In recombinant DNA methods, the term vector can refer to

In recombinant DNA methods, the term vector can refer to 

A) the enzyme that cuts DNA into restriction fragments.
B) the sticky end of a DNA fragment.
C) a RFLP marker.
D) a plasmid used to transfer DNA into a living cell.
E) a DNA probe used to identify a particular gene.

Answer: D

Which of the following sequences in double-stranded DNA is most likely to be recognized as a cutting site for a restriction enzyme?

Which of the following sequences in double-stranded DNA is most likely to be recognized as a cutting site for a restriction enzyme? 

A)
AAGG
TTCC
B)
AGTC
TCAG
C)
GGCC
CCGG
D)
ACCA
TGGT
E)
AAAA
TTTT

Answer: C

DNA technology has many medical applications. Which of the following is not done routinely at present?

DNA technology has many medical applications. Which of the following is not done routinely at present? 

A) production of hormones for treating diabetes and dwarfism
B) production of viral proteins for vaccines
C) introduction of genetically engineered genes into human gametes
D) prenatal identification of genetic disease genes
E) genetic testing for carriers of harmful alleles

Answer: C

Expression of a cloned eukaryotic gene in a bacterial cell involves many challenges. The use of mRNA and reverse transcriptase is part of a strategy to solve the problem of

Expression of a cloned eukaryotic gene in a bacterial cell involves many challenges. The use of mRNA and reverse transcriptase is part of a strategy to solve the problem of 

A) post-transcriptional processing.
B) electroporation.
C) post-translational processing.
D) nucleic acid hybridization.
E) restriction fragment ligation.

Answer: A

A paleontologist has recovered a bit of tissue from the 400-year-old preserved skin of an extinct dodo (a bird). The researcher would like to compare a specific region of the DNA from the sample with DNA from living birds. Which of the following would be most useful for increasing the amount of dodo DNA available for testing?

A paleontologist has recovered a bit of tissue from the 400-year-old preserved skin of an extinct dodo (a bird). The researcher would like to compare a specific region of the DNA from the sample with DNA from living birds. Which of the following would be most useful for increasing the amount of dodo DNA available for testing? 

A) RFLP analysis
B) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
C) electroporation
D) gel electrophoresis
E) Southern blotting

Answer: B

Plants are more readily manipulated by genetic engineering than are animals because

Plants are more readily manipulated by genetic engineering than are animals because 

A) plant genes do not contain introns.
B) more vectors are available for transferring recombinant DNA into plant cells.
C) a somatic plant cell can often give rise to a complete plant.
D) genes can be inserted into plant cells by microinjection.
E) plant cells have larger nuclei.

Answer: C

Which of the following would not be true of cDNA produced using human brain tissue as the starting material?

Which of the following would not be true of cDNA produced using human brain tissue as the starting material? 

A) It could be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction.
B) It could be used to create a complete genomic library.
C) It is produced from mRNA using reverse transcriptase.
D) It could be used as a probe to detect genes expressed in the brain.
E) It lacks the introns of the human genes.

Answer: B

Which of the following tools of recombinant DNA technology is incorrectly paired with its use?

Which of the following tools of recombinant DNA technology is incorrectly paired with its use? 

A) restriction enzyme-production of RFLPs
B) DNA ligase-enzyme that cuts DNA, creating the sticky ends of restriction fragments
C) DNA polymerase-used in a polymerase chain reaction to amplify sections of DNA
D) reverse transcriptase-production of cDNA from mRNA
E) electrophoresis-separation of DNA fragments

Answer: B

As genetic technology makes testing for a wide variety of genotypes possible, which of the following is likely to be an increasingly troublesome issue?

As genetic technology makes testing for a wide variety of genotypes possible, which of the following is likely to be an increasingly troublesome issue? 

A) use of genotype information to provide positive identification of criminals
B) using technology to identify genes that cause criminal behaviors
C) the need to legislate for the protection of the privacy of genetic information
D) discrimination against certain racial groups because of major genetic differences
E) alteration of human phenotypes to prevent early disease

Answer: C

One possible use of transgenic plants is in the production of human proteins, such as vaccines. Which of the following is a possible hindrance that must be overcome?

