Deck 14: Biotechnology

Question 1

Which of the following is the correct sequence of PCR?

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

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Recombinant DNA technology

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

Answer 2

D

Question 3

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

A) PCR.
B) crossing over.
C) centrifugation.
D) gel electrophoresis.
E) filtering.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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

A) Viruses that transfer DNA between host organisms
B) Bacterial transformation
C) Sexual reproduction
D) Bacteria that acquire foreign plasmids

Question 5

How many copies of a particular gene of interest are produced from a single template DNA strand after three cycles of PCR?

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

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

The history of biotechnology spans

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

Question 8

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

A) Transformation in bacteria
B) Viral infection
C) PCR
D) Sexual reproduction

Question 9

All of the following are goals of biotechnology EXCEPT

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

Question 10

Plasmids are

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

Question 11

DNA moves within an electric field because it

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

Question 12

The genetic recombination of _________caused massive, widespread epidemics that affected the global human population several times in the twentieth century.

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

Question 13

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

A) Translation
B) Mutations
C) Recombinant DNA
D) Regulatory genes
E) Gene cloning

Question 14

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

A) Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)
B) DNA fingerprinting
C) Biotechnology
D) Mendelian genetics
E) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a use for biotechnology?

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

Question 16

The earliest examples of biotechnology included the

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

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

A) cloning.
B) plasmids.
C) transformation.
D) viruses.

Question 19

PCR is essential for

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

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

If you cut out a gene using the restriction enzymes 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 22

DNA is negatively charged because of its

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

Question 23

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

Question 24

Specific fragments of DNA on a gel can be visualized using

A) PCR.
B) electrophoresis.
C) restriction enzymes.
D) DNA probes.
E) STRs.

Question 25

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 gyrase.
C) restriction enzyme.
D) DNA polymerase.

Question 26

The term transfecting refers to

A) making multiple copies of a small sample of DNA.
B) inserting the gene of interest into the host organism.
C) making GMOs that are sterile.
D) viral DNA becoming part of human DNA.

Question 27

What is an advantage to a farmer using an insect -resistant crop plant?

A) More herbicide use but less pesticide use
B) Sterile plants, with inability to form strange hybrids
C) More pesticide use and better crop yields
D) Less pesticide use and better crop yields

Question 28

In recombinant DNA technology, plasmids

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

Question 29

Restriction enzymes

A) can cut only bacterial DNA.
B) separate the strands of DNA during PCR.
C) randomly cut DNA into small pieces.
D) produce single-stranded DNA fragments with ʺsticky ends.ʺ

Question 30

PCR enables scientists to do all of the following EXCEPT

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

Question 31

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

A) DNA profiles
B) The use of DNA probes
C) Gel electrophoresis
D) PCR

Question 32

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

A) The genes responsible for producing the unique patterns of swirls and loops on a personʹs fingers
B) PCRs
C) Plasmids
D) STRs
E) The number of introns in a chromosome

Question 33

Which pair of enzymes is necessary to make recombinant DNA?

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

Question 34

Restriction enzymes are useful in recombinant DNA studies because they

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

Question 35

The enzymes used to cut genes in recombinant DNA research are called

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

Question 36

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) (STRs)
B) AIDs
C) primers
D) PCRs

Question 37

Which of the following molecular techniques involves ʺDNA replication in a tubeʺ?

A) PCR
B) STR
C) Gel electrophoresis
D) Transformation

Question 38

In 2011, more than 85% of the _________grown in the United States was transgenic.

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

Question 39

How does DNA move during gel electrophoresis?

A) Larger pieces of DNA move at a faster rate.
B) DNA moves at a constant rate, regardless of fragment size.
C) The DNA moves toward the negative electrode.
D) Smaller pieces of DNA move faster toward the positive electrode.

