Question 1

What characteristic of short tandem repeats STRs) DNA makes it useful for DNA fingerprinting?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sequence of DNA that is repeated varies significantly from individual to individual. 
B)  The sequence variation is acted upon differently by natural selection in different environments. 
C)  Each short tandem repeat sequence variation binds a different protein. 
D)  The number of repeats varies widely from person to person or animal to animal. 
E)  Every racial and ethnic group has inherited different short tandem repeats. 
A)  The sequence of DNA that is repeated varies significantly from individual to individual. 
B)  The sequence variation is acted upon differently by natural selection in different environments. 
C)  Each short tandem repeat sequence variation binds a different protein. 
D)  The number of repeats varies widely from person to person or animal to animal. 
E)  Every racial and ethnic group has inherited different short tandem repeats. D

Question 2

Use the following information when answering the corresponding questions).
A study by Krings et al. investigated Neanderthal DNA by amplifying 30 000- year- old samples and sequencing it. M. Krings Stone, R.W. Schmitz, H. Krainitzki, M. Stoneking, and S. Pääbo. 1997. Neandertal DNA sequences and the origin of modern humans. Cell 90:19- 30).
Here is part of the lead paragraph in the "Methods" section of the Krings et al. paper:
Protective clothing was worn throughout the sampling procedure. Instruments used were treated with 1 M HCl followed by e rinsing in distilled water. After removal, the sample was immediately put into a sterile tube for transport to Munich. All subse manipulations of the sample, and experimental procedures prior to cycling of PCR reactions, were carried out in laboratories dedicated to the analysis of archaeological specimens, where protective clothing, separate equipment and reagents, UV irradia other measures to...
A concluding paragraph of the Krings et al. paper states:
It must be emphasized that the above conclusions are based on a single individual sequence; the retrieval and analysis of mtD sequences from additional Neanderthal specimens is obviously desirable. If this proves possible, then the potential exists to address several questions concerning Neanderthals that hitherto could be studied exclusively by morphological and archaeological approaches. For example, the genetic relationship between Neanderthal populations in Europe and in western Asia could be explored, as could the demographic history of Neanderthal populations.
-Why did the researchers wear protective clothing and note so emphatically that they did so?

Accepted Answer

A)  They needed to minimize the chance of introducing their own mitochondrial DNA to the sample. 
B)  They needed to be certain there were no ancient pathogens on the sample that modern humans hadn't been exposed to. 
C)  They needed to be sure not to harm the precious sample with oils from skin or moisture from their breath. 
D)  Because the work was done in Germany, they needed to follow stringent, standard German laboratory procedures and document their compliance. 
A)  They needed to minimize the chance of introducing their own mitochondrial DNA to the sample. 
B)  They needed to be certain there were no ancient pathogens on the sample that modern humans hadn't been exposed to. 
C)  They needed to be sure not to harm the precious sample with oils from skin or moisture from their breath. 
D)  Because the work was done in Germany, they needed to follow stringent, standard German laboratory procedures and document their compliance. A

Question 3

You ask your student to transfer a plasmid- free bacterial strain to multiple small tubes for long term storage. A short while later, your student admits that he did not use a clean sterile pipette to transfer the bacteria to the small tubes, but rather grabbed the same pipette he had just used to collect newly transformed bacteria. Why would this pose a problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plasmids will incorporate into the chromosomal DNA. 
B)  Plasmid can contain genes that confer antibiotic resistance. 
C)  Plasmids can be transferred between bacteria via pili. 
D)  Newly transformed bacteria will actively undergo binary fission. 
A)  Plasmids will incorporate into the chromosomal DNA. 
B)  Plasmid can contain genes that confer antibiotic resistance. 
C)  Plasmids can be transferred between bacteria via pili. 
D)  Newly transformed bacteria will actively undergo binary fission. C

Question 4

A bacterial cell that has taken up plasmid DNA is

Accepted Answer

A)  a library. 
B)  ligated. 
C)  transformed. 
D)  a vector. 
E)  a cDNA. 
A)  a library. 
B)  ligated. 
C)  transformed. 
D)  a vector. 
E)  a cDNA.

