Question 1

Fusion of somatic cells to form cell hybrids

Accepted Answer

A)  is useful for mapping genes to chromosomes, as chromosomes are identified as they are lost from the hybrid cell. 
B)  can only be achieved for cells of closely related organisms (same order). 
C)  creates stable heterokaryon cells that can be used in analysis of homologous chromosome structure. 
D)  as chromosomes are identified as they are lost from the hybrid cell. 
E)  All of the above are correct. 
A)  is useful for mapping genes to chromosomes, as chromosomes are identified as they are lost from the hybrid cell. 
B)  can only be achieved for cells of closely related organisms (same order). 
C)  creates stable heterokaryon cells that can be used in analysis of homologous chromosome structure. 
D)  as chromosomes are identified as they are lost from the hybrid cell. 
E)  All of the above are correct.

Question 2

Which of the following could be used as a cloning vector for recombinant DNA?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bacteriophage 
B)  Plasmid 
C)  Cosmid 
D)  Bacteriophage and plasmid 
E)  Bacteriophage, plasmid and cosmid 
A)  Bacteriophage 
B)  Plasmid 
C)  Cosmid 
D)  Bacteriophage and plasmid 
E)  Bacteriophage, plasmid and cosmid

Question 3

DNA fingerprinting in forensic science relies on

Accepted Answer

A)  the great variability of DNA in non-coding regions. 
B)  random fragmentation of DNA by restriction enzymes. 
C)  being able to amplify small amounts of DNA to produce useful quantities for analysis. 
D)  the great variability of DNA in non-coding regions and being able to amplify small amounts of DNA to produce useful quantities for analysis. 
A)  the great variability of DNA in non-coding regions. 
B)  random fragmentation of DNA by restriction enzymes. 
C)  being able to amplify small amounts of DNA to produce useful quantities for analysis. 
D)  the great variability of DNA in non-coding regions and being able to amplify small amounts of DNA to produce useful quantities for analysis.

Question 4

You observe a scientist extracting gDNA from an organism. The scientist then states he wants to check this material to determine the expression level of some specific genes in the gDNA he has just extracted and purified. How would you advise this scientist?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because he has extracted gDNA, he should do a Southern blot on his extracted material to detect the genes he is specifically interested in. 
B)  Because he wants to detect expression levels, he needs to do a northern blot on his extracted material as this is the technique used to semi-quantitatively measure transcript levels. 
C)  He should do Q-PCR or RT-PCR to produce cDNA that he can then analyse for transcript abundance. 
D)  If he wants to measure expression levels, he needs to instead extract total mRNA and then do a northern blot. 
E)  If he wants to measure expression levels, he needs to instead extract total mRNA and then do a Southern blot. 
A)  Because he has extracted gDNA, he should do a Southern blot on his extracted material to detect the genes he is specifically interested in. 
B)  Because he wants to detect expression levels, he needs to do a northern blot on his extracted material as this is the technique used to semi-quantitatively measure transcript levels. 
C)  He should do Q-PCR or RT-PCR to produce cDNA that he can then analyse for transcript abundance. 
D)  If he wants to measure expression levels, he needs to instead extract total mRNA and then do a northern blot. 
E)  If he wants to measure expression levels, he needs to instead extract total mRNA and then do a Southern blot.

