Deck 13: Biotechnology

Question 1

An organism that contains altered genes is considered all of the following EXCEPT:

A)transgenic.
B)a genetically modified organism (GMO).
C)genetically engineered.
D)polymorphic.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

How many copies of a gene of interest are produced from one template DNA strand after three cycles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)?

A)two
B)three
C)four
D)five
E)eight

Answer 2

E

Question 3

In biotechnology research, DNA fragments created by restriction enzyme action are separated from one another via:

A)crossing over.
B)gel electrophoresis.
C)centrifugation.
D)filtering.
E)the polymerase chain reaction.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a use for biotechnology?

A)producing large quantities of particular human proteins
B)producing effective and safe vaccines
C)identifying human fetuses with particular genetic diseases
D)altering food plants to increase yields
E)altering the intelligence levels of newborn infants

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a natural means of DNA recombination?

A)sexual reproduction
B)transformation in bacteria
C)viral infection
D)the polymerase chain reaction

Question 6

Small, accessory chromosomes found in bacteria that are useful in recombinant DNA procedures are called:

A)plasmids.
B)viroids.
C)centrioles.
D)bacteriophages.

Question 7

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)is essential for:

A)analyzing a person's fingerprints.
B)cutting DNA into many small pieces.
C)allowing restriction enzymes to cut DNA.
D)creating recombinant plasmids.
E)making many copies of a small amount of DNA.

Question 8

What is the term for manipulating the molecular basis of inheritance via recombinant DNA technology?

A)Mendelian genetics
B)biotechnology
C)DNA fingerprinting
D)restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)
E)the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT an example of genetic recombination between different species in nature?

A)bacterial transformation
B)bacteria that acquire foreign plasmids
C)viruses that transfer DNA between host organisms
D)sexual reproduction

Question 10

DNA moves within an electric field because it:

A)is positively charged.
B)is negatively charged.
C)makes up chromosomes, which are slightly electromagnetic.
D)can possess different charges (positive or negative), depending on its base sequence.

Question 11

DNA from different bacteria may be combined using all of the following EXCEPT:

A)transformation.
B)plasmids.
C)viruses.
D)crossing over.

Question 12

An organism that contains foreign DNA, which was inserted into its own genetic material, is called:

A)transgenic.
B)polygenic.
C)electrophoresed.
D)foreign.

Question 13

Which of the following results from inserting foreign DNA into an organism to produce a new gene combination?

A)recombinant DNA
B)regulatory genes
C)mutations
D)translation
E)gene cloning

Question 14

All of the following are goals of biotechnology EXCEPT:

A)generating economic benefits.
B)efficiently producing biologically important molecules.
C)improving agriculturally important food plants.
D)treating disease more effectively.
E)creating humans with higher intelligence levels.

Question 15

The earliest examples of biotechnology included:

A)the use of genetic markers to learn more about genetic inheritance.
B)the study and treatment of genetic diseases in people.
C)the careful examination of patterns of bacterial inheritance.
D)the use of selective breeding to provide better, more nutritious food.

Question 16

Plasmids are:

A)noncircular DNA segments found only in bacteria.
B)small, replicating rings of DNA found in bacteria.
C)chromosomal loops made of RNA.
D)found only in three species of bacteria.
E)necessary in order for bacteria to reproduce.

Question 17

The history of biotechnology spans:

A)fewer than 50 years.
B)around 100 to 150 years.
C)about 1,000 years.
D)at least 10,000 years.

Question 18

The genetic recombination of ________ caused massive, widespread epidemics that affected the global human population several times in the 20th century.

A)human and bacterial plasmids
B)bacterial and viral plasmids
C)bird flu viruses and human flu viruses
D)HIV and flu viruses

Question 19

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the polymerase chain reaction?

A)heat to 70°C (to separate DNA), then cool to 50°C (to bind primers and enzymes), then reheat to 90°C (to synthesize DNA)
B)heat to 90°C (to bind primers and enzymes), then cool to 50°C (to separate DNA), then reheat to 70°C (to synthesize DNA)
C)heat to 70°C (to bind primers and enzymes), then cool to 50°C (to synthesize DNA), then reheat to 90°C (to separate DNA)
D)heat to 90°C (to separate DNA), then cool to 50°C (to bind primers and enzymes), then reheat to 70°C (to synthesize DNA)

Question 20

Recombinant DNA technology:

A)will never be of economic importance.
B)involves only changing genes in large mammals.
C)randomly creates new genes from free nucleotides.
D)is always dangerous and inevitably leads to mutations and mistakes.
E)involves combining existing genes from different organisms.

