Deck 26: Biotechnology and Genomics

Question 1

What is the role of DNA ligase in recombinant DNA technology?

A) DNA ligase cleaves the vector DNA.
B) DNA ligase makes the bacterial cell more permeable to vector.
C) DNA ligase forms the plasmids that are used as vectors.
D) DNA ligase seals DNA into an opening created by a restriction enzyme.
E) DNA ligase acts as molecular scissors, cutting DNA apart at specific locations.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

PCR is often used in forensic analysis since

A) it requires no specialized equipment.
B) untrained personnel can carry out the procedure.
C) very small samples are frequently all that are available.
D) juries always trust the method.
E) it makes it easy to identify the criminal.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

When human DNA is inserted into a bacterial plasmid, the resulting bacterium will

A) produce the products of the gene that has been inserted into the bacteria.
B) be placed into a vaccine and used to fight off viruses that attack humans.
C) be used to study the evolutionary relationship between humans and bacteria.
D) produce restriction enzymes that will help fight off viruses that attack humans.
E) be used to create DNA to insert the human genome.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Why would goats and cattle be used in gene pharming?

A) Goats and cattle are the easiest farm animals to clone.
B) Therapeutic and diagnostic proteins are produced in the milk of goats and cows and can be harvested for use.
C) The diagnostic and therapeutic proteins produced can be passed to humans who consume their meat.
D) There are more goats and cows than any other type of farm animal.
E) It is easier to create recombinant DNA in these two farm animals than it is in other types.

Question 5

Transposable elements make up 44% of the human genome. What is thought to be their function?

A) They fight cancer.
B) They code for rRNA.
C) They determine gender.
D) They help in the replication of DNA.
E) They act like regulator genes.

Question 6

Why has STR become the method of choice over DNA fingerprinting when identifying a person of interest?

A) STR is less expensive.
B) STR doesn't require the use of restriction enzymes.
C) The STR sample does not require amplification.
D) STR requires the use of gel electrophoresis.
E) STR can determine the order of nucleotides in a gene.

Question 7

Transgenic crop plants have been created for which of the following reasons?

A) to increase productivity
B) to increase resistance to insect damage
C) to create plants that are resistant to herbicides
D) to produce human hormones or antibodies
E) Transgenic plants have been produced to do all of the things listed.

Question 8

When creating transgenic organisms, one major difference between plants and animals is that

A) only embryos can be used to create transgenic animals, while any plant cell can be used for transgenic plants.
B) only eggs can be used to create transgenic animals, while embryos can be used for transgenic plants.
C) only eggs can be used to create transgenic animals, while any plant cell can be used for transgenic plants.
D) only embryos can be used to create transgenic animals, while eggs must be used to create transgenic plants.
E) any cell may be used to create transgenic animals, while embryos can be used for transgenic plants.

Question 9

The human genome project discovered many small regions of DNA that vary among individuals called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Certain SNP patterns change an individual's susceptibility to disease and response to medical treatments. This knowledge has led to the idea

A) of designer drugs that are made to match one specific individual's DNA profile.
B) of designer babies that have known genetic traits.
C) that everyone will respond to a drug in the same way.
D) that not all humans are as well suited for survival.
E) that some DNA does not code for proteins.

Question 10

Gene pharming is

A) the use of bacterial DNA to impart drug resistance to plants.
B) the use of transgenic farm animals to produce pharmaceuticals.
C) the creation of new genes to be implanted in farm animals.
D) the creation of crop plants to replace the use of farm animals as a source of protein.
E) the application of genetic principles to breeding farm animals.

Question 11

DNA fingerprinting can be used for which of the following?

A) paternity tests
B) authenticating Super Bowl footballs
C) forensic analysis
D) determining a predisposition to cancer
E) All of the answer choices are uses of DNA fingerprinting.

Question 12

How can comparative genomics assist in the treatment of HIV?