Question 5

A fellow student asks you: 'Why do scientists use the Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium to deliver genes into plants, when Ti is an acronym for "tumour inducing"? Surely we don't want to give plants tumours?' What is your response?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tumours are only dangerous in mammals when they can lead to cancer and death. Lacking a true circulatory system, plants are far less vulnerable to such diseases. 
B)  Ti plasmids used in genetic engineering do not cause tumours as they have been modified by scientists. 
C)  Ti actually stands for 'transgenic induction' and the student is getting confused with other transgene delivery methods. 
D)  Only one species of Agrobacterium can deliver the Ti plasmid that might result in tumours, and scientists use a different species. 
E)  Scientists have 'disarmed' the Agrobacterium host so that it can't deliver the tumour inducing genes, only the transgenes. 
A)  Tumours are only dangerous in mammals when they can lead to cancer and death. Lacking a true circulatory system, plants are far less vulnerable to such diseases. 
B)  Ti plasmids used in genetic engineering do not cause tumours as they have been modified by scientists. 
C)  Ti actually stands for 'transgenic induction' and the student is getting confused with other transgene delivery methods. 
D)  Only one species of Agrobacterium can deliver the Ti plasmid that might result in tumours, and scientists use a different species. 
E)  Scientists have 'disarmed' the Agrobacterium host so that it can't deliver the tumour inducing genes, only the transgenes.

Question 6

Transformation of cells can be accomplished by

Accepted Answer

A)  hybridisation. 
B)  transposable elements. 
C)  complementation. 
D)  repeated replication of a DNA molecule. 
E)  None of the answers are correct. 
A)  hybridisation. 
B)  transposable elements. 
C)  complementation. 
D)  repeated replication of a DNA molecule. 
E)  None of the answers are correct.

Question 7

Why are some ends of a DNA strand cut by restriction endonucleases called 'sticky ends'?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the enzyme cuts in the same position on both strands 
B)  Because of the complementarity of the single strands created by the enzyme 
C)  'Sticky ends' is just another term for a 'blunt end' 
D)  Because such ends always end in a thymine, which readily binds to a complementary base more efficiently than any other nucleotide 
E)  Because the recognition sequence is palindromic 
A)  Because the enzyme cuts in the same position on both strands 
B)  Because of the complementarity of the single strands created by the enzyme 
C)  'Sticky ends' is just another term for a 'blunt end' 
D)  Because such ends always end in a thymine, which readily binds to a complementary base more efficiently than any other nucleotide 
E)  Because the recognition sequence is palindromic

Question 8

DNA sequence determination has provided a clear picture of the genome structure and has led to

Accepted Answer

A)  the discovery of introns. 
B)  identification of transposons. 
C)  identification of human disease genes. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
E)  None of the answers apply to outcomes from DNA sequencing as these were known before the technology of sequencing was developed. 
A)  the discovery of introns. 
B)  identification of transposons. 
C)  identification of human disease genes. 
D)  All of the answers are correct. 
E)  None of the answers apply to outcomes from DNA sequencing as these were known before the technology of sequencing was developed.

Question 9

Restriction enzymes are found naturally in bacterial cells. They are there to

Accepted Answer

A)  destroy foreign DNA entering the bacterial cell. 
B)  separate the two strands of the bacterial DNA. 
C)  integrate viral DNA into the genome of bacteria. 
D)  splice DNA fragments into the plasmid. 
E)  repair DNA. 
A)  destroy foreign DNA entering the bacterial cell. 
B)  separate the two strands of the bacterial DNA. 
C)  integrate viral DNA into the genome of bacteria. 
D)  splice DNA fragments into the plasmid. 
E)  repair DNA.

Question 10

Which would be the best term to describe the uptake, replication and expression of recombinant DNA?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cloning 
B)  Priming 
C)  Transformation 
D)  Restriction mapping 
E)  Probing 
A)  Cloning 
B)  Priming 
C)  Transformation 
D)  Restriction mapping 
E)  Probing

Question 11

Bacterial cells are said to be competent when they

Accepted Answer

A)  contain plasmids containing inserted DNA. 
B)  are able to uptake DNA from the external medium. 
C)  can grow on minimal medium. 
D)  grow rapidly when they contain plasmids. 
E)  contain plasmids with antibiotic resistance. 
A)  contain plasmids containing inserted DNA. 
B)  are able to uptake DNA from the external medium. 
C)  can grow on minimal medium. 
D)  grow rapidly when they contain plasmids. 
E)  contain plasmids with antibiotic resistance.

