colchicine

Q17 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The activity of an enzyme is expressed in International Units (IU). However, the S.I. unit for enzyme activity is Katal. One Katal is (A) 1.66 × 104 IU (B) 60 IU (C) 6 × 107 IU (D) 106 IU

Q18 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Identify the statement that is NOT applicable to an enzyme catalyzed reaction.

Q19 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

An example of a derived protein structure database is (A) Pfam (B) SCOP (C) GEO (D) Prosite

Q20 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

An example of a program for constructing a phylogenetic tree is (A) phylip (B) phrap (C) prodom (D) PHDsec

Q21 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Synteny refers to the physical co-localization of genetic loci on the same chromosome within an individual or species:

Q22 MCQ • 1M

Probability and Statistics

While searching a database for similar sequences, E value does NOT depend on the (A) sequence length (B) number of sequences in the database (C) scoring system (D) probability from a normal distribution

Q23 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

In transmission electron microscopy, electron opacity is greatly enhanced by treating the specimen with (A) ferrous ammonium sulfate (B) uranium acetate (C) sodium chloride (D) basic fuchsin

Q24 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The molarity of water in a water : ethanol mixture (15 : 85, v/v) is approximately (A) 0.85 (B) 5.55 (C) 8.5 (D) 55.5

Q25 MCQ • 1M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The helix content of a protein can be determined using (A) an infrared spectrometer (B) a fluorescence spectrometer (C) a circular dichroism spectrometer (D) a UV-Visible spectrophotometer Q. 26 to Q. 55 carry two marks each.

Q26 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Which one of the following DNA sequences carries an invert repeat?

Q27 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

In zinc finger proteins, the amino acid residues that coordinate zinc are (A) Cys and His (B) Asp and Glu (C) Arg and Lys (D) Asp and Arg

Q28 MCQ • 2M

Mass transfer in bioprocesses (kLa)

Match the entries in Group I with those in Group II. Group I Group II P. MTT 1. Dihydrofolate reductase Q. Annexin V 2. Succinate dehydrogenase R. Methotrexate 3. Microtubules S. Taxol 4. Phosphatidylserine (A) P-3, Q-1, R-4, S-2 (B) P-2, Q-4, R-1, S-3 (C) P-2, Q-3, R-4, S-1 (D) P-4, Q-2, R-1, S-3

Q29 MCQ • 2M

Bioreactor types, scale-up

In an exponentially growing batc h culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the cell density is 20 gl -1 (DCW), the specific growth rate ( ) is 0.4 h -1 and substrate uptake rate ( ) is 16 gl -1h-1. The cell yield coefficient Yx/s will be (A) 0.32 (B) 0.64 (C) 0.80 (D) 0.50

Q30 MCQ • 2M

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing

A single base pair of DNA weighs 1.1 × 10-21 grams. How many picomoles of a plasmid vector of length 2750 bp are contained in 1 g of purified DNA? (A) 0.30 (B) 0.55 (C) 0.25 (D) 0.91 2012 BIOTECHNOLOGY - BT

Q31 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Match the terms in Group I with the ploidy in Group II. Group I Group II P. Disome 1. 2n + 1 Q. Monosome 2. 2n - 1 R. Nullisome 3. n - 1 S. Trisome 4. n + 1 (A) P-4, Q-2, R-3, S-1 (B) P-4, Q-3, R-1, S-2 (C) P-2, Q-3, R-4, S-1 (D) P-1, Q-4, R-3, S-2

Q32 MCQ • 2M

Linear Algebra

What is the rank of the following matrix? 5 3 1 6 2 4 14 10 0    (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3

Q33 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Match the products in Group I with the applications in Group II. Group I Group II P. Digoxin 1. Muscle relaxant Q. Stevioside 2. Anti-cancer agent R. Atropine 3. Cardiovascular disorder S. Vinblastine 4. Sweetener (A) P-1, Q-4, R-3, S-2 (B) P-3, Q-2, R-1, S-4 (C) P-3, Q-4, R-1, S-2 (D) P-2, Q-3, R-1, S-4

Q34 MCQ • 2M

Cell structure and signaling

Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion (a) and Reason (r). Assertion: The production of secondary metabolites in plant cell c ultures is enhanced by the addition of elicitors. Reason: Elicitors induce the expression of enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.

Q35 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion (a) and Reason (r). Assertion: Plants convert fatty acids into glucose. Reason: Plants have peroxisomes.

Q36 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion (a) and Reason (r). Assertion: In direct somatic embryogenesis, embryos are developed without going through callus formation. Reason: This is possible due to the presence of pre-embryonically determined cells.

