Question 1

Information within sequence databases, such as GenBank, could be used to perform which of the following tasks?

Accepted Answer

A)  Determine the expression pattern for specific human genes. 
B)  Construct a tree to determine the evolutionary relationships between various bird species. 
C)  Search for genes that have not yet been identified in eukaryotic genomes. 
D)  Compare patterns of gene expression in cancerous and non-cancerous cells. 
A)  Determine the expression pattern for specific human genes. 
B)  Construct a tree to determine the evolutionary relationships between various bird species. 
C)  Search for genes that have not yet been identified in eukaryotic genomes. 
D)  Compare patterns of gene expression in cancerous and non-cancerous cells. B

Question 2

Which of the following is a reason that expressed sequence tags (ESTs) aid the identification of DNA that encodes proteins?

Accepted Answer

A)  ESTs are amino acid sequences that can be used to predict the DNA sequence used in cellular gene expression. 
B)  ESTs are short DNA sequences conserved among all protein coding regions that can be scanned for by computer software. 
C)  ESTs are cDNA sequences and since cDNA synthesis uses an mRNA template ESTs identify protein coding genes. 
D)  ESTs are complementary to DNA promoter sequences and can act as coding region-specific primers. 
A)  ESTs are amino acid sequences that can be used to predict the DNA sequence used in cellular gene expression. 
B)  ESTs are short DNA sequences conserved among all protein coding regions that can be scanned for by computer software. 
C)  ESTs are cDNA sequences and since cDNA synthesis uses an mRNA template ESTs identify protein coding genes. 
D)  ESTs are complementary to DNA promoter sequences and can act as coding region-specific primers. C

Question 3

Crickets and fruit flies are both insects. Which of the following statements could explain why a certain cricket genome has eleven times as many base pairs as that of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster?

Accepted Answer

A)  Crickets have higher gene density. 
B)  Drosophila are more complex organisms. 
C)  Crickets must have more noncoding DNA. 
D)  Crickets must make many more proteins. 
A)  Crickets have higher gene density. 
B)  Drosophila are more complex organisms. 
C)  Crickets must have more noncoding DNA. 
D)  Crickets must make many more proteins. C

Question 4

Which of the following types of genome variations are more likely to have phenotypic consequences?

Accepted Answer

A)  CNVs 
B)  SNPs 
C)  STRs 
D)  Alu elements 
A)  CNVs 
B)  SNPs 
C)  STRs 
D)  Alu elements

Question 5

Which of the following describes a difference between transposable elements and short tandem repeats (STRs)?

Accepted Answer

A)  STRs may result in phenotypic differences between individuals; transposable elements are non-coding regions. 
B)  STRs occur within introns; transposable elements occur within exons. 
C)  STRs make up only a small percentage of a given genome while transposable elements often make up larger parts of a given genome. 
D)  STRs contain much larger repeated units those found in transposable elements. 
A)  STRs may result in phenotypic differences between individuals; transposable elements are non-coding regions. 
B)  STRs occur within introns; transposable elements occur within exons. 
C)  STRs make up only a small percentage of a given genome while transposable elements often make up larger parts of a given genome. 
D)  STRs contain much larger repeated units those found in transposable elements.

Question 6

Which of the following processes is part of the whole-genome shotgun approach to sequencing?

Accepted Answer

A)  fragmenting genomic DNA at random sites 
B)  mapping the chromosomal location of cloned DNA fragments 
C)  using DNA primers with randomly generated sequences to begin sequencing reactions throughout the genome 
D)  focusing the efforts to sequence the genomes of new species by using DNA primers known to be conserved between other species 
A)  fragmenting genomic DNA at random sites 
B)  mapping the chromosomal location of cloned DNA fragments 
C)  using DNA primers with randomly generated sequences to begin sequencing reactions throughout the genome 
D)  focusing the efforts to sequence the genomes of new species by using DNA primers known to be conserved between other species

Question 7

What can proteomics reveal that genomics cannot?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

Which of the following statements explains the observation that the number of different proteins a vertebrate produces may be larger than the number of genes found within their genome?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vertebrates can produce more than one polypeptide from a single gene. 
B)  Vertebrate genes contain both exons and introns. 
C)  Pseudogenes provide alternative regions for translation initiation. 
D)  Chromosomal rearrangements have increased the number of protein coding regions. 
A)  Vertebrates can produce more than one polypeptide from a single gene. 
B)  Vertebrate genes contain both exons and introns. 
C)  Pseudogenes provide alternative regions for translation initiation. 
D)  Chromosomal rearrangements have increased the number of protein coding regions.

Question 9

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and chimps have 24 pairs of chromosomes. Which of the following best explains the difference in chromosome number between humans and chimps?