Question 12

A genomic library is

Accepted Answer

A)  fragments of DNA from the whole genome of an organism. 
B)  transformed host cells containing DNA fragments of the whole genome of an organism. 
C)  all the genes expressed in a particular cell which have been cloned into a host. 
D)  phage containing fragments of DNA from an organism. 
E)  plasmids with expressed genes ligated into their DNA. 
A)  fragments of DNA from the whole genome of an organism. 
B)  transformed host cells containing DNA fragments of the whole genome of an organism. 
C)  all the genes expressed in a particular cell which have been cloned into a host. 
D)  phage containing fragments of DNA from an organism. 
E)  plasmids with expressed genes ligated into their DNA.

Question 13

Which of the following techniques was NOT used in the search for the human sex determining gene?

Accepted Answer

A)  Examination of a number of humans with abnormal sexual development 
B)  Colony hybridisation 
C)  Deletion mapping 
D)  Cloning 
E)  Linkage to known genes 
A)  Examination of a number of humans with abnormal sexual development 
B)  Colony hybridisation 
C)  Deletion mapping 
D)  Cloning 
E)  Linkage to known genes

Question 14

It is NOT necessary for a cloning vector to

Accepted Answer

A)  have any restriction enzyme recognition sites. 
B)  be benign to the host. 
C)  have a selectable marker. 
D)  carry a gene for antibiotic resistance. 
E)  be able to replicate within the cell. 
A)  have any restriction enzyme recognition sites. 
B)  be benign to the host. 
C)  have a selectable marker. 
D)  carry a gene for antibiotic resistance. 
E)  be able to replicate within the cell.

Question 15

To clone a specific DNA fragment, the fragment is ligated into a vector. A vector may have the following attributes, EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  it must be a self replicating DNA. 
B)  it contains an origin of replication that can use the replication machinery of the host. 
C)  it will lyse the host to enable the fragment to be released. 
D)  it may enter the host cell after heat shock treatment. 
E)  it needs to produce a protein product in the host. 
A)  it must be a self replicating DNA. 
B)  it contains an origin of replication that can use the replication machinery of the host. 
C)  it will lyse the host to enable the fragment to be released. 
D)  it may enter the host cell after heat shock treatment. 
E)  it needs to produce a protein product in the host.

Question 16

Bacteria that contain the vector plasmid pBluescript II produce blue colonies if grown in a special medium. If these bacteria contain recombinant DNA, inserted into the LacZ gene of the plasmid, they produce white colonies. This is useful because it

Accepted Answer

A)  provides a way of mapping DNA segments. 
B)  identifies the plasmid from the bacterial DNA. 
C)  separates different genome fragments. 
D)  provides a way of identifying transformed bacteria. 
E)  identifies transposons integrated into the bacterial genome. 
A)  provides a way of mapping DNA segments. 
B)  identifies the plasmid from the bacterial DNA. 
C)  separates different genome fragments. 
D)  provides a way of identifying transformed bacteria. 
E)  identifies transposons integrated into the bacterial genome.

Question 17

What are the three main steps of PCR, and what is their order in a reaction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Denaturation, extension, polymerisation 
B)  Annealing, reaction, denaturation 
C)  Hydrolysis, extension, cleavage 
D)  Denaturation, annealing, extension 
E)  Polymerisation, reaction, extension 
A)  Denaturation, extension, polymerisation 
B)  Annealing, reaction, denaturation 
C)  Hydrolysis, extension, cleavage 
D)  Denaturation, annealing, extension 
E)  Polymerisation, reaction, extension

Question 18

In forensic science, DNA analysis is more useful than protein analysis because

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA is less variable than protein and therefore more reliable. 
B)  only trace amounts of DNA are needed for accurate analysis. 
C)  there is usually more DNA than protein found at a crime scene. 
D)  DNA is more stable than proteins and so is able to be detected after a long time. 
E)  None of the answers are correct. 
A)  DNA is less variable than protein and therefore more reliable. 
B)  only trace amounts of DNA are needed for accurate analysis. 
C)  there is usually more DNA than protein found at a crime scene. 
D)  DNA is more stable than proteins and so is able to be detected after a long time. 
E)  None of the answers are correct.