Q37 MCQ • 2M

Mass transfer in bioprocesses (kLa)

Match the entries in Group I with the process parameters in Group II. Group I Group II P. Clark electrode 1. Liquid level Q. Redox probe 2. Dissolved oxygen concentration R. Load cell 3. Vessel pressure S. Diaphragm gauge 4. pH (anaerobic process) (A) P-2, Q-1, R-3, S-4 (B) P-4, Q-2, R-3, S-1 (C) P-2, Q-4, R-1, S-3 (D) P-2, Q-1, R-4, S-3

Q38 MCQ • 2M

Bioreactor types, scale-up

Match the downstream processes in Group I with the products in Group II. Group I Group II P. Solvent extraction 1. Lactic acid Q. Protein-A linked affinity chromatography 2. Penicillin R. Extractive distillation 3. Monoclonal antibody S. Salting out 4. Lipase (A) P-2, Q-3, R-1, S-4 (B) P-4, Q-1, R-2, S-3 (C) P-4, Q-1, R-3, S-2 (D) P-2, Q-4, R-1, S-3

Q39 MCQ • 2M

Mass transfer in bioprocesses (kLa)

Determine the correctness or otherwise of the following Assertion (a) and Reason (r). Assertion: Cell mass yield of a methylotrophic yeast is more on methanol compared to glucose. Reason: Methanol has a greater degree of reductance compared to glucose.

Q40 MCQ • 2M

Probability and Statistics

A disease is inherited by a child with a probability of 1/4. In a family of four children, what is the probability that at least one child is affected?

Q41 MCQ • 2M

Downstream processing (chromatography, filtration)

Match the organisms in Group I with the entries in Group II. Group I Group II P. Clostridium 1. Rods with teichoic acid in the cell wall Q. Escherichia 2. Rods with endospores R. Vibrio 3. Helical rods with flagella S. Bacillus 4. Rods with LPS in the outer membrane 5. Curved rods with polar flagella (A) P-2, Q-4, R-5, S-1 (B) P-2, Q-1, R-5, S-4 (C) P-5, Q-4, R-2, S-3 (D) P-3, Q-2, R-1, S-4

Q42 MCQ • 2M

Bioreactor types, scale-up

Match the entries in Group I with the methods of sterilization in Group II. Group I Group II P. Serum 1. Autoclave Q. Luria broth 2. Membrane filtration R. Polypropylene tubes 3. UV irradiation S. Biological safety cabinets 4. Gamma irradiation 5. Dry heat (A) P-5, Q-3, R-1, S-4 (B) P-1, Q-4, R-5, S-3 (C) P-2, Q-1, R-4, S-3 (D) P-4, Q-1, R-3, S-5

Q43 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Match the high energy compounds in Group I with the biosynthetic pathways for the molecules in Group II. Group I Group II P. GTP 1. Fatty acid Q. UTP 2. Phospholipid R. CTP 3. Protein S. Acyl coenzyme A 4. Peptidoglycan (A) P-3, Q-2, R-4, S-1 (B) P-2, Q-4, R-3, S-1 (C) P-4, Q-3, R-1, S-2 (D) P-3, Q-4, R-2, S-1

Q44 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

Match the vitamins in Group I with the processes/reactions in Group II. Group I Group II P. Pantothenic acid 1. Electron transport Q. Vitamin B2 2. Transfer of 1-C units R. Vitamin B6 3. Decarboxylation S. Folic acid 4. Fatty acid metabolism 5. Hydrolysis (A) P-5, Q-2, R-4, S-1 (B) P-4, Q-1, R-3, S-2 (C) P-4, Q-2, R-1, S-3 (D) P-2, Q-1, R-3, S-5 2012 BIOTECHNOLOGY - BT

Q45 MCQ • 2M

Probability and Statistics

Consider the data set 14, 18, 14, 14, 10, 29, 33, 31, 25. If you add 20 to each of the values, then (A) both mean and variance change (B) both mean and variance are unchanged (C) the mean is unchanged, variance changes (D) the mean changes, the variance is unchanged

Q46 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

An enzymatic reaction is described by the following rate expression: v = (Vmax * [S]) / (Km + [S] + [S]^2 / Ki). Given Vmax = 10 µmol/(min.mg), Km = 1 mM, and Ki = 4 mM, the substrate concentration [S] at which the reaction velocity achieves its maximum value is ________ mM.

Q47 MCQ • 2M

Downstream processing (chromatography, filtration)

A bacterial culture (200 l containing 1.8 × 109 cells) was treated with an antibiotic Z (50 g per ml) for 4 h at 37˚C. After this treatment, the culture was divided into two equal aliquots. Set A: 100 l was plated on Luria agar. Set B: 100 l was centrifuged, the cell pellet washed and plated on Luria agar. After incubating these two plates for 24 h at 37˚C, Set A plate showed no colonies, whereas the Set B plate showed 0.9 × 109 cells. This experiment showed that the antibiotic Z is (A) bacteriostatic (B) bacteriocidal (C) bacteriolytic (D) apoptotic Common Data Questions Common Data for Questions 48 and 49 : In a muscle, the extracellular and intracellular concentrations of Na + are 150 mM and 12 mM, and those of K+ are 2.7 mM and 140 mM, respectively. Assume that the temperature is 25 oC and that the membrane potential is -60 mV, with the interior more negatively charged than the exterior. (R = 8.314 J mol -1 K-1; F = 96.45 kJ mol-1 V-1)

