Ch. 1 End Of Chapter Questions

Question 1

Which statement best describes the central dogma of genetics?

Answer 1

Genes are made of DNA, expressed as an RNA intermediary that is decided to make proteins

Question 2

What is the difference between DNA and RNA?

Answer 2

The sugar ring in RNA has an extra hydroxyl group that is missing in the pentose of DNA.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about eukaryotic DNA packaging is true?

Answer 3

Eukaryotic DNA packaging is a complex of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones, and further coiled into a 30-nanometer fiber

Question 4

Which statement about Thermus aquaticus is false?

Answer 4

T. aquaticus is found in the frozen lakes of Antarctica

Question 5

Which statement about Escherichia coli is not correct?

Answer 5

All E. Coli strains are pathogenic, and therefore must be handled accordingly

Question 6

Plasmids from bacteria can be described by which of the following statements?

Answer 6

• all are correct
• plasmids provide an advantage to the host bacterium to compete against non-plasmid-containing bacteria for nutrients
• plasmids are used as a molecular biology tool to express other genes efficiently in the host bacterium
• plasmids are extrachromosomal segments of DNA that carry several genes beneficial to the host organism
• plasmids have their own origin of replication

Question 7

Which of the following statements is not correct about the usefulness of fungi in biotechnology research?

Answer 7

Fungi are called “the work horses of molecular biology”

Question 8

What mechanism does yeast utilize to control mating type in the cells?

Answer 8

The MAT locus in the yeast genome contains two divergent genes that encode for the pheromones a and alpha, along with the pheromone receptors

Question 9

Which of the following yeast cellular component is typically not found in bacteria?

Answer 9

All of the above are found in yeast and not bacteria

• centromeres
• telomeres
• nuclear pores
• nuclear envelope

Question 10

Identify the statement about multicellular model organisms that is correct.

Answer 10

All are correct

Question 11

What is the main advantage for studying cells in culture rather than in a whole organism?

Answer 11

Cell lines in culture are easily manipulated genetically to introduce new genes or delete other genes

Question 12

Why is Arabiodopsis thaliana used as a model organism for plant genetics and biology?

Answer 12

• responds to stress and disease similarly to important crop plants such as rice, wheat, and corn
• easy to grow and maintain in the lab
• genome is relatively small compared to other plants
• generation cycle is shorter than most other crop plants and produces many seeds for further study

Question 13

Why are viruses significant to biotechnology?

Answer 13

• they are able to insert their genome into the host genome, thus integrating genes in the process
• viruses can be used to alter the genomes of other organisms
• reverses transcriptase, an enzyme used in molecular biology, is encoded in a retroviral genome
• viruses play an important role in delivering gene therapy to humans

Question 14

Which statement best describes the F plasmid?

Answer 14

F plasmids contain genes for formation of a specialized pilus that initiates the formation of a conjugation bridge between two cells for the purpose of transferring genetic material

Question 15

Which of the following elements is important in biotechnology research?

Answer 15

All of the above

• transposons
• F plasmid
• satellite viruses
• plasmids