Deck 13: Biotechnology

Question 1

Which tool used in biotechnology is derived from an evolutionary adaptation of certain bacteria?

A) Restriction enzymes
B) Gel electrophoresis
C) Phage vectors
D) DNA cloning
E) Infection

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which statement about restriction enzymes is true?

A) They cut at regular intervals,every 4,000 base pairs.
B) They prefer to cut at DNA that has been methylated.
C) Restriction sites are palindromic sequences.
D) They only cut eukaryotic DNA.
E) An active restriction enzyme consists of one subunit.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The field of industrial biotechnology was launched

A) before 1800.
B) between 1800 and 1900.
C) between 1900 and 1930.
D) between 1930 and 1950.
E) after 1950.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which DNA sequence would most likely be recognized by a restriction enzyme?

A) AGTCGA
B) GTCTGA
C) TAAGGT
D) TAGCTA
E) TCGTGGA

Question 5

Which process is not an example of biotechnology?

A) Wine making
B) Selective breeding of cattle to increase milk yield
C) Introduction of a plasmid vector into a plant
D) Creation of a synthetic fiber
E) Use of yeast to brew beer and wine

Question 6

Which statement about recombinant DNA is false?

A) Restriction enzymes can create DNA fragments in such a way as to leave sticky ends.
B) A single restriction enzyme can cut DNA sequences at several different recognition sites.
C) Restriction enzymes cut DNA at palindromic sequences.
D) Restriction enzymes can create DNA fragments with blunt ends.
E) Complementary sticky ends can form hydrogen bonds with each other.

Question 7

Which statement about biotechnology is false?

A) All applications of biotechnology involve genetically modified organisms.
B) Patents can be approved for human-made microorganisms.
C) One contribution of biotechnology is the production of organisms that break down harmful compounds.
D) It includes the domestication of animals.
E) The first industrial application was the production of acetone.

Question 8

Which sequence could hypothetically form a restriction enzyme recognition site in DNA?

A) 5ʹ...CAATTG ...3ʹ
B) 5ʹ...CAATAG ...3ʹ
C) 5ʹ...CATTTG ...3ʹ
D) 5ʹ...GATTTC ...3ʹ
E) 5ʹ...CATCAT ...3ʹ

Question 9

Most restriction sites are _______ base pairs long.

A) 1 or 2
B) 4 to 6
C) about 10
D) about 20
E) over 50

Question 10

Which sequence forms a palindromic sequence in a DNA molecule?

A) GTCCCG
B) GTACGC
C) TACG
D) TACT
E) ACGT

Question 11

DNA,because it has a _______ charge,moves to the _______ end of the field in gel electrophoresis;_______ DNA molecules migrate the most quickly.

A) positive;positive;smaller
B) positive;positive;larger
C) positive;negative;smaller
D) negative;positive;larger
E) negative;positive;smaller

Question 12

DNA is _______ charged due to the presence of a _______ group.

A) negatively;phosphate
B) negatively;methyl
C) negatively;carbon
D) positively;methyl
E) positively;phosphate

Question 13

Use the following to answer questions :
Suppose one restriction enzyme (enzyme A)makes two cuts in a linear DNA fragment and another restriction enzyme (enzyme B)makes one cut in that same DNA.The cuts are not in the same place,and none of the cut fragments are exactly the same size.The restriction digest is set up on an electrophoresis gel.
How many bands should the gel pick up if only enzyme A is used in the restriction digest?

A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
E) Six

Question 14

Which pair includes enzymes that perform opposite functions?

A) DNA polymerase and DNA ligase
B) RNA polymerase and DNA ligase
C) Restriction endonuclease and DNA polymerase
D) Restriction endonuclease and DNA ligase
E) Reverse transcriptase and restriction endonuclease

Question 15

An engineered DNA molecule that contains sequences from cattle and sequences from bacteria would be considered to be _______ DNA.

A) transgenic
B) recombinant
C) electroporated
D) genomic
E) complimentary

Question 16

Bacteria protect themselves from their own restriction enzymes by

A) means of their blunt ends.
B) means of their sticky ends.
C) adding methyl groups at restriction sites.
D) means of DNA ligase.
E) transforming themselves.