Q48 MCQ • 2M

Bioenergetics and Metabolism

The free energy change for the transport of three Na+ out of the cell is (A) +1.5 kJ/mol (B) +17.4 kJ/mol (C) +18.9 kJ/mol (D) +36.3 kJ/mol

Q49 MCQ • 2M

Downstream processing (chromatography, filtration)

The free energy change for the transport of two K+ ions into the cell at 37 °C (membrane potential ΔΨ = -70 mV, [K+]in = 140 mM, [K+]out = 4 mM) is:

Q50 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The fold purification for each step is (A) P-0.1, Q- 0.66, R-0.84, S- 1.26 (B) P-1.0, Q-0.52, R-0.67, S-0.8 (C) P-1, Q-6.6, R-8.4, S-12.6 (D) P-100, Q-66, R-84, S-12

Q51 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The yield (%) for each step is (A) P-10, Q-7.2, R-4.5, S-2.0 (B) P-34, Q-24, R-15, S-1 (C) P-3.4, Q-2.4, R-1.5, S-0.1 (D) P-100, Q-71, R-44, S-29 Linked Answer Questions Statement for Linked Answer Questions 52 and 53: An E. coli cell of volume 10 -12 cm3 contains 60 molecules of lac -repressor. The repressor has a binding affinity (Kd) of 10-8 M and 10-9 M with and without lactose respectively, in the medium.

Q52 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The molar concentration of the repressor in the cell is (A) 0.1 nM (B) 1 nM (C) 10 nM (D) 100 nM

Q53 MCQ • 2M

Recombinant DNA technology

In a lac-operon linked genetic cross, an E. coli strain carrying lacI-d (dominant negative repressor mutant) was infected with an F' plasmid carrying wild-type lacI+. Therefore, the lac-operon is:

Q54 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The residence time required for the steady state reactor operation will be (A) 0.1 h (B) 0.4 h (C) 1.0 h (D) 1.1 h

Q55 MCQ • 2M

Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics

The feed flow rate required for the above bioconversion will be (A) 50 lh-1 (B) 55 lh-1 (C) 137 lh-1 (D) 550 lh-1 2012 BIOTECHNOLOGY - BT

Q56 MCQ • 1M

Quantitative Aptitude

The cost function for a product i n a firm is given by 5q2, where q is the amount of production. The firm can sell the product at a market price of 50 per unit. The number of units to be produced by the firm such that the profit is maximized is (A) 5 (B) 10 (C) 15 (D) 25

Q57 MCQ • 1M

Verbal Aptitude

Choose the most appropriate alternative from the options given below to complete the following sentence: Suresh's dog is the one --------- was hurt in the stampede. (A) that (B) which (C) who (D) whom

Q58 MCQ • 1M

Verbal Aptitude

Choose the grammatically INCORRECT sentence:

Q59 MCQ • 1M

Verbal Aptitude

Which one of the following options is the closest in meaning to the word given below? Mitigate (A) Diminish (B) Divulge (C) Dedicate (D) Denote

Q60 MCQ • 1M

Verbal Aptitude

Choose the most appropriate alternative from the options given below to complete the following sentence: Despite several --------- the mission succeeded in its attempt to resolve the conflict. (A) attempts (B) setbacks (C) meetings (D) delegations

Q61 MCQ • 2M

Quantitative Aptitude

Wanted Temporary, Part-time persons for the post of Field Interviewer to conduct personal interviews to collect and collate economic data. Requirements: High School -pass, must be available for Day, Evening and Saturday work. Transportation paid, expenses reimbursed. Which one of the following is the best inference from the above advertisement?

Q62 MCQ • 2M

Quantitative Aptitude

Given the sequence of terms, AD CG FK JP, the next term is (A) OV (B) OW (C) PV (D) PW 2012 BIOTECHNOLOGY - BT

Q63 MCQ • 2M

Quantitative Aptitude

Which of the following assertions are CORRECT? P: Adding 7 to each entry in a list adds 7 to the mean of the list Q: Adding 7 to each entry in a list adds 7 to the standard deviation of the list R: Doubling each entry in a list doubles the mean of the list S: Doubling each entry in a list leaves the standard deviation of the list unchanged (A) P, Q (B) Q, R (C) P, R (D) R, S

Q64 MCQ • 2M

Quantitative Aptitude

An automobile plant contracted to buy shock absorbers from two suppliers X and Y. X supplies 60% and Y supplies 40% of the shock absorbers. All shock absorbers are subjected to a quality test. The ones that pass the quality test are considered reliable. Of X's shock absorbers, 96% are reliable. Of Y's shock absorbers, 72% are reliable. The probability that a randomly chosen shock absorber, which is found to be reliable, is made by Y is (A) 0.288 (B) 0.334 (C) 0.667 (D) 0.720

Q65 MCQ • 2M

Quantitative Aptitude

A political par ty orders an arch for the entrance to the ground in which the annual convention is being held. The profile of the arch follows the equation y = 2x - 0.1x2 where y is the height of the arch in meters. The maximum possible height of the arch is (A) 8 meters (B) 10 meters (C) 12 meters (D) 14 meters