Question 1

The following is a potential application of bacterial oscillator switches:

Accepted Answer

A)  the study of controlled interactions between two feedback genetic loops 
B)  the design of bacterial genetic circuits to detect toxins 
C)  the design of bacterial clocks 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above 
A)  the study of controlled interactions between two feedback genetic loops 
B)  the design of bacterial genetic circuits to detect toxins 
C)  the design of bacterial clocks 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above

Question 2

The migration of linear DNA molecules in agarose or polyacrylamide gels occurs at a rate that is:

Accepted Answer

A)  independent of their size 
B)  directly proportional to their size 
C)  inversely proportional to their size 
D)  dependent on the AT content 
E)  none of the above 
A)  independent of their size 
B)  directly proportional to their size 
C)  inversely proportional to their size 
D)  dependent on the AT content 
E)  none of the above

Question 3

Once a gene encoding a putative transcriptional regulatory protein is identified by sequence annotation, what needs to be done to demonstrate this activity?

Accepted Answer

A transcriptional regulatory protein sho

Question 4

Describe the use of a primary and secondary antibody in a western blot.

Accepted Answer

The primary antibody is directed against

Question 5

Sigma B is a stress-induced transcription factor in Bacillus subtilis. Bacteria producing a sigma B-YFP fusion protein were exposed to constant energy stress and fluorescence pulses emitted by individual cells were detected by time-lapse microscopy. Could this result have been obtained using a sigma B-$\beta$-gal fusion protein?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes. Hydrolysis of X-Gal by $\beta$-galactosidase produces a blue product detectable by eye. 
B)  Yes. Hydrolysis of ONPG by $\beta$-galactosidase in liquid medium produces an orange compound measurable by spectrophotometry. 
C)  Yes. It depends on how the construct is made with respect to the position of the RBS. 
D)  No. Whereas YFP fluorescence can be carefully observed and measured by time-lapse microscopy, $\beta$-gal activity is measured as an average of the population as a whole. 
E)  None of the above. 
A)  Yes. Hydrolysis of X-Gal by $\beta$-galactosidase produces a blue product detectable by eye. 
B)  Yes. Hydrolysis of ONPG by $\beta$-galactosidase in liquid medium produces an orange compound measurable by spectrophotometry. 
C)  Yes. It depends on how the construct is made with respect to the position of the RBS. 
D)  No. Whereas YFP fluorescence can be carefully observed and measured by time-lapse microscopy, $\beta$-gal activity is measured as an average of the population as a whole. 
E)  None of the above.

Question 6

What is synthetic biology? Provide an example of its potential applications.

Accepted Answer

Synthetic biology is the conception and

Question 7

The genes for proteins such as $\beta$-galactosidase (lacZ) or green fluorescent protein (gfp) can be fused to the promoter of a gene of interest. Which of the following statements is NOT correct about gfp and lacZ?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are called reporter genes. 
B)  The enzymatic activity of $\beta$-galactosidase can be easily assayed. 
C)  GFP is visualized by fluorescence microscopy. 
D)  Both genes are of viral origin. 
E)  The gfp gene is of eukaryotic origin, whereas lacZ is a bacterial gene. 
A)  They are called reporter genes. 
B)  The enzymatic activity of $\beta$-galactosidase can be easily assayed. 
C)  GFP is visualized by fluorescence microscopy. 
D)  Both genes are of viral origin. 
E)  The gfp gene is of eukaryotic origin, whereas lacZ is a bacterial gene.

Question 8

Describe the whole-genome DNA-binding analysis using ChIP-on-chip technology.

Accepted Answer

This technique is useful in determining

Question 9

What hybridization technique can be used to confirm if two genes are components of an operon by estimating transcript size?

Accepted Answer

A)  northern blot 
B)  Southern blot 
C)  formaldehyde cross-linking 
D)  agarose gel electrophoresis 
E)  isoelectric focusing 
A)  northern blot 
B)  Southern blot 
C)  formaldehyde cross-linking 
D)  agarose gel electrophoresis 
E)  isoelectric focusing

Question 10

DNA fragments with specific sequences are detected by a technique known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  northern blot 
B)  Southern blot 
C)  western blot 
D)  isoelectrofocusing 
E)  agarose gel electrophoresis 
A)  northern blot 
B)  Southern blot 
C)  western blot 
D)  isoelectrofocusing 
E)  agarose gel electrophoresis

Question 11

The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) is utilized to monitor molecular interactions between:

Accepted Answer

A)  two proteins 
B)  RNA and protein 
C)  DNA and protein 
D)  DNA and RNA 
E)  none of the above 
A)  two proteins 
B)  RNA and protein 
C)  DNA and protein 
D)  DNA and RNA 
E)  none of the above

Question 12

What is the basis for the use of the Bt toxin as an insecticide? What are some of the beneficial aspects of using Bt?

Accepted Answer

Crystallized proteins in the parasporal

Question 13

Both Southern and northern blots involve the use of agarose gels. How do the types of agarose gels differ and why?