A) The genome of HIV can now be compared to the human genome to find similarities between the two.
B) Knowing the genome of HIV allows for the manufacture of designer drugs to treat specific strains.
C) Understanding the genetic code of HIV allows scientists to replicate it in the laboratory.
D) Understanding the evolution of HIV in an individual will help scientists understand how the virus responds to different drug regimes and will lead to better treatments.
E) Knowing the proteins produced by HIV will allow the development of drugs to mimic those proteins.

Question 13

Transposons are transposable elements in the DNA because

A) they transport genetic information.
B) they transfer organelles inside a cell.
C) they transmit signals in the cell indicating the genes to be copied.
D) they move from one location to another in the DNA.
E) they cause the DNA to take on a specific shape or pose.

Question 14

The purpose of PCR is to create

A) fragments of DNA that are different lengths.
B) recombinant DNA.
C) billions of copies of a segment of DNA.
D) plasmids to be used as vectors in cloning.
E) transgenic crop plants.

Question 15

Gene therapy is increasingly relied upon as a part of cancer treatment because

A) it helps the patient's immune system recognize mutations and destroy them.
B) it produces radioactive isotopes that can be used to trace the locations of cancer in the body which makes treatment easier.
C) it make healthy cells more tolerant of chemotherapy, while making tumor cells more sensitive.
D) it helps cells to produce their own anticancer drugs.
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 16

In producing transgenic plants, cells called protoplasts are often used. Protoplasts are plant cells from which the cell wall has been removed. Why would the cell wall need to be removed?

A) The foreign DNA enters the cell through self-healing holes in the membrane but it could not pass through the cell wall.
B) The cell wall prevents the transgenic cell from growing into a mature plant.
C) The cell wall makes it difficult for the biotechnician to determine if the foreign DNA has been incorporated into the cell's genome.
D) The cell wall prevents the microinjection of foreign DNA into the cell because the needle cannot pass through it.
E) The foreign DNA passes through the plasmodesmata of the plant cell, which is blocked by the cell wall.

Question 17

The human genome project led to the discovery that much of the genome consists of repeated sequences of nucleotides. These are thought to

A) have no function.
B) function as protection on the ends of chromosomes and as an attachment site on the centromere.
C) function in DNA replication.
D) produce rRNA.
E) function as a protection against cancer.

Question 18

The two techniques typically used to create transgenic animals are

A) microinjection of eggs and vortex mixing of eggs.
B) microinjection of eggs and electroshock of eggs.
C) electroshock of protoplasts and electroshock of eggs.
D) microinjection of protoplasts and electroshock of eggs.
E) microinjection of eggs and vortex mixing of protoplasts.

Question 19

PCR requires the use of which enzyme?

A) RNA polymerase
B) DNA ligase
C) helicase
D) DNA polymerase
E) RNA primase

Question 20

One of the problems that limits the use of gene therapy is

A) finding suitable donors.
B) that some patients are allergic to the bacterial DNA used.
C) the possibility of further mutating the patient's genes.
D) the detrimental side effects from the inserted genes.
E) All of the answer choices are problems with gene therapy.

Question 21

Which of the following is a concern over the use of genetically engineered corn?

A) resistance among populations of certain pests
B) genetic exchange between engineered plants and related species
C) impact of engineered plants on nontarget plant species
D) presence of allergens
E) All of the answer choices describe concerns over the use of genetically engineered corn.

Question 22

Which of the following uses an electrical field to separate DNA fragments based on their length?

A) DNA cloning
B) polymerase chain reaction
C) transgenics
D) gel electrophoresis
E) DNA digestion

Question 23

Which of the following are benefits of sequencing the human genome?

A) Knowing the exact sequence of DNA in an individual could allow pharmaceutical companies to design drugs for their exact genotype.
B) Determining individuals who have a predisposing factor that could lead to future illness could allow for earlier treatment.
C) Sequencing technology will allow the genomes of other species to be more readily sequenced.
D) All of the answer choices describe benefits associated with sequencing the human genome.

Question 24

The application of computer technologies to the study of the genome is known as

A) proteomics.
B) genomics.
C) bioinformatics.
D) DNA fingerprinting.
E) genetic profiling.

Question 25

Why is the study of proteomics is more complex than the study of genomics?