Question 19

Which statement about recombinant DNA technology is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Restriction endonucleases cut DNA at random base sequences. 
B)  Segments of DNA from one organism can be joined to DNA from another organism. 
C)  DNA fragments from different sources may be ligated using a restriction endonuclease. 
D)  It is not possible to join DNA from eukaryotes with DNA from prokaryotes. 
E)  Recombinant DNA cannot be transcribed so that the product is isolated. 
A)  Restriction endonucleases cut DNA at random base sequences. 
B)  Segments of DNA from one organism can be joined to DNA from another organism. 
C)  DNA fragments from different sources may be ligated using a restriction endonuclease. 
D)  It is not possible to join DNA from eukaryotes with DNA from prokaryotes. 
E)  Recombinant DNA cannot be transcribed so that the product is isolated.

Question 20

'Colony hybridisation' is one of the methods used to

Accepted Answer

A)  select specific genes on DNA fragments from the DNA library. 
B)  insert donor DNA into a host vector. 
C)  make multiple copies of a DNA segment. 
D)  make a cDNA copy that will hybridise to a specific sequence. 
E)  None of the answers describe colony hybridisation. 
A)  select specific genes on DNA fragments from the DNA library. 
B)  insert donor DNA into a host vector. 
C)  make multiple copies of a DNA segment. 
D)  make a cDNA copy that will hybridise to a specific sequence. 
E)  None of the answers describe colony hybridisation.

Exam 15: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Fusion of somatic cells to form cell hybrids

Which of the following could be used as a cloning vector for recombinant DNA?

DNA fingerprinting in forensic science relies on

You observe a scientist extracting gDNA from an organism. The scientist then states he wants to check this material to determine the expression level of some specific genes in the gDNA he has just extracted and purified. How would you advise this scientist?

A fellow student asks you: 'Why do scientists use the Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium to deliver genes into plants, when Ti is an acronym for "tumour inducing"? Surely we don't want to give plants tumours?' What is your response?

Transformation of cells can be accomplished by

Why are some ends of a DNA strand cut by restriction endonucleases called 'sticky ends'?

DNA sequence determination has provided a clear picture of the genome structure and has led to

Restriction enzymes are found naturally in bacterial cells. They are there to

Which would be the best term to describe the uptake, replication and expression of recombinant DNA?

Bacterial cells are said to be competent when they

A genomic library is

Which of the following techniques was NOT used in the search for the human sex determining gene?

It is NOT necessary for a cloning vector to

To clone a specific DNA fragment, the fragment is ligated into a vector. A vector may have the following attributes, EXCEPT

Bacteria that contain the vector plasmid pBluescript II produce blue colonies if grown in a special medium. If these bacteria contain recombinant DNA, inserted into the LacZ gene of the plasmid, they produce white colonies. This is useful because it

What are the three main steps of PCR, and what is their order in a reaction?

In forensic science, DNA analysis is more useful than protein analysis because

Which statement about recombinant DNA technology is CORRECT?

'Colony hybridisation' is one of the methods used to

Nature of Molecules

Biomolecules

The Chemistry of Life

Functioning Cells

Movement Across Membranes

Harvesting Energy

Cells, Tissues and Signals

Cell Division

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Gene Expression

Genomes, Mutation and Cancer

Viruses

Reproduction, Growth and Development of Flowering Plants

Structure of Plants

Plant Nutrition, Transport and Adaptation to Stress

Plant Hormones and Growth Responses

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Gas Exchange in Animals

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Hormonal Control in Animals

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Animal Movement

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Mechanisms of Evolution

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The Protists

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