Question 17

Which statement about recombinant DNA is true?

A) All restriction endonucleases generate fragments with blunt ends.
B) Hydrogen bonds between base pairs are very strong.
C) Blunt ends are exposed bases that can hybridize with complementary sequence fragments.
D) Sticky ends prevent DNA ligase activity.
E) Restriction endonucleases cut both strands of DNA simultaneously.

Question 18

DNA is cut at specific sites by means of

A) DNA ligases.
B) transposons.
C) restriction enzymes.
D) DNA silicases.
E) DNA methylases.

Question 19

When restriction enzymes make cuts with _______ ends,the exposed DNA sequences can form _______ bonds with complementary sequences.

A) sticky;hydrogen
B) sticky;covalent
C) blunt;ionic
D) blunt;hydrogen
E) blunt;covalent

Question 20

EcoRI makes staggered cuts when it cleaves DNA,creating single-stranded tails called "sticky ends." These ends can form a complementary base pair.Assuming that the concentration of cut DNA strands is not rate limiting in order for the complementary ends to base pair,which condition is necessary?

A) The presence of specific helicases
B) Sufficiently high temperature to dissociate complementary strands
C) Methyl groups at the end of each DNA strand
D) Sufficiently low temperature to encourage hydrogen binding of DNA strands
E) Phosphodiester bonds between the complimentary DNA strands

Question 21

Recombinant DNA technology requires not only getting the DNA into a cell,but also getting it to replicate appropriately.In this process,the specificity of which enzyme can present a challenge?

A) DNA polymerase
B) DNA ligase
C) RNA polymerase
D) Reverse transcriptase
E) Replicase

Question 22

A biologist would most likely use the technique of electroporation to

A) separate proteins based on size and charge.
B) knock out a gene.
C) create antisense DNA.
D) measure expression levels of a gene.
E) insert DNA into host cells.

Question 23

Which plasmid would allow a researcher to visually select a bacterial colony that has a recombinant plasmid using white light? [Note: The plasmid also has selectable reporter gene for ampicillin resistance (amp^r)outside of the cloning site.]

A) A plasmid with the gene for X-gal in the cloning site
B) A plasmid with the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP)outside of the cloning site
C) A plasmid with the LacZ reporter gene outside of the cloning site
D) A plasmid with the LacZ reporter gene in the cloning site
E) A plasmid with the green fluorescent protein (GFP)within the cloning site

Question 24

A restriction enzyme cuts a 25,700 bp segment of DNA into three fragments.Fragment A is 5,800 bp and fragment B is 6,600 bp.How long is fragment C,and which of the fragments will move the farthest in an electrophoresis gel?

A) 12,400 bp;fragment A
B) 12,400 bp;fragment C
C) 13,300 bp;fragment A
D) 13,300 bp;fragment C
E) 19,900 bp;fragment C

Question 25

An important vector for the manipulation of plant genes comes from the bacterium A.tumefaciens and is called

A) an EcoRI plasmid.
B) $\lambda$ bacteriophage.
C) BamHI.
D) Ti plasmid.
E) a LacZ plasmid.

Question 26

Which characteristic makes plasmids useful as a vector?

A) Many plasmids contain genes that convey antibiotic resistance.
B) Unlike viruses,plasmids do not need to be coaxed by artificial means to infect cells.
C) Plasmids can accommodate a large amount (over 100 kb)of DNA.
D) Plasmids use the same origin of replication as eukaryotic cells.
E) A cell can only host one plasmid at a time.

Question 27

Why are plant cells particularly useful as hosts for recombinant DNA?

A) Animal cells cannot be cultured.
B) Plant cells lack introns.
C) Plant cells can be dedifferentiated into stem cells.
D) Plant cells have reverse transcriptase.
E) Plant cells have plasmids.

Question 28

To replicate within the cells of a host,recombinant DNA must either _______ into the host's genome or contain a(n)_______.Otherwise,the recombinant DNA would not be replicated,since _______ requires specific sequences to bind to DNA.