A) Proteins are more complex than DNA.
B) Proteins are harder to sequence than DNA.
C) There are 20 amino acids that comprise proteins and only 4 nucleotides that compose DNA.
D) Scientists understand less about amino acids than they do about nucleotides.
E) Each cell in an organism has exactly the same DNA but different cell types produce different types of proteins.

Question 26

Bacteria, plants, and animals have all been used to create transgenic forms that are useful in

A) producing high-yield tomato plants.
B) creating pest-resistant versions of corn.
C) cleaning up oil spills.
D) generating pharmaceuticals.
E) producing new types of high-yield beef.

Question 27

Enzymes from the thermophile organism Thermus aquaticus have allowed the development of which of the following procedures?

A) genetic engineering
B) recombinant DNA
C) DNA cloning
D) polymerase chain reaction
E) protein synthesis

Question 28

In DNA fingerprinting, the products of PCR are cut by restriction enzymes into unique lengths. The fragments are then

A) subjected to fluorescent dyes and visualized under an electron microscope.
B) separated according to their relative positive and negative charges.
C) separated according to their lengths.
D) arranged into a karyotype.
E) used to produce the genes that give the individual a unique set of fingerprints.

Question 29

Which of the following is used in the production of recombinant DNA (rDNA)?

A) vectors
B) restriction enzymes
C) DNA ligase
D) plasmids
E) All of the answer choices are used in the production of recombinant DNA.

Question 30

A piece of DNA that contains sequences from two or more different organisms is called

A) species-specific DNA.
B) recombinant DNA.
C) transgenic DNA.
D) semiconservative DNA.
E) inverse DNA.

Question 31

Which of the following terms applies to the study of all of the proteins produced by an organism?

A) genomics
B) bioinformatics
C) proteomics
D) genetic profiling
E) genetics

Question 32

Ex vivo gene therapy

A) requires the removal of cells from the individual undergoing the treatment and then the reintroduction of these cells once they have been genetically modified.
B) requires the use of an agent to introduce genetic material directly into the body using a vector such as an adenovirus vector.
C) has few or no side effects on the individual receiving the treatment.
D) allows for a wider range of disorders to be treated than in vivo treatments.
E) is considered to be more dangerous for the patient than in vivo treatment.

Question 33

Uses for transgenic bacteria include

A) bioremediation, when bacteria are used to clean up oil spills or other toxic substances.
B) the production of organic chemicals, such as phenylalanine, used in the production of aspartame.
C) the production of chemicals toxic to insects that can be used to protect plants from insects.
D) the production of human growth hormones.
E) All of the answer choices describe uses of transgenic bacteria.

Question 34

A method used to determine if the DNA found at a crime scene belongs to a particular individual is short tandem repeat (STR). This method employs

A) repeated sequences found at multiple sites in the DNA.
B) copying one particular gene many times.
C) fluorescent labeling of DNA found in the mitochondria.
D) repeated sequences found at one specific site in the DNA.
E) analyzing the repeated segments at the end of chromosomes called telomeres.

Question 35

A major difference in the production of transgenic bacteria, plants, and animals is that

A) transgenic bacteria do not pass on their genetic modification to offspring, while plants and animals do.
B) transgenic animals require the use of a host to carry the genetically modified embryo, while bacteria and plants do not.
C) transgenic bacteria and plants receive genes from other species of organisms, while animals are only able to incorporate genes from their own species.
D) so far, only transgenic plants and animals have been successful. Scientists are still trying to create transgenic bacteria.
E) transgenic bacteria, animals, and plants can only incorporate genes from their own species, so the process is unique for each species.

Question 36

The treatment of a disorder by inserting genetic material into an organism is called

A) karyotyping.
B) amniocentesis.
C) genetic profiling.
D) chorionic villi sampling.
E) gene therapy.

Question 37

Which of the following is part of the process for PCR (polymerase chain reaction)?

A) the use of an engineered DNA polymerase
B) the denaturing of the double-stranded DNA to yield single-strand DNA
C) multiple cycles of the chain reaction to yield a greater number of DNA copies
D) final product is double-stranded DNA
E) All of the answer choices are parts of the process for PCR.