Question 21

Which pair of enzymes is necessary to make recombinant DNA?

A)DNA polymerase and ligase
B)ligase and restriction enzyme
C)restriction enzyme and DNA polymerase
D)DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase

Question 22

If the DNA fingerprint of a suspect does not match a blood sample from a crime scene, what can you conclude?

A)The suspect was never at the crime scene.
B)The suspect may have been at the crime scene, because DNA fingerprinting has a large error rate.
C)The blood sample had to come from another person, but the suspect may still have been there.
D)The DNA in the blood sample probably degraded in a short period of time.

Question 23

PCR enables scientists to do all of the following EXCEPT:

A)make billions of copies of a particular gene.
B)make gene copies very rapidly.
C)make gene copies quite cheaply.
D)use a very small amount of DNA as starting material.
E)sequence the bases within a gene as it is being copied.

Question 24

How does DNA move during gel electrophoresis?

A)away from the positive electrode
B)far into the gel if it is large and not far into the gel if it is small
C)through holes in the agarose gel
D)at a constant rate, regardless of fragment size

Question 25

Restriction enzymes are useful in recombinant DNA studies because they:

A)cut DNA only at specific locations.
B)join the cut ends of small DNA molecules.
C)can reproduce in bacteria.
D)give plasmids antibiotic properties.
E)can separate pieces of DNA and RNA from each other.

Question 26

Restriction enzymes:

A)randomly cut DNA into small pieces.
B)produce single-stranded DNA fragments with "sticky ends."
C)can cut only bacterial DNA.
D)will cut DNA only if it contains methyl groups.

Question 27

To make insect-resistant, transgenic plants, ________ are first inserted into ________.

A)Bt genes; Agrobacterium tumefaciens bacteria
B)Bt genes; disabled Ti plasmids
C)disabled Ti plasmids; A. tumefaciens bacteria
D)disabled Ti plasmids; Bt genes
E)A) tumefaciens bacteria; target plant cells

Question 28

The substances used to cut genes in recombinant DNA research are called:

A)DNA polymerases.
B)RNA polymerases.
C)spliceosomes.
D)replicases.
E)restriction enzymes.

Question 29

Specific fragments of DNA on a gel can be visualized using:

A)DNA probes.
B)restriction enzymes.
C)electrophoresis.
D)single tandem repeats (STRs).
E)a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Question 30

In recombinant DNA technology, plasmids:

A)are used to insert foreign DNA into bacteria.
B)show restriction enzymes where to cut bacterial DNA.
C)are necessary for cellular respiration in certain plants.
D)are the sites of protein synthesis in bacteria.
E)are isolated from the blood of mammals.

Question 31

DNA is negatively charged because of its:

A)bases.
B)ribose molecules.
C)deoxyribose molecules.
D)phosphate groups.
E)large molecular size.

Question 32

Which of the following techniques amplifies a specific region of DNA?

A)PCR
B)gel electrophoresis
C)the use of DNA probes
D)DNA profiles

Question 33

Which transgenic organism is used to produce BioSteel® fibers for medical and microelectronic applications?

A)Agrobacterium tumefaciens
B)Thermus aquaticus
C)Escherichia coli
D)goats

Question 34

Which of the following is currently used by the U.S. Department of Justice as a form of genetic "fingerprints" of criminals?

A)the number of introns in a chromosome
B)the genes responsible for producing the unique patterns of swirls and loops on a person's fingers
C)restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)
D)single tandem repeats (STRs)
E)plasmids

Question 35

At least 80% of the ________ grown in the United States is transgenic.

A)corn (only)
B)cotton (only)
C)soybeans (only)
D)corn and soybeans (only)
E)corn, cotton, and soybeans

Question 36

If you cut out a gene using EcoRI and BamHI, what enzyme(s)will you need to insert the gene into another chromosome?