A) integrate;origin of replication;DNA polymerase
B) integrate;vector;DNA polymerase
C) recombine;origin of replication;DNA ligase
D) recombine;stop transcription signal;DNA polymerase
E) integrate;stop transcription signal;DNA ligase

Question 29

Which characteristic would not be useful in a vector?

A) Multiple unique restriction enzyme recognition sequences
B) Antibiotic resistant gene
C) The ability to replicate independently inside the host cell
D) Visual reporter gene
E) Large size relative to the host chromosomes

Question 30

The production of many copies of a particular gene is called

A) transfection.
B) restriction.
C) cloning.
D) annealing.
E) inducing.

Question 31

The process of inserting recombinant DNA is considered transfection when

A) the host cells are mouse tissue culture cells.
B) the host cells are E.coli cells.
C) the host cells are yeast cells.
D) the vector lacks a replicon.
E) a selectable marker is used.

Question 32

In the construction of a transgenic cell,a gene that enables growth on arabinose is added to the vector.This gene is being used as a

A) reporter gene.
B) replicon.
C) cloning vector.
D) blunt end.
E) expression vector.

Question 33

Use the following to answer questions :
Suppose one restriction enzyme (enzyme A)makes two cuts in a linear DNA fragment and another restriction enzyme (enzyme B)makes one cut in that same DNA.The cuts are not in the same place,and none of the cut fragments are exactly the same size.The restriction digest is set up on an electrophoresis gel.
How many bands should the gel pick up if both enzymes A and B are used in the restriction digest?

A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
E) Six

Question 34

Which enzyme would be used to join two DNA fragments?

A) Reverse transcriptase
B) DNA polymerase
C) DNA recombinase
D) DNA endonuclease
E) DNA ligase

Question 35

In gel electrophoresis,one can determine the relative abundance of a fragment by

A) examining how quickly it moves on the gel;the fastest moving fragments are the most abundant.
B) examining how quickly it moves on the gel;the slowest moving fragments are the most abundant.
C) examining the intensity of the band.
D) using DNA ligase.
E) using a selectable marker.

Question 36

Which characteristic is not one of the properties of yeast cells that have made them useful eukaryotic hosts for recombinant DNA studies?

A) Their rapid rate of cell division
B) Their small genome size
C) Their ease of growth in the laboratory
D) Their ability to ferment alcohols
E) Their similarity to most other eukaryotic cells

Question 37

Transgenic cells are created via the _______ of recombinant DNA into cells.

A) recombination
B) transfection
C) ligation
D) restriction
E) complementation

Question 38

There are some limitations to the use of bacteria as hosts in studies of eukaryotic gene expression because

A) bacteria are haploid.
B) transcription works differently in bacteria and in eukaryotes.
C) bacteria have a small genome size.
D) eukaryotes contain plasmids.
E) bacteria lack genetic markers.

Question 39

Suppose a DNA fragment from a human gene has been cut such that it has sticky ends.A DNA fragment from bacteria with sticky ends complementary to those of the human DNA is added to the mix.What would prevent the complementary ends of the human DNA from rejoining,and thus prevent the formation of a recombinant DNA molecule?

A) DNA ligase
B) Restriction endonuclease EcoRI
C) Reverse transcriptase
D) A cloning vector
E) Nothing

Question 40

Two plasmids are used in a recombinant DNA procedure.Plasmid 67A carries a gene for resistance to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin,and plasmid 65B carries a gene for resistance to the antibiotic tetracycline.The plasmids are cut with HindIII restriction endonuclease,and then mixed with DNA ligase.In this procedure,what is the role of tetracycline?

A) It enhances transformation.
B) It is a selectable marker.
C) It is a vector.
D) It ligates the DNAs.
E) It provides color to the bacterial colonies.

Question 41

Which statement about mouse embryonic stem cells is false?

A) They can serve as hosts for transfection studies using homologous recombination.
B) They are unspecialized.
C) They can be used in knockout studies.
D) They can be transplanted into a blastocyst.
E) They never differentiate into specialized cells.

Question 42

Which statement about microarrays is false?

A) In some cases,they can be used as a diagnostic tool.
B) The technique was influenced by developments in the semiconductor industry.
C) The technique relies upon cDNA hybridizing with DNA ligase.
D) The technique is much more efficient than the examination of gene expression individually.
E) A single array can have thousands of different oligonucleotides.

