Sample MCQ questions Flashcards
1) Which of the following is the name of the small self-replicating DNA molecule found in
bacteria that can be used as a cloning vector
a) Plasmid
b) Microsatellite
c) Chromatid
d) Amplicon
a) Plasmid
2) Which of the following is not correct in relation to DNA agarose gel electrophoresis
a) DNA migrates from the negative to the positive electrode
b) Smaller DNA molecules migrate slower than larger DNA molecules
c) Ultraviolet (UV) light is used to visualise the DNA bands in the gel
d) Ethidium bromide binds to the double stranded DNA
b) Smaller DNA molecules migrate slower than larger DNA molecules
3) What enzyme is used to seal the DNA sugar phosphate backbone between the cloning vector
DNA and the DNA insert during molecular cloning
a) DNA ligase
b) DNA sealing protein
c) Taq polymerase
d) DNA phosphatase
a) DNA ligase
4) What is the theoretical number of polymer chain reaction (PCR) amplicons expected after
forty cycles with a starting number of 1 target sequence
a) 40 X 2 X 1 = 80
b) 40 X 401 = 1600
c) 1 X 240 = 1,099,511,627,776
d) 40 X 12 = 40
c) 1 X 240 = 1,099,511,627,776
5) During a typical polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle DNA samples are first heated to 940C
and then cooled to 550C and then heated again to 720C. What are each of the different
temperature steps
a) 940C = DNA denaturation step 550C = enzyme extension step 720C = primer
annealing step
b) 940C = Primer annealing step 550C = DNA denaturation step 720C = enzyme
extension step
c) 940C = DNA denaturation step 550C = primer annealing step 720C = enzyme
extension step
d) 940C = Enzyme extension step 550C = DNA denaturation step 720C = primer
annealing step
c) 940C = DNA denaturation step 550C = primer annealing step 720C = enzyme
extension step
6) Which of the following is not a component of a typical PCR reaction
a) Taq DNA polymerase enzyme
b) ddATP, ddCTP, ddGTP, and ddTTP dideoxynucleotides
c) dATP,dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP nucleotides
d) synthetic single stranded oligonucleotide DNA primers
b) ddATP, ddCTP, ddGTP, and ddTTP
7) The method of sequencing DNA using dideoxynuclotide triphosphates (ddNTPs) is called
What
a) The Watson and Crick DNA sequencing method
b) The Sanger DNA sequencing method
c) The Pauling DNA sequencing method
d) The Mendel sequencing method
b) The Sanger DNA sequencing method
8) Which of the following is the correct name for the widely used gene that allows bacterial
colonies carrying a DNA insert to be selected during the molecular cloning process based on
their ability to metabolise the sugar X gal
a) LacZ
b) AmpR
c) Taq polymerase gene
d) DNA ligase gene
a) LacZ
9) What is the target region of a genome that is amplified during the polymerase chain reaction
(PCR)
a) Genomicon
b) Plasmid
c) Anticodon
d) Amplicon
d) Amplicon
10) EcoRI is a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA at a palindromic DNA sequence. Which of the
following DNA sequences is palindromic and is the restriction sequence for EcoRI
a) 5’ – GAATTC – 3’
3’- CTTAAG – 5’
b) 5’ – GGGGGG-3’
3’- CCCCCC- 5’
c) 5’-TAATAA-3’
3’- ATTATT- 5’
d) 5’- CACACA-3’
3’- GTGTGT-5’
a) 5’ – GAATTC – 3’
3’- CTTAAG – 5’
11) Which of the following nitrogenous bases is not found in biological DNA
a) Guanine
b) Adenine
c) Uracil
d) Cytosine
c) Uracil
12) What is the function of the enzyme DNA polymerases
a) Catalyses the synthesis of a new DNA molecule using a template DNA strand
b) Catalyses the synthesis of a new polypeptide molecules using a template DNA
strand
c) Catalyses the synthesis of a new RNA molecule using a template DNA strand
d) Catalyses the synthesis of a new polysaccharide molecule using a template DNA
strand
a) Catalyses the synthesis of a new DNA molecule using a template DNA strand
14) What is the full term for the acronym Mrna
a) Messenger ribose acid
b) Messenger ribonucleic acid
c) Messenger ribosome acid
d) Messenger restriction acid
b) Messenger ribonucleic acid
15) The biochemical process of translation is carried out by which molecule
a) DNA polymerase
b) RNA polymerase
c) The ribosome
d) DNA ligase
c) The ribosome
16) Which of the following will most dramatically change the amino acid sequence of a
Polypeptide
a) A single nucleotide substitution in the exon of a gene
b) Insertion of six nucleotides in the exon of a gene
c) A single nucleotide deletion in the exon of a gene
d) Deletion of three nucleotides in the exon of a gene
c) A single nucleotide deletion in the exon of a gene
17) Examine the coding DNA sequence of a gene below (note only one of the strands is shown).