Question 5

To create a viral vector for delivery of genes into mammalian cells, the virus must be engineered to

Accepted Answer

A)  remove all viral genes, replacing them with the mammalian genes to be delivered. 
B)  remove viral genes involved with virus replication and add mammalian genes to be delivered. 
C)  remove the viral genome and coat proteins and replace them with recombinant plasmids carrying the mammalian genes to be delivered. 
D)  remove viral coat proteins. 
A)  remove all viral genes, replacing them with the mammalian genes to be delivered. 
B)  remove viral genes involved with virus replication and add mammalian genes to be delivered. 
C)  remove the viral genome and coat proteins and replace them with recombinant plasmids carrying the mammalian genes to be delivered. 
D)  remove viral coat proteins.

Question 6

How does a gene library differ from a gene clone?

Accepted Answer

A)  A gene library is a much shorter DNA sequence than a gene clone. 
B)  A gene library contains many different cloned DNA sequences; a gene clone contains one type of DNA sequence. 
C)  A gene library is sequence information stored in a computerized database; a gene clone is an actual sequence of DNA. 
D)  A gene library contains one type of cloned DNA sequence; a gene clone contains many different DNA sequences. 
E)  A gene library is a much longer DNA sequence than a gene clone. 
A)  A gene library is a much shorter DNA sequence than a gene clone. 
B)  A gene library contains many different cloned DNA sequences; a gene clone contains one type of DNA sequence. 
C)  A gene library is sequence information stored in a computerized database; a gene clone is an actual sequence of DNA. 
D)  A gene library contains one type of cloned DNA sequence; a gene clone contains many different DNA sequences. 
E)  A gene library is a much longer DNA sequence than a gene clone.

Question 7

Which type of disorder is most difficult to correct by gene therapy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a recessive disorder 
B)  an incompletely dominant disorder 
C)  a dominant disorder 
D)  Disorders showing all these forms of dominance present equal challenges. 
A)  a recessive disorder 
B)  an incompletely dominant disorder 
C)  a dominant disorder 
D)  Disorders showing all these forms of dominance present equal challenges.

Question 8

In the current form of dideoxy DNA sequencing, the primer is unlabeled and each dideoxynucleotide is labeled with a different fluorescent marker. This method

Accepted Answer

A)  eliminates the need to run sequencing reaction products on a gel. 
B)  eliminates the need for sophisticated machines to read the output of each sequencing reaction. 
C)  allows a DNA sequence to be determined from 4 separate sequencing reactions, each run on a separate lane of a gel. 
D)  allows a DNA sequence to be determined from one sequencing reaction that is run on a single lane of a gel. 
A)  eliminates the need to run sequencing reaction products on a gel. 
B)  eliminates the need for sophisticated machines to read the output of each sequencing reaction. 
C)  allows a DNA sequence to be determined from 4 separate sequencing reactions, each run on a separate lane of a gel. 
D)  allows a DNA sequence to be determined from one sequencing reaction that is run on a single lane of a gel.

Question 9

Plasmids are used as cloning vectors in genetic engineering. This means that plasmids allow for

Accepted Answer

A)  carrying of RNA into a cell and RNA replication. 
B)  infection of cells. 
C)  carrying of DNA into a cell and DNA replication. 
D)  DNA replication outside rather than inside cells. 
A)  carrying of RNA into a cell and RNA replication. 
B)  infection of cells. 
C)  carrying of DNA into a cell and DNA replication. 
D)  DNA replication outside rather than inside cells.

Question 10

In early forensic applications of DNA fingerprinting, DNA was extracted from crime scene material, digested with restriction enzymes, and then analyzed. Today, PCR is used in the early steps of forensic DNA analysis. What advantage does PCR provide over the former method?

Accepted Answer

A)  PCR produces many more bands for fingerprint analysis, making it a more informative technique. 
B)  PCR can analyze DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates, whereas restriction enzyme analysis is limited to DNA. 
C)  PCR can cut DNA at many more sites than restriction enzymes can. 
D)  PCR requires much less DNA for analysis. 
A)  PCR produces many more bands for fingerprint analysis, making it a more informative technique. 
B)  PCR can analyze DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates, whereas restriction enzyme analysis is limited to DNA. 
C)  PCR can cut DNA at many more sites than restriction enzymes can. 
D)  PCR requires much less DNA for analysis.