Question 43

Which of the following would be most appropriate for inhibiting transcription of a specific gene?

A) Antisense RNA
B) RNA interference
C) DNA chips
D) Homologous recombination
E) PCR

Question 44

Which statement about genomic and cDNA libraries is true?

A) A genomic library constructed from human brain tissue will likely be the same as a genomic library constructed from human pancreatic tissue.
B) A cDNA library constructed from human brain tissue will likely be the same as a cDNA library constructed from human pancreatic tissue.
C) A cDNA library would be very useful in examining noncoding DNA,whereas a genomic library would not be very useful.
D) Both cDNA and genomic libraries would be very useful in examining noncoding DNA.
E) A genomic library would be very useful in examining coding DNA,whereas a cDNA library would not be very useful.

Question 45

What is the major difference between green fluorescent protein and an antibiotic resistance gene in terms of their usefulness as a reporter gene?

A) The green fluorescent protein can be used only when the host cell is a plant cell because it relies on the process of photosynthesis.
B) The antibiotic resistance gene can be used only when the host cell is an animal cell.
C) The green fluorescent protein can be used only in transfection,not in transformation.
D) With the green fluorescent protein,no cells are killed in the selection process.
E) Homologous recombination will work only with the green fluorescent protein.

Question 46

Which statement about RNAi technology is false?

A) It is based on a natural process for inhibiting translation.
B) It was discovered only recently (in the 1990s).
C) It has been used as a therapy for macular degeneration.
D) It involves both single-stranded and double-stranded RNA.
E) It can be used to block gene expression only in cell lines,not in living organisms.

Question 47

Which research technique necessarily makes use of reverse transcriptase?

A) Gene cloning
B) Construction of a gene library
C) Construction of a cDNA library
D) Gene knockout studies
E) Pharming

Question 48

A plasmid genomic library and a phage genomic library are constructed from the same genetic material.Which statement is true?

A) The phage library has fewer clones than the plasmid library because each phage clone contains more DNA.
B) The phage library has fewer clones than the plasmid library because phage libraries do not include nontranscribed DNA.
C) The plasmid library has fewer clones than the phage library because plasmid libraries do not include nontranscribed DNA.
D) The phage library has fewer clones than the plasmid library because phage libraries do not include nontranslated DNA.
E) The phage library and the plasmid library have equivalent numbers of clones.

Question 49

The use of _______ allows researchers to examine the patterns of gene expression for a large number of genes simultaneously.

A) antisense RNA
B) RNAi
C) DNA microarray
D) PCR
E) homologous recombination

Question 50

Which process is used by researchers to inhibit translation of specific genes?

A) Antisense RNA
B) Targeted mutation
C) DNA microarrays
D) Homologous recombination
E) Transformation

Question 51

A researcher inserts a DNA segment at the BamHI recognition site within a plasmid;this site is located within the tetracycline resistance gene.This plasmid also has a gene for ampicillin resistance.Following DNA transformation,the researcher must differentiate the bacteria that have taken up the recombinant DNA from those that have taken up either the DNA segment only or have taken up intact plasmids.In order to do so,the researcher should select the bacteria that

A) will grow on ampicillin but are sensitive to tetracycline.
B) are sensitive to both antibiotics.
C) are resistant to both antibiotics.
D) will grow on tetracycline but are sensitive to ampicillin.
E) grow only on an enriched medium.

Question 52

The DNA from the genome of an organism is chopped into numerous fragments,which then are inserted into vectors that are taken up by host cells.The genetic information that is present in the resulting colonies is called a genomic

A) collection.
B) library.
C) museum.
D) bank.
E) farm.

Question 53

What does the "c" in "cDNA library" stand for?

A) Cytoplasmic
B) Cellular
C) Compatible
D) Chip
E) Complementary

Question 54

Variation at a specific gene is known to affect metabolism in mice,but it is not clear which of the nucleotides are responsible for the changes.In addition to recombinant DNA technology,which technique would be most relevant for revealing which of the nucleotides affect metabolism?