A mutation has been discovered in this gene which changes a guanine nucleotide (G) to a
adenine nucleotide (A) (Note the mutation is highlighted in underline and bold). The coding
sequence of the normal gene and the mutated sequence of the gene are shown
Normal DNA sequence: TAC GGG CCC GTG
Normal mRNA sequence: AUG CCC GGG CAC
Normal polypeptide sequence: Met Pro Gly His
Mutant DNA sequence: TAC GG CCC GTA
Mutant mRNA sequence: AUG CCC GGG CAU
Mutant polypeptide sequence: Met Pro Gly His
a) A frameshift mutation
b) A missense mutation
c) A silent mutation
d) A nonsense mutation
c) A silent mutation
18) When snapdragon plants that produce red flowers are crossed with snapdragon plants that
produce white flowers the resulting offspring produce pink flowers. What Is the genetic term
used to describe this phenomenon
a) Complete dominance
b) Imperfect dominance
c) Codominance
d) Incomplete dominance
d) Incomplete dominance
19) Who is considered to be the father of genetics
a) Francis Crick
b) Gregor Mendel
c) James Watson
d) Charles Darwin
b) Gregor Mendel
20) What is the meaning of the genetic term epistasis
a) The situation when one gene has a multiple phenotypic effects
b) The situation when one gene alters the expression of another gene
c) The situation when a trait is controlled by one gene
d) The situation when a trait is controlled by one or more gene
b) The situation when one gene alters the expression of another gene
21) What is the correct description for a diploid organism with a pair of identical alleles for a
Character
a) Heterogeneous
b) Heterozygous
c) Homozygous
d) Homogeneous
c) Homozygous
22) Which of the following statements is true
a) Eukaryotic cells do not possess mitochondria in their cytoplasm
b) Prokaryotic cells do not contain proteins
c) Eukaryotic cells do not have a nuclear membrane
d) Prokaryotic cells do not have a nuclear membrane
d) Prokaryotic cells do not have a nuclear membrane
23) How many rounds of cell division take place in eukaryotic meiotic cell division
a) Two
b) One
c) Four
d) Three
a) Two
24) What is the missing phrase in the statement below? The chromatin in eukaryotic cell nuclei
consists of ——-
a) Protein and carbohydrates
b) Carbohydrates and enzymes
c) Deoxyribonucleic acid and carbohydrates
d) Deoxyribonucleic acid and protein
d) Deoxyribonucleic acid and protein
25) If mottled overo stallions are matted with mottled overo mares what would the phenotypic
proportions of foals born
a) 25% mottled overo foals 50% solid coloured foals 25% pure white still born foals
b) 50% mottled overo foals 25% solid coloured foals 25% pure white still born foals
c) 25% mottled overo foals 25% solid coloured foals 50% pure white still born foals
d) 33.3% mottled overo foals 33.3% solid coloured foals 33.3% pure white still born foals
b) 50% mottled overo foals 25% solid coloured foals 25% pure white still born foals
26) A scientist crosses two true breeding varieties of pea plant. The first variety consists of
plants that always produce yellow and round seeds. The second variety consists of plants
that always produce green and wrinkled seeds. The F1 hybrid mating consists of plants that
produce yellow and round seeds. What is the expected ratio of phenotypes in the F2
generation that is produced from mating the F1 plants with each other
a) 9 Green Wrinkled 3 Yellow Wrinkled 3 Green Round 1 Yellow Round
b) 9 Yellow Wrinkled 3 Yellow Round 3 Green Wrinkled 1 Green Round
c) 9 Green Round 3 Yellow Round 3 Green Wrinkled 1 Yellow Wrinkled
d) 9 Yellow Round 3 Yellow Wrinkled 3 Green Round 1 Green Wrinkled
d) 9 Yellow Round 3 Yellow Wrinkled 3 Green Round 1 Green Wrinkled
28) What does r RNA stand for
a) Reproducible RNA
b) Replicated RNA
c) Regular RNA
d) Ribosomal RNA
d) Ribosomal RNA
29) Which of the following statements correctly describes complementary base pairing in DNA
A) Guanine base (G) is always base paired with cytosine C via two hydrogen bonds
B) Guanine base is always paired with adenine (A) base via two hydrogen bonds
C) A thymine base (T) is always base paired with adenine via two hydrogen bonds
D) A thymine base is always paired with cytosine base via three hydrogen bonds
C) A thymine base (T) is always base paired with adenine via two hydrogen bonds
30) What is the correct definition of the term cell cycle
a) The energy production system in a eukaryotic cell
b) The translation and transcription of encoded genetic information
c) The circular chromosome found in prokaryotic bacterial cells
d) The series of events in a eukaryotic cell from one cell division to the next
d) The series of events in a eukaryotic cell from one cell division to the next