Question 38

Restriction enzymes

A) exist in bacteria to restrict the growth of viruses.
B) cut double-stranded DNA at specific sites.
C) produce "sticky ends" that can bind foreign DNA.
D) facilitate inserting foreign DNA into vector DNA.
E) All of the answer choices describe restriction enzymes.

Question 39

Which of the following statements was discovered by information gained from the human genome project?

A) Large sections of the human genome do not code for a polypeptide.
B) Nucleotides are composed of a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases.
C) DNA carries the information to make a polypeptide.
D) Regulation of gene expression determines the specialization of cells in humans.
E) DNA carries the information to make mRNA.

Question 40

Which of the following procedures would most likely be used to identify a specific individual?

A) DNA cloning
B) transgenic DNA
C) polymerase chain reaction
D) DNA fingerprinting
E) genetic engineering

Question 41

List the steps required for insertion of foreign genes into animal eggs by using vortex mixing.

Question 42

Which technique is used to create billions of copies of DNA in a short amount of time?

A) polymerase chain reaction
B) recombinant DNA technology
C) short tandem repeat (STR) profiling
D) gene therapy
E) None of the answer choices is correct.

Question 43

Which of the following is a site of ex vivo gene therapy?

A) bone marrow
B) muscle
C) blood
D) lungs
E) brain

Question 44

When introducing foreign DNA into vector DNA, which of the following is necessary to seal DNA into an opening created by the restriction enzyme?

A) DNA ligase
B) DNA polymerase
C) plasmids
D) RNA primase
E) DNA helicase

Question 45

Which species has an estimated 6,300 genes in its genome?

A) yeast
B) roundworms
C) human beings
D) fruit flies
E) mice

Question 46

RNAi is believed to have evolved in eukaryotic organisms as a protection against certain types of viruses.

Question 47

The study of comparative genomics has given researchers the ability to look at multiple genomes from different species, which has led to new ideas about the evolutionary history of organisms. The conclusion is that the genomes of all vertebrates are similar.

Question 48

What is the substance required to cleave the vector DNA during recombinant DNA technology?

A) restriction enzymes
B) DNA ligase
C) plasmids
D) DNA polymerase
E) DNA helicase

Question 49

RNAi sequences are designed to be complementary to the DNA of the gene of interest.

Question 50

The aim of functional genomics is to understand the function of the various genes discovered within each genomic sequence and how these genes interact.

Question 51

Which technique is preferred when investigators are trying to DNA fingerprint an individual?

A) short tandem repeat (STR)
B) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
C) recombinant DNA (rDNA)
D) gene cloning
E) None of the answer choices is correct.

Question 52

Ex vivo gene therapy is being used to treat patients with Huntington disease, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and brain tumors.

Question 53

Which of the following is(are) sites of in vivo gene therapy?

A) muscle cells
B) bone marrow
C) endothelium
D) liver
E) skin

Question 54

Bovine growth hormone is used to produce larger

A) cows
B) fish
C) pigs
D) sheep
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 55

Which of the following scenarios is the most likely mechanism by which RNAi silences the expression of genes?

A) RNAi binds to a mRNA strand before it reaches the ribosome, thereby preventing translation.
B) RNAi binds to mRNA strand after it leaves the ribosome which prevents translation.
C) RNAi binds to DNA which prevents transcription.
D) RNAi binds to RNA primase which prevents the transcription of the gene.
E) RNAi binds to helicase which prevents DNA replication and thereby the expression of the gene.

Question 56

What is the function of RNAi?

A) RNAi are used to insert material into human cells for the treatment of genetic disorders and various other human illnesses.
B) RNAi are used to silence the expression of specific alleles.
C) RNAi are used to insert genes into eggs of transgenic animals.
D) RNAi are used to quickly produce multiple copies of the same gene.
E) RNAi are used to create protoplast cells that are then used to create transgenic plants.

Question 57

List two sites of ex vivo gene therapy and indicate the type of therapy being conducted.

Question 58

The genome of humans and fruit flies are approximately the same size and composed of the same number of genes.