Accepted Answer

A)  The common ancestor of humans and chimps had 24 pairs of chromosomes. During human evolution, two human chromosomes fused end to end. 
B)  In the evolution of chimps, new adaptations resulted from additional chromosomal material. 
C)  At some point in evolution, human and chimp ancestors reproduced with each other. 
D)  An Error in mitosis in a common ancestor split one chromosome and resulted in the additional pair seen in chimps. 
A)  The common ancestor of humans and chimps had 24 pairs of chromosomes. During human evolution, two human chromosomes fused end to end. 
B)  In the evolution of chimps, new adaptations resulted from additional chromosomal material. 
C)  At some point in evolution, human and chimp ancestors reproduced with each other. 
D)  An Error in mitosis in a common ancestor split one chromosome and resulted in the additional pair seen in chimps.

Question 10

An indigenous group uses a certain plant for medicinal purposes. Their scientists are most likely to find which of the following in the genome annotation for the medicinal plant?

Accepted Answer

A)  the plant's proteins that are medically important 
B)  the relative levels of mRNA transcripts produced by the plant 
C)  the sequences show similarities with known functional domains 
D)  the cellular location of mRNAs expressed within different plant tissues 
A)  the plant's proteins that are medically important 
B)  the relative levels of mRNA transcripts produced by the plant 
C)  the sequences show similarities with known functional domains 
D)  the cellular location of mRNAs expressed within different plant tissues

Question 11

Which of the following best describes metagenomics?

Accepted Answer

A)  genome studies that reflect on the effect of environmental conditions on DNA sequences 
B)  genome studies that compare and annotate representative genes shared by multiple species 
C)  sequencing DNA from the most highly conserved genes in a lineage 
D)  sequencing DNA from a community of species from the same ecosystem 
A)  genome studies that reflect on the effect of environmental conditions on DNA sequences 
B)  genome studies that compare and annotate representative genes shared by multiple species 
C)  sequencing DNA from the most highly conserved genes in a lineage 
D)  sequencing DNA from a community of species from the same ecosystem

Question 12

Homeotic genes ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  encode transcription factors that control the expression of genes responsible for specific anatomical structures 
B)  are found only in Drosophila and other arthropods 
C)  are the only genes that contain the homeobox domain 
D)  encode proteins that form anatomical structures in the fly 
A)  encode transcription factors that control the expression of genes responsible for specific anatomical structures 
B)  are found only in Drosophila and other arthropods 
C)  are the only genes that contain the homeobox domain 
D)  encode proteins that form anatomical structures in the fly

Question 13

Which of the following statements correctly describes retrotransposons?

Accepted Answer

A)  They use an RNA molecule as an intermediate in transposition. 
B)  They are found only in animal cells. 
C)  They generally move by a cut-and-paste mechanism. 
D)  They contribute a significant portion of the genetic variability seen within a population of gametes. 
A)  They use an RNA molecule as an intermediate in transposition. 
B)  They are found only in animal cells. 
C)  They generally move by a cut-and-paste mechanism. 
D)  They contribute a significant portion of the genetic variability seen within a population of gametes.

Question 14

Based on the systems approach employed by the ENCODE project, what percentage of the genome is estimated to be transcribed at some point in at least one cell type?

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 2% 
B)  about 50% 
C)  about 75% 
D)  100% 
A)  less than 2% 
B)  about 50% 
C)  about 75% 
D)  100%

Question 15

Studies in knockout mice have demonstrated an important role of the FOXP2 transcription factor in the development of vocalizations. Recent sequence comparisons of the FOXP2 gene in Neanderthals and modern humans show that while the DNA sequence may be different, the protein sequence it codes for is identical. Which of the following conclusions might logically be inferred from this information?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because different DNA sequences cannot result in the same protein sequence Neanderthals must have used a different variant of the genetic code. 
B)  Because there were differences in DNA sequence the hypothesis that Neanderthals were primitive beings that had not developed language is supported. 
C)  Because the FOXP2 protein sequences were identical, human and Neanderthal vocalizations may have been more similar than previously thought. 
D)  Because mice containing the "humanized" FOXP2 gene vocalized differently, mice and humans likely diverged more recently than previously thought. 
A)  Because different DNA sequences cannot result in the same protein sequence Neanderthals must have used a different variant of the genetic code. 
B)  Because there were differences in DNA sequence the hypothesis that Neanderthals were primitive beings that had not developed language is supported. 
C)  Because the FOXP2 protein sequences were identical, human and Neanderthal vocalizations may have been more similar than previously thought. 
D)  Because mice containing the "humanized" FOXP2 gene vocalized differently, mice and humans likely diverged more recently than previously thought.

Question 16

If gene duplication occurs to its ultimate extent and doubles all genes in a genome, which of the following outcomes is most likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  creation of a pseudogene 
B)  creation of a gene cluster 
C)  creation of a polyploid 
D)  creation of a diploid 
A)  creation of a pseudogene 
B)  creation of a gene cluster 
C)  creation of a polyploid 
D)  creation of a diploid

Question 17

A bioinformatic gene annotation contains which of the following components?

Accepted Answer

A)  a list of predicted transcription start and stop sites and RNA splicing sites in a DNA sequence 
B)  the name of the gene and a summary its evolutionary connections in other species 
C)  a description of the function of noncoding regions of the gene 
D)  a summary of the experimental steps conducted to identify the protein coding region 
A)  a list of predicted transcription start and stop sites and RNA splicing sites in a DNA sequence 
B)  the name of the gene and a summary its evolutionary connections in other species 
C)  a description of the function of noncoding regions of the gene 
D)  a summary of the experimental steps conducted to identify the protein coding region

Question 18

Which of the following statements explains why is it more difficult to identify eukaryotic genes than prokaryotic genes using genomic techniques?