Accepted Answer

A typical agarose gel is used to separat

Question 14

How do operon fusions reveal transcriptional control of a target gene?

Accepted Answer

Operon (transcriptional) fusions have a

Question 15

In the yeast two-hybrid analysis technique, in vivo protein-protein interactions are explored. The "bait" and "prey" proteins are translationally fused to the cleaved activation and DNA-binding domains of the GAL4 transcription factor. What is the target gene of GAL4?

Accepted Answer

A)  lacZ 
B)  gadA/B 
C)  GAL1 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above 
A)  lacZ 
B)  gadA/B 
C)  GAL1 
D)  all of the above 
E)  none of the above

Question 16

The first historical record of biotechnology was:

Accepted Answer

A)  the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming 
B)  the use of bacteria in producing hormones such as insulin 
C)  the use of genetic engineering in production of vaccines by plants 
D)  the use of microorganisms in the manufacture of bread, alcohol, and dairy products 
E)  the discovery of DNA's double-helix structure and the genetic code 
A)  the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming 
B)  the use of bacteria in producing hormones such as insulin 
C)  the use of genetic engineering in production of vaccines by plants 
D)  the use of microorganisms in the manufacture of bread, alcohol, and dairy products 
E)  the discovery of DNA's double-helix structure and the genetic code

Question 17

How can a single northern blot reveal differences in size and abundance of the E. coli acid resistance gene gadA with respect to the gadBC operon and the inducible expression of these genes at low pH?

Accepted Answer

RNA extracted from cells grown at pH 7.7

Question 18

Briefly explain how real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) works.

Accepted Answer

Real-time PCR utilizes a reporter probe

Question 19

How can a protein be detected on a western blot?

Accepted Answer

A sample of the protein of interest is i

Question 20

What are translational fusions used for? How are they constructed?

Accepted Answer

Translational fusions are designed to ex

Exam 12: Bio-techniques and Synthetic Biology

The following is a potential application of bacterial oscillator switches:

The migration of linear DNA molecules in agarose or polyacrylamide gels occurs at a rate that is:

Once a gene encoding a putative transcriptional regulatory protein is identified by sequence annotation, what needs to be done to demonstrate this activity?

Describe the use of a primary and secondary antibody in a western blot.

What is synthetic biology? Provide an example of its potential applications.

The genes for proteins such as β\betaβ -galactosidase (lacZ) or green fluorescent protein (gfp) can be fused to the promoter of a gene of interest. Which of the following statements is NOT correct about gfp and lacZ?

Describe the whole-genome DNA-binding analysis using ChIP-on-chip technology.

What hybridization technique can be used to confirm if two genes are components of an operon by estimating transcript size?

DNA fragments with specific sequences are detected by a technique known as:

The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) is utilized to monitor molecular interactions between:

What is the basis for the use of the Bt toxin as an insecticide? What are some of the beneficial aspects of using Bt?

Both Southern and northern blots involve the use of agarose gels. How do the types of agarose gels differ and why?

How do operon fusions reveal transcriptional control of a target gene?

In the yeast two-hybrid analysis technique, in vivo protein-protein interactions are explored. The "bait" and "prey" proteins are translationally fused to the cleaved activation and DNA-binding domains of the GAL4 transcription factor. What is the target gene of GAL4?

The first historical record of biotechnology was:

How can a single northern blot reveal differences in size and abundance of the E. coli acid resistance gene gadA with respect to the gadBC operon and the inducible expression of these genes at low pH?

Briefly explain how real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) works.

How can a protein be detected on a western blot?

What are translational fusions used for? How are they constructed?

Microbial Life: Origin and Discovery

Observing the Microbial Cell

Cell Structure and Function

Bacterial Culture, Growth, and Development

Environmental Influences and Control of Microbial Growth

Viruses

Genomes and Chromosomes

Transcription, Translation, and Bioinformatics

Gene Transfer, Mutations, and Genome Evolution

Molecular Regulation

Viral Molecular Biology

Energetics and Catabolism

Electron Flow in Organotrophy, Lithotrophy, and Phototrophy

Biosynthesis

Food and Industrial Microbiology

Origins and Evolution

Bacterial Diversity

Archaeal Diversity

Eukaryotic Diversity

Microbial Ecology

Microbes in Global Elemental Cycles

Human Microbiota and Innate Immunity

The Adaptive Immune Response

Microbial Pathogenesis

Microbial Diseases

Antimicrobial Therapy

Clinical Microbiology and Epidemiology

What Do Winning Organizations Do Well

Understanding Customer Needs

Choosing Which Customers to Serve

Developing a Strong Marketing Plan

Product and Brand Strategies

Pricing Strategies

Channel Strategies

Marketing Communications Strategies

Delivering Customer Value

Building a Customer-Focused Business

Customer Attraction, Satisfaction, and Retention Strategies

Building the Marketing Organization of the Future

Filters

The genes for proteins such as $\beta$ -galactosidase (lacZ) or green fluorescent protein (gfp) can be fused to the promoter of a gene of interest. Which of the following statements is NOT correct about gfp and lacZ?