Question 11

If mRNAs could be ligated and replicated within plasmids, what enzyme commonly used in recombinant DNA technology would no longer be needed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Taq polymerase 
B)  restriction enzymes 
C)  reverse transcriptase 
D)  DNA polymerase 
A)  Taq polymerase 
B)  restriction enzymes 
C)  reverse transcriptase 
D)  DNA polymerase

Question 12

What is one drawback of next- generation sequencing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Next- generation sequencing works best on eukaryotic DNA. 
B)  Next- generation sequencing can only be used to sequence whole genomes. 
C)  Next- generation sequencing is slower than Sanger sequencing. 
D)  Next- generation sequencing has difficulty sequencing DNA with repetitive sequence. 
E)  Next- generation sequencing is more expensive than Sanger sequencing. 
A)  Next- generation sequencing works best on eukaryotic DNA. 
B)  Next- generation sequencing can only be used to sequence whole genomes. 
C)  Next- generation sequencing is slower than Sanger sequencing. 
D)  Next- generation sequencing has difficulty sequencing DNA with repetitive sequence. 
E)  Next- generation sequencing is more expensive than Sanger sequencing.

Question 13

In nature, what is the major mechanism of introducing new genes into eukaryotic genomes?

Accepted Answer

A)  unequal crossing over at microsatellite repeats 
B)  pseudogene creation 
C)  transfer from viruses 
D)  pseudogene restoration 
E)  duplication followed by evolutionary divergence 
A)  unequal crossing over at microsatellite repeats 
B)  pseudogene creation 
C)  transfer from viruses 
D)  pseudogene restoration 
E)  duplication followed by evolutionary divergence

Question 14

Which of the following is a gene library?

Accepted Answer

A)  a collection of PCR- amplified DNAs 
B)  a collection of different DNA fragments ligated into plasmids 
C)  a collection of genes that have been sequenced from a particular organism 
D)  a collection of DNAs cut by a restriction enzyme 
E)  a collection of plasmids cut by a restriction enzyme 
A)  a collection of PCR- amplified DNAs 
B)  a collection of different DNA fragments ligated into plasmids 
C)  a collection of genes that have been sequenced from a particular organism 
D)  a collection of DNAs cut by a restriction enzyme 
E)  a collection of plasmids cut by a restriction enzyme

Question 15

Proteomics is defined as the

Accepted Answer

A)  study of the full protein set encoded by a genome. 
B)  study of how amino acids are ordered in a protein. 
C)  linkage of each gene to a particular protein. 
D)  study of how a single gene activates many proteins. 
E)  totality of the functional possibilities of a single protein. 
A)  study of the full protein set encoded by a genome. 
B)  study of how amino acids are ordered in a protein. 
C)  linkage of each gene to a particular protein. 
D)  study of how a single gene activates many proteins. 
E)  totality of the functional possibilities of a single protein.

Question 16

Which of the following is in the correct order for one cycle of PCR?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anneal primers; denature DNA; extend primers. 
B)  Add fresh enzyme; denature DNA; anneal primers; add dNTPs; extend primers. 
C)  Denature DNA; anneal primers; extend primers. 
D)  Extend primers; anneal primers; denature DNA. 
E)  Denature DNA; add fresh enzyme; anneal primers; add dNTPs; extend primers. 
A)  Anneal primers; denature DNA; extend primers. 
B)  Add fresh enzyme; denature DNA; anneal primers; add dNTPs; extend primers. 
C)  Denature DNA; anneal primers; extend primers. 
D)  Extend primers; anneal primers; denature DNA. 
E)  Denature DNA; add fresh enzyme; anneal primers; add dNTPs; extend primers.

Question 17

What is a gene family is composed of?

Accepted Answer

A)  multiple genes whose products must be coordinately expressed 
B)  a highly conserved gene found in a number of different species 
C)  many tandem repeats such as those found in centromeres and telomeres 
D)  a gene whose exons can be spliced in a number of different ways 
E)  genes whose sequences are very similar and that probably arose by duplication 
A)  multiple genes whose products must be coordinately expressed 
B)  a highly conserved gene found in a number of different species 
C)  many tandem repeats such as those found in centromeres and telomeres 
D)  a gene whose exons can be spliced in a number of different ways 
E)  genes whose sequences are very similar and that probably arose by duplication

Question 18

Why is it essential that genetic markers used in mapping disease genes be polymorphic?