A) Homologous recombination
B) Antisense RNA
C) RNA interference
D) Artificial synthesis
E) Targeted mutagenesis

Question 55

Which technique is most likely to make use of reverse transcriptase?

A) Homologous recombination
B) cDNA microarray
C) RNAi
D) Mutagenesis
E) Cell transplantation

Question 56

Which process would make use of homologous recombination?

A) Separating DNA fragments by size
B) Inactivating specific genes
C) Examining patterns of expression of genes in different tissues
D) Identifying specific individuals through their genetic differences
E) Producing sticky ends

Question 57

Use the following to answer questions :
A plasmid has genes that confer resistance to both ampicillin and tetracycline.Foreign DNA is inserted at a restriction enzyme recognition site that lies within the ampicillin gene.
After host cells have been given the opportunity to take up the plasmid,which type of cells should be the rarest?

A) Bacteria with no plasmid and no foreign DNA
B) Bacteria with the foreign DNA but no plasmid
C) Bacteria with the recombinant plasmid
D) Bacteria with the nonrecombinant plasmid
E) All types should appear with approximately the same frequency.

Question 58

Use the following to answer questions :
A plasmid has genes that confer resistance to both ampicillin and tetracycline.Foreign DNA is inserted at a restriction enzyme recognition site that lies within the ampicillin gene.
A cell transformed with the resulting recombinant plasmid should be _______ to ampicillin and _______ to tetracycline.

A) resistant;resistant
B) resistant;sensitive
C) resistant;complementary
D) sensitive;resistant
E) sensitive;complementary

Question 59

Why is the use of siRNA preferred to miRNA as a means for blocking translation of a specific mRNA?

A) siRNA can be used with DNA chips.
B) Only siRNA can be used to test cause-and-effect relationships.
C) siRNA is more specific than miRNA.
D) siRNA is single-stranded and thus easier to produce.
E) miRNA interferes non-specifically.

Question 60

The synthesis of oligonucleotides is most directly useful for

A) homologous recombination.
B) transformation.
C) the polymerase chain reaction.
D) electroporation.
E) electrophoresis.

Question 61

Which statement about the toxin from B.thuringiensis is false?

A) It was applied as a pesticide long before it was added to plants via recombinant DNA.
B) Many different transgenic crops are grown with the toxin.
C) The use of this toxin has greatly reduced the need for pesticides.
D) The toxin acts primarily against vertebrate pests.
E) The toxin must be ingested by a pest to cause harm.

Question 62

Which property would distinguish an expression vector from other vectors?

A) Inclusion of reverse transcriptase
B) A recognition sequence for a restriction enzyme
C) The ability to replicate independently within the host
D) A reporter gene
E) Transcription binding sites

Question 63

What information would be needed to design a synthetic gene for a protein to be translated in yeast and used medically?

A) The primary structure of the protein and the genetic code
B) The primary and secondary structures of the protein and the genetic code
C) The primary structure of the protein,the genetic code,and the yeast promoter sequence
D) The secondary structure of the protein,the genetic code,and the yeast promoter sequence
E) The primary structure of the protein and the yeast promoter sequence

Question 64

An example of bioremediation is

A) pharming.
B) genetically engineering a plant to express the Bt toxin.
C) selecting for genes that improve growth.
D) using microbes to treat wastewater.
E) implanting a surrogate ewe with an egg carrying a transgene.

Question 65

The crew of an eighteenth-century ship sailing from Asia has eaten mostly rice during the voyage.Some of the crew members start experiencing vision difficulties and an increased susceptibility to infection.The most likely cause of these symptoms is a deficiency in

A) vitamin B₁₂.
B) vitamin C.
C) $\beta$ -carotene.
D) glyphosate.
E) oblimersen.

Question 66

The use of biotechnological approaches for the improvement of crop plants has been more controversial than their use to prepare medically useful products.Why?

A) People eat food that could contain transgenes.
B) Crops are grown outside,and there is a chance that a transgene could escape to other organisms.
C) Herbicide resistance could spread to weed species.
D) Beneficial insects could be harmed by plants expressing the Bt toxin.
E) All of the above

Question 67

What is the major limitation of the dried preparation of the insecticide Bt that is produced by Bacillus thuringiensis?