Accepted Answer

A)  Proteins are larger in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes. 
B)  Coding regions of genes in eukaryotes are shorter than in prokaryotes. 
C)  mRNAs in prokaryotes are usually polycistronic. 
D)  There are introns in eukaryotic genes. 
A)  Proteins are larger in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes. 
B)  Coding regions of genes in eukaryotes are shorter than in prokaryotes. 
C)  mRNAs in prokaryotes are usually polycistronic. 
D)  There are introns in eukaryotic genes.

Question 19

Humans and chimpanzees show approximately 98% sequence similarity yet exhibit significant phenotypic differences. Changes to which of the following genome characteristics contributes most to the differences between humans and chimpanzees?

Accepted Answer

A)  structural genes 
B)  the number of repeated sequences 
C)  regulatory sequences 
D)  genome size 
A)  structural genes 
B)  the number of repeated sequences 
C)  regulatory sequences 
D)  genome size

Question 20

Which of the following is a direct result of alternative splicing in eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A)  More than one polypeptide sequence can be produced from a single gene. 
B)  Each gene can produce multiple copies of the same peptide. 
C)  Eukaryote genomes can be smaller than prokaryotic genomes. 
D)  Introns contain coding sequences and exons do not. 
A)  More than one polypeptide sequence can be produced from a single gene. 
B)  Each gene can produce multiple copies of the same peptide. 
C)  Eukaryote genomes can be smaller than prokaryotic genomes. 
D)  Introns contain coding sequences and exons do not.

Exam 20: The Evolution of Genomes

Information within sequence databases, such as GenBank, could be used to perform which of the following tasks?

Which of the following is a reason that expressed sequence tags (ESTs) aid the identification of DNA that encodes proteins?

Crickets and fruit flies are both insects. Which of the following statements could explain why a certain cricket genome has eleven times as many base pairs as that of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster?

Which of the following types of genome variations are more likely to have phenotypic consequences?

Which of the following describes a difference between transposable elements and short tandem repeats (STRs)?

Which of the following processes is part of the whole-genome shotgun approach to sequencing?

What can proteomics reveal that genomics cannot?

Which of the following statements explains the observation that the number of different proteins a vertebrate produces may be larger than the number of genes found within their genome?

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and chimps have 24 pairs of chromosomes. Which of the following best explains the difference in chromosome number between humans and chimps?

An indigenous group uses a certain plant for medicinal purposes. Their scientists are most likely to find which of the following in the genome annotation for the medicinal plant?

Which of the following best describes metagenomics?

Homeotic genes ________.

Which of the following statements correctly describes retrotransposons?

Based on the systems approach employed by the ENCODE project, what percentage of the genome is estimated to be transcribed at some point in at least one cell type?

If gene duplication occurs to its ultimate extent and doubles all genes in a genome, which of the following outcomes is most likely to occur?

A bioinformatic gene annotation contains which of the following components?

Which of the following statements explains why is it more difficult to identify eukaryotic genes than prokaryotic genes using genomic techniques?

Humans and chimpanzees show approximately 98% sequence similarity yet exhibit significant phenotypic differences. Changes to which of the following genome characteristics contributes most to the differences between humans and chimpanzees?

Which of the following is a direct result of alternative splicing in eukaryotes?

Biology and Its Themes

Atoms and Molecules

The Chemistry of Water

Carbon: the Basis of Molecular Diversity

Biological Macromolecules and Lipids

Energy and Life

Cell Structure and Function

Cell Membranes

Cellular Signaling

Cell Respiration

Photosynthetic Processes

Mitosis

Sexual Life Cycles and Meiosis

Mendelian Genetics

Linkage and Chromosomes

Nucleic Acids and Inheritance

Expression of Genes

Control of Gene Expression

Dna Technology

How Evolution Works

Phylogenetic Reconstruction

Microevolution

Species and Speciation

Macroevolution

Introduction to Viruses

Prokaryotes

The Origin and Evolution of Eukaryotes

Nonvascular and Seedless Vascular Plants

Seed Plants

Introduction to Fungi

An Introduction to Animal Diversity

Invertebrates

Vertebrates

Plant Structure and Growth

Transport in Vascular Plants

Plant Nutrition

Reproduction of Flowering Plants

Plant Signals and Behavior

The Animal Body

Chemical Signals in Animals

Animal Digestive Systems

Animal Transport Systems

Animal Excretory Systems

Animal Reproductive Systems

Development in Animals

Animal Defenses Against Infection

Electrical Signals in Animals

Neural Regulation in Animals

Sensation and Movement in Animals

An Overview of Ecology

Behavioral Ecology

Populations and Life History Traits

Biodiversity and Communities

Energy Flow and Chemical Cycling in Ecosystems

Conservation and Global Ecology

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