31) The ovine haploid chromosome number is 27. Ignoring recombination how many
chromosomal combinations can result during meiotic cell division in sheep
a) 729
b) 54
c) 134,217,728
d)443,426,488,243,038,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
c) 134,217,728
32) What is the term used to describe the genotype of an X linked gene in male mammals
a) Homozygous
b) Heterozygous
c) Hemizygous
d) Homogeneous
c) Hemizygous
33) What is the correct definition of the term pleiotrophy
a) The action of one gene modifying the effects of other genes
b) The movement of the spindle during eukaryotic cell division
c) The genetic effect of a single gene on multiple phenotypic traits
d) The genetic exchange that takes place between homologous chromosones during
prophase I of meitotic cell division
c) The genetic effect of a single gene on multiple phenotypic traits
34) Which of the following processes can enhance the evolutionary adaptation of a species to its
Environment
a) Mutation
b) Gene flow
c) Genetic drift
d) Natural or artificial selection
d) Natural or artificial selection
35) The frequency of cystic fibrosis (a recessive genetic disorder) in Ireland is approximately 1 in
1600. Therefore assuming Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium which of the answers below
represents the best estimate of the frequency of the mutant cystic fibrosis allele in the Irish
population
a) 0.250
b) 0.025
c) 0.050
d) 0.500
b) 0.025
36) Who first developed the concept of the genetic linkage map
a) James Watson and Francis Crick
b) Gregor Mendel
c) Thomas Hunt Morgan and Alfred Sturtevant
d) Linus Pauling
c) Thomas Hunt Morgan and Alfred Sturtevant
37) A colour blind woman has children with a man who has normal vision. What are the
expected offspring proportions from this mating
a) 50% carrier females 50% colour blind males
b) 50% normal females 50% colour blind males
c) 50% colour blind females 50% normal males
d) 50% carrier females 50% normal males
a) 50% carrier females 50% colour blind males
38) S Wright, J.B.S Haldane and R.A fisher initiated which branch of genetics
a) Molecular genetics
b) Population genetics
c) Plant genetics
d) Animal genetics
b) Population genetics
39) In a region of west Africa with a high incidence of malaria, the frequency of sickle cell
anaemia (a recessive genetic disorder) in the human population is 1 in 30. Therefore
assuming Hardy Weinberg Equation (HWE) which of the
answers below represents the best estimate of the mutant
sickle cell anaemia in this population
a) 0.06
b) 0.18
c) 0.30
d) 0.03
b) 0.18
40) Scientific evidence suggests that the cheetah (Acinoyx Jubatus) has undergone how many
population constrictions that led to reductions in genetic variation
a) 2
b) 1
c) 3
d) None
a) 2
41) An evolutionary founder event will act to
a) Decrease genetic drift
b) Increase rate of mutation
c) Increase genetic drift
d) Decrease the rate of mutation
c) Increase genetic drift
42) Which of the following is the correct definition of the term genetic linkage
a) Two genes on different chromosomes that have a chemical bridge between them
b) The relationship between two genes that are physically close on the same chromosome
and tend to be transmitted from parents to offspring as a single unit
c) Two genes that influence the same phenotypic trait
d) The condensation of chromatin to form discrete chromosomes prior to cell division
b) The relationship between two genes that are physically close on the same chromosome
and tend to be transmitted from parents to offspring as a single unit
43) Which of the following nitrogenous bases is not found in biological DNA
a) Adenine
b) Cytosine
c) Guanine
d) Uracil
d) Uracil
44) Which of the following are removed from transcribed protein coding RNA during mRNA
processing in eukaryotes
a) Axons
b) Protons
c) Exons
d) Introns
d) Introns
45) Which of the following is not thought to cause mutation in the sequence or structure of DNA
Molecules
a) Exposure to chemical mutagen
b) Exposure to X Ray radiation
c) Exposure to a magnetic field
d) Exposure to Ultra Violet (UV) radiation
c) Exposure to a magnetic field
46) The biochemical process of transcription is carried out by which molecule
a) Restriction enzyme
b) RNA polymerase
c) The ribosome
d) DNA ligase
b) RNA polymerase
47) The ribosome is composed of
a) Protein and DNA
b) Protein and RNA
c) Carbohydrate and RNA
d) Protein and Carbohydrate
a) Protein and DNA
48) Which of the following discovered the three dimensional structure of DNA
a) Gregor Mendel
b) James Watson and Francis Crick
c) Oswald Avery
d) Charles Darwin
