• 50 questions

NOCTI Biotechnology Practice Test

Unofficial practice for NOCTI Biotechnology: DNA and PCR, gels, solutions, aseptic technique, lab safety, GLP records and instruments.

A cell copies the DNA sequence of one of its genes into messenger RNA. What is this step called?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 50 questions, 53 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with NOCTI. Bank checked October 15, 2026.

Next step Weak on DNA and genes? Biology practiceAnother NOCTI test: Health Assisting

All 50 questions

Knowledge of Biotechnology 5

  • A cell copies the DNA sequence of one of its genes into messenger RNA. What is this step called? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Transcription. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Knowledge of Biotechnology
  • CRISPR was adapted for the laboratory from genome editing systems that occur naturally in which organisms? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: CRISPR. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Knowledge of Biotechnology
  • Hydrogen bonds between paired bases hold the two strands of the double helix together. Which pairing is right? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Base Pair. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Knowledge of Biotechnology
  • Ribosomes read mRNA and add amino acids to a growing chain. In which part of the cell does this happen? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Translation. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Knowledge of Biotechnology
  • Which use of biotechnology compares regions of DNA that are unique to individuals, as in criminal cases and paternity testing? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: DNA Fingerprinting. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Knowledge of Biotechnology
Show all 50 questions (45 more)

Laboratory Knowledge and Skills 16

  • A buffer comes as a 10X stock. How much stock goes into 500 mL of 1X buffer? Written to the NOCTI Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question, worked twice
  • A culture is diluted 1 in 10, and that dilution is diluted 1 in 10 twice more. What is the final dilution? Wikipedia, Serial dilution. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills; the arithmetic was worked twice
  • A protein standard curve is a straight line through zero: 2 mg/mL reads an absorbance of 0.20 and 4 mg/mL reads 0.40. An unknown reads 0.30. What is its concentration? Wikipedia, Calibration curve. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills; the arithmetic was worked twice
  • A student tests how temperature changes the rate of an enzyme reaction. Which is the independent variable? Wikipedia, Dependent and independent variables. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • After a run, one band sits near the wells of a gel and another lies far down it. What does the far band hold? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Electrophoresis. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • Five weighings of one sample agree closely with each other, but all are far from the true mass. How are the results described? Wikipedia, Accuracy and precision. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • How is the size of a DNA fragment on a gel worked out? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Electrophoresis. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • In PCR, what is the job of the pair of primers? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Primer. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • In recombinant DNA work, what is a vector? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Vector. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • Scientists splice a gene into a small circular DNA molecule that copies itself inside bacteria. What is that molecule called? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Plasmid. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • Sodium chloride has a molar mass of 58.44 g/mol. How many grams make 500 mL of a 0.5 M solution? Wikipedia, Sodium chloride. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills; the arithmetic was worked twice
  • Toward which electrode does DNA migrate in a gel? Wikipedia, Gel electrophoresis. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • What does a restriction enzyme do? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Restriction Enzyme. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • What does SDS-PAGE separate, and by which property? Wikipedia, SDS-PAGE. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • What does the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) do? National Human Genome Research Institute, Talking Glossary: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills
  • Why does Taq polymerase suit the repeated heating of PCR? Wikipedia, Taq polymerase. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Laboratory Knowledge and Skills

Aseptic/Sterile Techniques 6

  • A procedure destroys all microbial life on an instrument, highly resistant bacterial endospores included. Which word does the bloodborne pathogens standard use for this? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Aseptic/Sterile Techniques
  • How many biosafety levels are there, and which calls for the least containment? Wikipedia, Biosafety level. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Aseptic/Sterile Techniques
  • In a Gram stain, why do gram-positive cells keep the crystal violet? Wikipedia, Gram stain. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Aseptic/Sterile Techniques
  • What does a laboratory autoclave use to sterilize glassware and media? Wikipedia, Autoclave. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Aseptic/Sterile Techniques
  • What does the bloodborne pathogens standard require straight after gloves are removed? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Aseptic/Sterile Techniques
  • What is the purpose of streaking a plate? Wikipedia, Streaking (microbiology). Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Aseptic/Sterile Techniques

Ethics 3

  • A report uses another scientist's results and words without giving credit. What is this called? U.S. Office of Research Integrity, Definition of Research Misconduct. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Ethics
  • A study will take samples from volunteers. Respect for persons, beneficence and justice are the three core principles of which document? Wikipedia, Belmont Report. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Ethics
  • A technician records readings for samples that were never run. Which kind of research misconduct is this? U.S. Office of Research Integrity, Definition of Research Misconduct. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Ethics

Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory 6

  • A technician is handed a tube of human blood from a donor who seems healthy. How do universal precautions treat it? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory
  • Before shelving a new reagent, a technician wants the conditions for safe storage and any incompatibilities. Which section of its safety data sheet has them? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200 Appendix D. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory
  • One reagent bottle is labeled Warning and the one beside it Danger. What does that tell the technician? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory
  • What does the bloodborne pathogens standard say about pipetting blood by mouth? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory
  • Where must a laboratory keep the safety data sheets it receives with incoming chemicals? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory
  • Which written program does a laboratory employer develop to set out the procedures, equipment and work practices that protect employees from hazardous chemicals? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1450. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory

Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment 4

  • A wrong figure has been written in a GLP record. How is the entry changed? 21 CFR 58.130 (ecfr.gov). Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment
  • The good laboratory practice rules of 21 CFR Part 58 apply to which studies? 21 CFR 58.1 (ecfr.gov). Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment
  • Under good laboratory practice, how is data recorded by hand? 21 CFR 58.130 (ecfr.gov). Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment
  • Which federal agency is responsible for the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products and medical devices? U.S. Food and Drug Administration, What We Do. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment

Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation 10

  • A morning of pH readings will run from about 5 to 9. What does good practice use to calibrate the meter first? Wikipedia, pH meter, Calibration and operation. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • After centrifuging, the solid at the bottom of the tube and the liquid above it are called what? Wikipedia, Centrifugation. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • An empty weigh boat sits on the balance. What does pressing tare do? Wikipedia, Tare weight. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • Before a centrifuge is started, how must the tubes be loaded? Wikipedia, Laboratory centrifuge, Safety. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • By the Beer-Lambert law, what happens to absorbance when the concentration of a solution doubles and the path stays the same? Wikipedia, Beer–Lambert law. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • Water in a graduated cylinder forms a concave meniscus. Where is the volume read? Wikipedia, Meniscus (liquid), Measurement of volumes. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • What does a spectrophotometer measure? Wikipedia, Spectrophotometry. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • Which device grows and maintains cultures by holding temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide at set levels? Wikipedia, Incubator (culture). Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • Which piece of glassware is calibrated to contain one precise volume, for making up a solution of known concentration? Wikipedia, Volumetric flask. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation
  • Why is a drop of oil placed between the slide and a 100x objective? Wikipedia, Oil immersion. Written to NOCTI Biotechnology (4275), Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the competency list of the Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Biotechnology (code 4275, version 01, copyright 2025) that NOCTI publishes at https://www.nocti.org/wp-content/uploads/Blueprints/JRBiotechnology4275.pdf , read 2026-10-14 and again 2026-10-15: a written assessment of 170 questions in 3 hours over seven areas (Knowledge of Biotechnology 11%; Laboratory Knowledge and Skills 32%; Aseptic/Sterile Techniques 12%; Ethics 5%; Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory 11%; Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment 8%; Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation 21%), plus a performance assessment of five jobs. This bank holds 50 in those proportions. The Teacher assessment for Biotechnology (code 5389) prints the same seven areas and weights. Every rule and definition was read on 2026-10-14 and again on 2026-10-15 on the public page named under its question: the Talking Glossary of the National Human Genome Research Institute at genome.gov, OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1910 on osha.gov, the good laboratory practice rules in 21 CFR Part 58 on ecfr.gov, the Office of Research Integrity at ori.hhs.gov, the Food and Drug Administration at fda.gov, and Wikipedia. Every volume, mass and reading is made up for the drill, and each computed answer is arithmetic that was worked twice. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

A free NOCTI Biotechnology practice test: 50 questions of our own in the seven areas of the Job Ready blueprint, code 4275. It is unofficial, not affiliated with NOCTI, and practice for an exam, not medical advice.

Read the full guide

Seven areas, weighted like the blueprint

Laboratory Knowledge and Skills is 32% of the written assessment and Appropriate Equipment and Instrumentation 21%. Aseptic/Sterile Techniques is 12%, Knowledge of Biotechnology and Safety in the Biotechnology Laboratory 11% each, Biotechnology in a Highly Regulated Environment 8% and Ethics 5%.

Fifty questions, 53 minutes

That is the pace of the real written assessment. Because the blueprint states no pass mark, a timed round here reports the number right and nothing more.

Bench work is not on this page

The five performance jobs are done with real equipment: quadrant streaking for isolated colonies, setting micropipettes, using serological pipettes, making a molar solution and making a serial dilution.

  • For a molar solution, grams = molarity x liters x molar mass. For a dilution, C1 x V1 = C2 x V2.
  • DNA is negatively charged, so it runs toward the positive electrode, and the smallest fragments move fastest.
  • GLP records are written in ink, dated and signed. A change must leave the original entry readable.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the NOCTI Biotechnology test?

The written assessment has 170 questions and an administration time of 3 hours, in one, two or three sessions. Five performance jobs follow, in 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Does this practice test fit the NOCTI Teacher assessment in biotechnology?

Yes. The Teacher blueprint for Biotechnology, code 5389, prints the same seven written areas at the same weights, with 170 questions in 3 hours. Teacher tests are given at a NOCTI-approved Area Test Center.

Where is the NOCTI Biotechnology blueprint posted?

At nocti.org/credentials/blueprints, free, as a PDF dated 2025. It holds the competency list, the area weights and ten sample questions. This bank uses none of the ten: its 50 questions were written for this page.

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