A) It has not been approved for use in the United States.
B) It degrades so quickly that it has to be applied repeatedly.
C) It is not very toxic.
D) It is new and untested.
E) It is difficult to produce.

Question 68

In the construction of an expression vector,a signal sequence

A) allows for the expression of a gene in a particular tissue only.
B) allows the expression of a gene to be turned on or off.
C) allows the gene product to be directed to an appropriate location.
D) makes a gene responsive to hormonal stimulation.
E) allows for the expression of a gene in all types of tissues.

Question 69

Pharming is

A) the use of expression vectors to modulate the expression of a gene in a specific tissue.
B) the use of reporter genes.
C) a critical step in the generation of cDNA libraries.
D) a type of mutagenesis.
E) the production of pharmaceuticals in farm animals or plants.

Question 70

Which statement about recombinant DNA biotechnology is false?

A) Transgenes can spread to other species.
B) The genetic changes associated with recombinant DNA biotechnology are more complex than those associated with traditional breeding.
C) Transgenic organisms generally undergo extensive testing before being released.
D) Most scientists think it is wise to proceed cautiously with recombinant DNA biotechnology.
E) Recombinant DNA technology can change organisms more rapidly than traditional breeding methods.

Question 71

A strain of corn is genetically engineered to tolerate the low pH of fields that are regularly exposed to severe acid rain.This is an example of

A) the production of a transgenic crop that is adapted to its environment.
B) tailoring the environment to the needs of crop plants.
C) pharming.
D) the principle of genetic determinism.
E) the use of homologous recombination in biotechnology.

Question 72

Which statement about insulin is false?

A) It is a polypeptide and a hormone.
B) Human and cattle insulin differ in terms of their amino acid sequence.
C) People given cattle insulin can develop allergic reactions to it.
D) It is easy to harvest insulin from living people.
E) Insulin is made up of two polypeptide chains.

Question 73

Which is the best example of an inducible promoter?

A) A promoter that responds only in liver tissue
B) A promoter that responds only when juvenile hormone is present
C) A promoter that responds all the time,regardless of conditions
D) A promoter that possesses signal sequences
E) A promoter that produces erythropoietin

Question 74

The primary benefit of using genetic markers in plant breeding is that this technology

A) increases the range of possible new traits that can be introduced.
B) allows for the process of selective inactivation.
C) prevents meiosis.
D) enhances the operation of antisense RNA.
E) enables more precise breeding because specific desirable genetic variants can be identified and selected.

Question 75

Which characteristic is a limitation of conventional breeding,as compared with recombinant DNA technology?

A) The limited range of useful genetic variation
B) The length of time required by the conventional breeding process
C) The lack of precision
D) The instability of desirable traits
E) All of the above

Question 76

Which statement about human growth hormone is false?

A) Its production in transgenic animals is a good example of pharming.
B) The supply obtained from dead people is inadequate to meet the demand.
C) It is produced by the pituitary gland.
D) It is a long fatty acid chain.
E) It cannot be produced using pharming.

Question 77

Which outcome could not be accomplished through pharming?

A) Mass production of a hormone that is a polypeptide
B) Mass production of a molecule that is a carbohydrate
C) Mass production of insulin
D) Mass production of a neurotransmitter that is a protein
E) Mass production of a prokaryotic protein

Question 78

In general,which genetically altered food would most likely be of concern regarding human health?

A) Food in which the B.thuringiensis toxin has been added
B) Food that contains an inserted gene that allows plants to grow better in high salt conditions
C) Food that contains an inserted gene that allows plants to grow faster
D) Food that contains an inserted gene that produces $\beta$ -carotene
E) Food that contains an inserted gene that increases crop yield

Question 79

A promoter would most likely be used for

A) constructing a gene library.
B) constructing an expression vector.
C) performing a restriction digestion.
D) attempting to "silence" a gene.
E) constructing a recombinant plasmid.

Question 80

Recombinant DNA technology would be least applicable to which approach?

A) Analysis of traits determined by multiple genes
B) Overexpressing a particular gene
C) Silencing a particular gene
D) Knocking out a particular gene
E) Targeting a protein to the nucleus