A)EcoRI only
B)BamHI only
C)both EcoRI and BamHI
D)neither of these enzymes

Question 37

Suppose ENZ-1 and ENZ-2 are two different restriction enzymes. If various pieces of DNA from different species are cut with these enzymes (as follows), which would most easily form recombinant molecules?

A)human DNA cut with ENZ-1 and gorilla DNA cut with ENZ-2
B)human DNA cut with ENZ-1 and human DNA cut with ENZ-2
C)human DNA cut with ENZ-2 and bacterial DNA cut with ENZ-2
D)bacterial DNA cut with ENZ-1 and gorilla DNA cut with ENZ-2

Question 38

Modern forensic biotechnology labs use sophisticated machines to analyze ________, such as D16, and to determine the number of specific genetic repeats in the samples.

A)RFLPs
B)STRs
C)primers
D)PCRs

Question 39

Which of the following molecular techniques involves "DNA replication in a tube"?

A)transformation
B)gel electrophoresis
C)PCR
D)RFLP

Question 40

In order to join a fragment of human DNA to bacterial or yeast DNA, both the human DNA and the bacterial or yeast DNA must first be treated with the same:

A)DNA ligase.
B)DNA polymerase.
C)restriction enzyme.
D)DNA gyrase.

Question 41

If you want to develop a procedure for identifying a genetic disorder caused by 20 different alleles, what method would be most likely to be useful?

A)restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)
B)arrays of DNA probes on filter paper
C)single tandem repeats (STRs)
D)the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
E)gene therapy

Question 42

Prenatal diagnosis is available for all of the following disorders EXCEPT:

A)cystic fibrosis.
B)Down syndrome.
C)sickle-cell anemia.
D)AIDS.

Question 43

In nature, DNA recombination occurs but it is random and undirected. True or False?

Question 44

Which of the following is a valid difference between traditional (selective breeding)and modern (genetic engineering)forms of biotechnology?

A)Selective breeding can be done much more quickly than genetic engineering.
B)Genetic engineering can use genes from unrelated species, whereas selective breeding must use genes from the same or very closely related individuals.
C)Genetic engineering can alter the DNA sequence of entire populations, whereas selective breeding cannot.

Question 45

Controversy has arisen about using genetically engineered bovine growth hormone to increase milk yield in cattle. The lesson gained from this controversy is that:

A)recombinant DNA technology is inherently a bad idea and should be abandoned.
B)humans are not wise enough to use this technique properly.
C)society should let scientists decide the proper uses of recombinant DNA technology.
D)the whole human society should decide the proper uses of recombinant DNA technology.
E)citizens should not be allowed to decide such issues, since they tend to make decisions based on emotion.

Question 46

Which of the following applications of biotechnology results in an insect-resistant plant?

A)herbicide-resistant corn
B)Bt toxin production by soybeans
C)banana-based vaccine against pathogenic E. coli
D)growth hormone-treated cows
E)insulin production by bacteria

Question 47

Which of the following is a valid scientific concern about the environment and transgenic crops?

A)Pollen from transgenic crops could carry the recombinant genes to wild relatives, with unpredictable consequences.
B)Wild animals might eat the transgenic crop and become genetically mutated.
C)Transgenic crops could escape cultivation and become "superweeds" that are incapable of being destroyed.
D)The toxic products of the modified genes would be released to the environment when the plants die, resulting in drastic die-offs of local wildlife.

Question 48

All of the following have been produced by inserting human genes into bacteria EXCEPT:

A)growth hormone, which helps children grow normally.
B)insulin, which treats diabetics.
C)blood clotting enzymes, which treat hemophiliacs.
D)cancer cell-killing hormones, which cure patients who have malignancies.
E)clot-dissolving enzymes, which help heart attack victims recover.

Question 49

Which of the following techniques is most commonly used in the prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, in a human fetus?

A)amniocentesis
B)chorionic villus sampling
C)isolation of fetal cells from maternal blood

Question 50

A recombinant plasmid contains only human and bacterial DNA. True or False?

Question 51

Sexual reproduction in humans is an example of DNA recombination. True or False?