Question 40

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

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

Question 41

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

A) Wild animals might eat the transgenic crops and become genetically mutated.
B) 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.
C) Eating transgenic foods will permanently change human DNA.
D) Pollen from transgenic crops could carry the recombinant genes to wild relatives, with unpredictable consequences.

Question 42

In the 1990s, researchers attempted to improve the balance of amino acids in soybean protein by inserting a gene from Brazil nuts. Which of the following is the best reason as to why the transgenic soybeans have never been grown commercially?

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

Question 43

Prenatal diagnosis is available for all of the following disorders EXCEPT

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

Question 44

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

A) Modern forms of biotechnology are slower than traditional forms of biotechnology.
B) Modern biotechnology can isolate and manipulate individual genes.
C) Traditional biotechnology can produce cloned animals with new genes.
D) Traditional biotechnology was based solely on selective breeding.

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

Question 46

All of the following are ways in which scientists can transfect an organism EXCEPT

A) using a ʺgene gunʺ to shoot genes into cells in culture.
B) spraying plants with herbicide containing new genes.
C) injecting DNA into an egg using a small, sharp pipette.
D) infecting a host organism with a virus carrying a new gene.

Question 47

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

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

Question 48

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

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

Question 49

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

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

Question 50

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

A) STRs only
B) Restriction enzyme fragments and DNA probe arrays only
C) Arrays of DNA probes only
D) Restriction enzyme fragments only

Question 51

Which of the following involves the use of human genes?

A) Bt toxin production by soybeans
B) Herbicide-resistant corn
C) Insulin production by bacteria
D) Banana-based vaccine against pathogenic E. coli
E) Genetically altered soybean oils

Question 52

Sexual reproduction in humans is an example of DNA recombination.

Question 53

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

A) Insulin
B) Growth hormones
C) Gene therapy
D) Vaccines
E) Bt toxins

Question 54

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

A) Bt toxin production by soybeans
B) Herbicide-resistant corn
C) Growth-hormone-treated cows
D) Banana-based vaccine against pathogenic Escherichia coli
E) Insulin production by bacteria

Question 55

In nature, DNA recombination occurs but it is random and undirected.

Question 56

Sequencing the genes of humans is important because

A) knowing the nucleotide sequence of human genes will aid in the treatment of diseases caused by them.
B) it will allow scientists to create human clones.
C) it will give us a better understanding of agricultural animals.
D) it provides information on how to build lipids in the cell.

Question 57

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) Chorionic villus sampling
B) Isolation of fetal cells from maternal blood
C) Amniocentesis

Question 58

The human genome contains about _________genes.

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

Question 59

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

A) STRs
B) Arrays of DNA probes on filter paper
C) PCR
D) Gene therapy

Question 60

DNA recombination changes the genetic makeup of organisms.

Question 61

Define the term biotechnology.

Question 62

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

Question 63

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

Question 64

_________animals and plants contain DNA inserted in them from another species.

Question 65

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

Question 66

How were ancient peoples involved in biotechnology?

Question 67

Restriction enzymes have the ability to cut DNA at specific nucleotide sequences.

Question 68

A radioactively labeled single-stranded DNA _________can be used to identify a specific piece of DNA in an electrophoresis gel.

Question 69

The DNA of humans and chimps differs by about 10%.

Question 70

Individuals within the same species have the same DNA ʺfingerprint,ʺ but individuals from different species have different DNA fingerprints.

Question 71

A recombinant plasmid contains only human and bacterial DNA.

Question 72

The discovery of the organism Thermus aquaticus was critical for the development of the technique of PCR.

Question 73

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

Question 74

There are potential risks in performing recombinant DNA research on humans and plants.

Question 75

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

Question 76

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

Question 77

Restriction enzymes are ʺrestrictedʺ in the sense that they normally work on only bacterial DNA.

Question 78

PCR joins many small DNA molecules into a long chain.

Question 79

Ligase enzymes are used to covalently bind together pieces of DNA.)

Question 80

About 90% of the human genome contains the genes.