1. When examining a human karyotype, what would indicate whether the individual was male or female?
The presence or absence of a Y chromosome (males have one, females do not)
2. Which of the following is a crucial tool for mapping and sequencing a genome?
A. carbon dating
B. restriction enzyme
C. ATP
D. an electron microscope
B. restriction enzyme
3. If a biochemist knows the precise sequence of nucleotides in a chromosome, what step of genome mapping has she reached?
A. physical mapping
B. genetic marker
C. DNA sequencing
C. linkage mapping
C. DNA sequencing
4. What is the property of di-deoxyribonucleotide (ddNTP) that makes it useful in genome sequencing?
It stops the pairing of nucleotides at a known nucleotide. When DNA is cut into pieces of varying lengths using a restriction enzyme, and these pieces are paired up with ddNTP, you can determine the sequence of the genome by arranging the completed segments from shortest to longest.
5. How did Celera Genomics speed up the genome sequencing process?
A. By eliminating the need for linkage mapping and physical mapping
B. By using the “shotgun” approach
C. By cutting and sequencing an entire chromosome at once
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
6. Which of the following statements best explains gene annotation?
A. We know the nucleotide sequence, but we need to find the proteins it codes for and learn what the proteins do
B. We observe many phenotypes but have to decode the genotype
C. Gene annotation locates a DNA fragment’s position on a chromosome using a nucleic acid probe
D. Gene annotation is the art of finding the exact nucleotide sequence of a gene
A. We know the sequence but we need to find the proteins it codes for and their purpose
7. In general, how would a biologist study the function (but not the structure) of an unknown DNA sequence?
A. Analyze potential binding sites for protein based on the code
B. Analyze the codons to determine the arrangement of amino acids indicated by the sequence
C. “Knock out” the gene and observe the effect on the phenotype of an organism
D. None of the above
C. “Knock out” the gene and observe the effect on the phenotype of an organism
8. In general, how would a biochemist study the structure (but not the function) of protein coded by an unknown DNA sequence?
A. Analyze the codons to determine the arrangement of amino acids
B. Compare the protein-coding sequence to an international database of proteins and the genes that code for them
C. Based on the amino acids indicated by the code, look for potential binding sites on the protein and molecules that could bind with the protein
D. All of the above
A. Analyze the codons to determine the arrangement of amino acids
9. A researcher discovered a gene which triggers the growth of legs in fruit flies. When this gene is inserted into mice, they grow mouse legs. What would you expect to find in this gene?
A. A code for growth hormones
B. A sequence that codes for both bones and exoskeleton
C. A 180-nucleotide homeobox sequence
D. None of the above
C. A 180-nucleotide homeobox sequence
10. Which of the following statements best explains the field of protemics?
A. Protein is a valuable resource that must be allocated efficiently and economically in a cell.
B. Proteins have a complex relationship with genes and other proteins, and often can be classified into groups called proteomes.
C. International economies share the financial rewards of protein research
D. Energy is used more efficiently through the help of special proteins known as enzymes
B. Proteins have a complex relationship with genes and other proteins, and often can be classified into groups called proteomes.
11. Why did F.C. Steward first decide to clone carrots?
A. To determine whether differentiated cells still contained the full genome
B. To provide a cheap food source for starving rabbits in developing countries
C. To engineer a crop with 30% more beta-Carotine
D. To determine whether a single cell could perform mitosis without help or signalling from surrounding cells
A. To determine whether differentiated cells still contained the full genome
12. Which of the following best explains the successes and failures of the Dolly experiment?
A. Differentiated animal cells contain the complete genome, but something is altered
B. Differentiated animal cells are pluripotent
C. Much of the genome is deleted in the process of differentiation
D. Dolly was fed transgenic food, leading to health problems and an early death
A. Differentiated animal cells contain the complete genome, but something is altered
13. If a doctor attempted to regrow your muscle tissue after an injury, where/how could he or she obtain stem cells (list at least 2 sources)
Bone marrow, donors
14. How does gene therapy work? Explain briefly how a desired gene could be introduced into the chromosomes of human cells.
The desired genes are introduced into the patient’s genome using a vector such as a virus
15. Briefly explain how organisms can be employed to produce specialized medicine for human use (“pharm” animals, etc.)
Using a vector, a plasmid or other gene is introduced into the animal’s genome, causing its cells to produce the desired protein(s)
16. How is DNA used in solving crimes?
A. If a suspect’s genome matches DNA found at the crime scene, it proves he is guilty
B. Short tandem repeats (STRs) help distinguish the DNA of one person from that of another, and can prove a suspect was present at the scene of the crime
C. STRs are inconclusive, but they can rule out certain suspects whose STRs don’t match the DNA found at the crime scene
D. Blood and other tissue belonging to the victim will match 99.9% of the DNA of the true suspect
B. Short tandem repeats (STRs) help distinguish the DNA of one person from that of another, and can prove a suspect was present at the scene of the crime
17. How can genetically engineered microbes aid humanity? (List at least 2-3 ways)
Possible answers: Introduce desired genes into plants and animals grown for food or medicine; Produce medicine directly; Grow desired tissues to heal human bones, cartilage, etc.; remove wastes from the environment; extract desired minerals from water, soil or other medium
18. How are transgenic plants different than plant varieties produced through selective breeding?
A. Genes are introduced using an Agrobacter tumefaciens or other vector
B. Transgenic plants may contain the genes of fish or other animals
C. Transgenic plants can be created in a single generation; selective breeding takes years
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
19. Which of the following is considered the best argument against transgenic organisms?
A. GM meat can lower cholesterol levels
B. Transgenic plants are easily copied and replicated
C. Most transgenic food is currently unlabeled
D. They can interact with natural organisms on adjacent land, creating unforeseen economic and health-related consequences
D. They can interact with natural organisms on adjacent land, creating unforeseen economic and health-related consequences
20. It is now possible to access detailed information about thousands of proteins and genes on line. Researchers freely share this information so that new discoveries can be made more quickly. Are you in favor of this, or against it? Give your opinion and state at least one advantage or disadvantage of these open databases.
Answers will vary; it depends on your opinions and interests.