Hard

Question 1

Design experiments to test pest caterpillars’ resistance to rhizobacteria-enhanced Bt toxins:

Answer 1

Genetic Experiment: Use CRISPR to knock out Bt toxin receptors in caterpillars.
Control: Wild-type caterpillars.
Rhizobacterial Experiment: Test different rhizobacteria strains enhancing Bt toxins.
Control: Plants with no rhizobacteria.

Question 2

Design an experiment to trace Y. pestis origins using molecular techniques:

Answer 2

Use SNP analysis and phylogenetic trees of Y. pestis strains.

Control: Modern European Y. pestis isolates.

Question 3

Overcoming gene editing challenges:

Answer 3

Develop higher-fidelity Cas enzymes.
Improve HDR templates with enhanced efficiency.
Integrate AI for off-target prediction.

Question 4

Mechanisms of flavonoid-cancer cell interaction:

Answer 4

Induction of apoptosis.
Inhibition of angiogenesis.
Modulation of cell signaling pathways.

Question 5

Mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome analysis in mass graves:

Answer 5

Y chromosome: Tracks paternal lineage.
mtDNA: Tracks maternal lineage.
Interpretation: Shared Y haplotype suggests common male ancestor, diverse mtDNA indicates mixed maternal ancestry

Question 6

Explain bands in a Southern blot for Lenti-D vector integration:

Answer 6

Bands reflect integration sites.
Clinical outcome: Best outcome for samples with single, targeted integration

Question 7

Follow-up experiments for miRNA role in tumor suppression:

Answer 7

Knockdown miRNA and assess tumor growth.
Overexpress miRNA in cell lines and monitor changes.
Chromatin immunoprecipitation to confirm enhancer binding.
Control: Non-targeting miRNA.