Question 52

Which of the following involves the use of human genes?

A)herbicide-resistant corn
B)Bt toxin production by soybeans
C)banana-based vaccine against pathogenic E. coli
D)growth hormonetreated cows
E)insulin production by bacteria

Question 53

All of the following are benefits of sequencing the human genome EXCEPT:

A)genes were discovered whose functions were previously unknown.
B)more genes that cause disease have been discovered.
C)the number of genetic disorders that can be diagnosed with molecular techniques has increased.
D)better comparisons can be made between human genetics and the genetics of other organisms.
E)every genetic disorder is now curable or preventable.

Question 54

Which of the following was successfully used to treat a patient with SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency)?

A)gene therapy
B)Bt toxins
C)vaccines
D)growth hormones
E)insulin

Question 55

Which of the following can be used to detect genetic disorders?

A)restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)only
B)arrays of DNA probes only
C)single tandem repeats (STRs)only
D)RFLPs and DNA probe arrays only
E)RFLPs, DNA probe arrays, and STRs

Question 56

In the 1990s, researchers attempted to improve the balance of amino acids in soybean protein by inserting a gene from Brazil nuts. Why have these transgenic soybeans never been grown commercially?

A)The public was misinformed by food-safety advocates and refused to buy products made from the modified soybeans.
B)The modified soybeans could not grow with the foreign gene present.
C)Some people were allergic to the protein product of the Brazil nut gene.
D)Regulatory hurdles made the modified soybeans too expensive to market profitably.
E)The protein product of the soybean was indigestible to most people.

Question 57

The human genome contains about ________ genes.

A)100
B)1,800
C)20,000 to 25,000
D)1 million
E)1 billion

Question 58

Which of the following is NOT a valid difference between traditional and modern forms of biotechnology?

A)Modern biotechnology can isolate and manipulate individual genes.
B)Traditional biotechnology is almost always limited to genetic recombination between individuals of one species or two closely related species.
C)Traditional biotechnology cannot produce entirely new genes in one step.
D)Modern forms of biotechnology are slower than traditional forms of biotechnology.

Question 59

DNA recombination changes the genetic makeup of organisms. True or False?

Question 60

What do differences in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)banding patterns between samples indicate?

A)The two different DNA molecules being tested have different base pair sequences.
B)mRNA is not transcribed in either of the samples being analyzed.
C)The genes of interest belong on different chromosomes.

Question 61

________ animals and plants express the DNA inserted in them that was derived from another species.

Question 62

A radioactively labeled DNA ________ can be used to identify a specific piece of DNA in an electrophoresis gel.

Question 63

About 90% of the human genome contains the genes. True or False?

Question 64

There are potential risks in performing recombinant DNA research on humans and plants. True or False?

Question 65

Restriction enzymes have the ability to cut DNA at specific nucleotide sequences. True or False?

Question 66

Stringent safety rules are not necessary for recombinant DNA research because it is a natural process that occurs in the absence of human intervention. True or False?

Question 67

Restriction enzymes are "restricted" in the sense that they normally work on only bacterial DNA. True or False?

Question 68

________ are small, circular pieces of DNA that are often used in the process of transformation.

Question 69

The discovery of the organism Thermus aquaticus was critical for the development of the technique of PCR. True or False?

Question 70

An important tool of genetic engineering is ________ DNA, which is DNA altered by the incorporation of genes from a different organism.

Question 71

How were ancient peoples involved in biotechnology?

Question 72

Individuals within the same species have the same DNA "fingerprint," but individuals from different species have different DNA fingerprints. True or False?

Question 73

Define the term "biotechnology."

Question 74

How is it possible for a dead bacterial cell to influence the DNA in a living bacterial cell?

Question 75

In gel electrophoresis, DNA is separated based on charge and ________.

Question 76

Golden Rice was originally developed to provide a source of ________ to people for whom rice is the principal food.

Question 77

The DNA of humans and chimps differs by just over 1%. True or False?

Question 78

The polymerase chain reaction joins many small DNA molecules into a long chain. True or False?

Question 79

Enzymes that cut double-stranded DNA at specific sites are called ________.

Question 80

Ligase enzymes are used to covalently bind together pieces of DNA. True or False?