b) James Watson and Francis Crick
49) Which of the following terms does not relate to the structure of DNA
a) Hydrogen bond
b) Purine
c) Pyrimidine
d) Peptide
d) Peptide
50) What is the function of the retroviral enzyme reverse transcriptase
a) Enables virus to enter cellular membranes of host cell
b) Translates host DNA into viral proteins
c) Transcribes a DNA molecule from a single stranded viral RNA template
d) Lyses cell membrane to allow viral particles infect other cells
c) Transcribes a DNA molecule from a single stranded viral RNA template
51) Which of the following is not correct in relation to DNA agarose gel electrophoresis
a) Ethidium Bromide binds to double stranded DNA
b) DNA migrates from the positive electrode to the negative electrode
c) Smaller DNA molecules migrate faster than larger DNA molecules
d) UV light is used to visualise the DNA bands in the gel
b) DNA migrates from the positive electrode to the negative electrode
53) What is the Sanger laboratory method used for
a) Determining the sequence of bases in a DNA molecule
b) Cutting a DNA molecule into smaller fragments
c) Transcribing An RNA molecule from a DNA template molecule
d) Translating and RNA molecule into a polypeptide chain
a) Determining the sequence of bases in a DNA molecule
54) What is the theoretical number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons expected after
40 cycles with a starting number of 10 sequences
a) 40 X 210 = 40, 960
b) 40 X 102= 4,000
c) 2 X 1040= 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
d) 10 X 240= 10, 995, 116, 277, 760
d) 10 X 240= 10, 995, 116, 277, 760
55) Which of the following is the correct name for a widely used gene that confers resistance to
an antibiotic during bacterial cloning of recombinant DNA
a) ampR
b) andR
c) anpR
d) amaR
a) ampR
56) Which of the following is the correct name for a widely used gene that metabolises X gal and
differentiates recombinant from non recombinant plasmids during bacterial cloning of
recombinant DNA
a) LucZ
b) lacZ
c) licZ
d) locZ
b) lacZ
57) Which of the following methods is not used to produce transgenic animals
a) Microinjection of foreign DNA into embryo pro nuclei
b) Replacement of an oocyte nucleus with the nucleus of a transgenic donor cell
c) Injection of DNA molecules into an animals blood circulatory system using a hypodermic
syringe
d) Use of modified retroviruses as vectors to carry genes into an embryo
1 2 3 4 5
c) Injection of DNA molecules into an animals blood circulatory system using a hypodermic
syringe
58) Which of the following bacterial species can be used to produce transgenic plants using
recombinant TI plasmids
a) Escherichia Coli
b) Haemophilus influenza
c) Staphylococcus aureus
d) Agrobacterium tumefaciens
d) Agrobacterium tumefaciens
59) What does the Ti stand for in Ti plasmid
a) Transcript inducing
b) Tumour inducing
c) Transgene inducing
d) Trait inducing
b) Tumour inducing
60) Transgenic golden rice was developed to alleviate deficiency of what vitamin in certain
human populations
a) Vitamin A
b) Vitamin B
c) Vitamin C
d) Vitamin D
a) Vitamin A
61) Which of the following processes does not occur in the eukaryotic cells nucleus
a) DNA replication
b) Translation
c) RNA processing
d) Transcription
b) Translation
62) With respect to population genetics, a gene pool consists of
a) The total of all alleles across all genetic loci in a population
b) The entire genome of a reproducing individual
c) All the gametes in a population
d) Only those alleles in a population subject to natural selection
a) The total of all alleles across all genetic loci in a population
63) What was the mechanism of the evolution of species proposed by Charles Darwin in the
Origin of Species published in 1859
a) Mutation
b) Genetic Drift
c) Natural Selection
d) Random Mating
c) Natural Selection
64) Which of the following statements is not true of a codon
a) Its consists of three nucleotides
b) It may code for more than one amino acid
c) It never codes for one or more amino acids
d) It’s the basic unit of genetic code
b) It may code for more than one amino acid
65) Which of the following cellular components is not involved in the process known as
Translation
a) Mature mRNA
b) tRNA
c) RNA polymerase
d) Ribosomes
c) RNA polymerase
66) The anticodon of a particular tRNA molecule is
a) The part of the tRNA molecule that bonds to a specific amino acid
b) Complementary to the corresponding m RNA molecule
c) The part of the t RNA molecule that binds to the ribosome
d) Complementary to the corresponding nucleotide triplet in r RNA
b) Complementary to the corresponding m RNA molecule