Accepted Answer

A)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, its position cannot be known. 
B)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, then it's impossible to use genetic mapping techniques to establish an association between the marker and the disease gene. 
C)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, it cannot be physically linked to a gene associated with human disease. 
D)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, then it will not be inherited in any predictable manner. 
A)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, its position cannot be known. 
B)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, then it's impossible to use genetic mapping techniques to establish an association between the marker and the disease gene. 
C)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, it cannot be physically linked to a gene associated with human disease. 
D)  If the marker isn't polymorphic, then it will not be inherited in any predictable manner.

Question 19

Imagine that you've isolated the complete human growth hormone gene directly from the human genome. After running through all the steps described in Chapter 20 for cloning and gene expression in bacteria, you find that no human growth hormone is expressed. What is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Human DNA cannot be cloned in a bacterium. 
B)  Human DNA can be maintained in cloned form only for brief periods in bacteria. 
C)  Bacteria cannot carry out splicing. 
D)  Bacteria cannot translate human mRNA coding sequences. 
E)  Bacteria lack a nucleus for proper transcription of eukaryotic genes. 
A)  Human DNA cannot be cloned in a bacterium. 
B)  Human DNA can be maintained in cloned form only for brief periods in bacteria. 
C)  Bacteria cannot carry out splicing. 
D)  Bacteria cannot translate human mRNA coding sequences. 
E)  Bacteria lack a nucleus for proper transcription of eukaryotic genes.

Question 20

What can proteomics reveal that genomics cannot?

Accepted Answer

A)  the patterns of alternative splicing 
B)  the number of genes characteristic of a species 
C)  the movement of transposable elements within the genome 
D)  the levels of mRNAs present in a particular cell type 
E)  the set of proteins present within a cell or tissue type 
A)  the patterns of alternative splicing 
B)  the number of genes characteristic of a species 
C)  the movement of transposable elements within the genome 
D)  the levels of mRNAs present in a particular cell type 
E)  the set of proteins present within a cell or tissue type

Exam 20: The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology and Beyond

What characteristic of short tandem repeats STRs) DNA makes it useful for DNA fingerprinting?

A bacterial cell that has taken up plasmid DNA is

To create a viral vector for delivery of genes into mammalian cells, the virus must be engineered to

How does a gene library differ from a gene clone?

Which type of disorder is most difficult to correct by gene therapy?

In the current form of dideoxy DNA sequencing, the primer is unlabeled and each dideoxynucleotide is labeled with a different fluorescent marker. This method

Plasmids are used as cloning vectors in genetic engineering. This means that plasmids allow for

In early forensic applications of DNA fingerprinting, DNA was extracted from crime scene material, digested with restriction enzymes, and then analyzed. Today, PCR is used in the early steps of forensic DNA analysis. What advantage does PCR provide over the former method?

If mRNAs could be ligated and replicated within plasmids, what enzyme commonly used in recombinant DNA technology would no longer be needed?

What is one drawback of next- generation sequencing?

In nature, what is the major mechanism of introducing new genes into eukaryotic genomes?

Which of the following is a gene library?

Proteomics is defined as the

Which of the following is in the correct order for one cycle of PCR?

What is a gene family is composed of?

Why is it essential that genetic markers used in mapping disease genes be polymorphic?

Imagine that you've isolated the complete human growth hormone gene directly from the human genome. After running through all the steps described in Chapter 20 for cloning and gene expression in bacteria, you find that no human growth hormone is expressed. What is the most likely explanation?

What can proteomics reveal that genomics cannot?

Biology and the Tree of Life

Water and Carbon: the Chemical Basis of Life

Protein Structure and Function

Nucleic Acids and the Rna World

An Introduction to Carbohydrates

Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells

Inside the Cell

Energy and Enzymes

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cellcell Interactions

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis

Mendel and the Gene

Dna and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair

How Genes Work

Transcription, Rna Processing, and Translation

Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria

Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

Gene Structure and Development

Evolution by Natural Selection

Evolutionary Processes

Speciation

Phylogenies and the History of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Green Algae and Land Plants

Fungi

An Introduction to Animals

Protostome Animals

Deuterostome Animals

Viruses

Plant Form and Function

Water and Sugar Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition

Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses

Plant Reproduction and Development

Animal Form and Function

Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals

Animal Nutrition

Gas Exchange and Circulation

Animal Nervous Systems

Animal Sensory Systems

Animal Movement

Chemical Signals in Animals

Animal Reproduction and Development

The Immune System in Animals

An Introduction to Ecology

Behavioural Ecology

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Global Ecology

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

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