One possible use of transgenic plants is in the production of human proteins, such as vaccines. Which of the following is a possible hindrance that must be overcome? 

A) prevention of transmission of plant allergens to the vaccine recipients
B) prevention of vaccine-containing plants being consumed by insects
C) use of plant cells to translate non-plant derived mRNA
D) inability of the human digestive system to accept plant-derived protein
E) the need to cook all such plants before consuming them

Answer: A

Which of the following is one of the technical reasons why gene therapy is problematic?

Which of the following is one of the technical reasons why gene therapy is problematic? 

A) Most cells with an engineered gene do not produce gene product.
B) Most cells with engineered genes overwhelm other cells in a tissue.
C) Cells with transferred genes are unlikely to replicate.
D) Transferred genes may not have appropriately controlled activity.
E) mRNA from transferred genes cannot be translated.

Answer: D

One successful form of gene therapy has involved delivery of an allele for the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) to bone marrow cells of a child with SCID, and delivery of these engineered cells back to the bone marrow of the affected child. What is one major reason for the success of this procedure as opposed to many other efforts at gene therapy?

One successful form of gene therapy has involved delivery of an allele for the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) to bone marrow cells of a child with SCID, and delivery of these engineered cells back to the bone marrow of the affected child. What is one major reason for the success of this procedure as opposed to many other efforts at gene therapy? 

A) The engineered bone marrow cells from this patient can be used for any other SCID patient.
B) The ADA introduced allele causes all other ADA-negative cells to die.
C) The engineered cells, when reintroduced into the patient, find their way back to the bone marrow.
D) No vector is required to introduce the allele into ADA-negative cells
E) The immune system fails to recognize cells with the variant gene

Answer: C

Scientists developed a set of guidelines to address the safety of DNA technology. Which of the following is one of the adopted safety measures?

Scientists developed a set of guidelines to address the safety of DNA technology. Which of the following is one of the adopted safety measures? 

A) Microorganisms used in recombinant DNA experiments are genetically crippled to ensure that they cannot survive outside of the laboratory.
B) Genetically modified organisms are not allowed to be part of our food supply.
C) Transgenic plants are engineered so that the plant genes cannot hybridize.
D) Experiments involving HIV or other potentially dangerous viruses have been banned.
E) Recombinant plasmids cannot be replicated.

Answer: A

Genetically engineered plants

Genetically engineered plants 

A) are more difficult to engineer than animals.
B) include a transgenic rice plant that can help prevent vitamin A deficiency.
C) are being rapidly developed, but traditional plant breeding programs are still the only method used to develop new plants.
D) are able to fix nitrogen themselves.
E) are banned throughout the world.

Answer: B

Genetic engineering is being used by the pharmaceutical industry. Which of the following is not currently one of the uses?

Genetic engineering is being used by the pharmaceutical industry. Which of the following is not currently one of the uses? 

A) production of human insulin
B) production of human growth hormone
C) production of tissue plasminogen activator
D) genetic modification of plants to produce vaccines
E) creation of products that will remove poisons from the human body

Answer: E

Gene therapy

Gene therapy 

A) has proven to be beneficial to HIV patients.
B) involves replacement of a defective allele in sex cells.
C) cannot be used to correct genetic disorders.
D) had apparent success in treating disorders involving bone marrow cells.
E) is a widely accepted procedure.

Answer: D

Which of the following are probably siblings?

Which of the following are probably siblings? 

A) A and B
B) A and C
C) A and D
D) C and D
E) B and D

Answer: D

Which of the following statements is most likely true?

Which of the following statements is most likely true? 

A) D is the child of A and C.
B) D is the child of A and B.
C) D is the child of B and C.
D) A is the child of C and D.
E) B is the child of A and C.

Answer: B

Which of the following statements is consistent with the results?

Which of the following statements is consistent with the results? 

A) B is the child of A and C.
B) C is the child of A and B.
C) D is the child of B and C.
D) A is the child of B and C.
E) A is the child of C and D.

Answer: B

A researcher is using adult stem cells and comparing them to other adult cells from the same tissue. Which of the following is a likely finding?

A researcher is using adult stem cells and comparing them to other adult cells from the same tissue. Which of the following is a likely finding? 

A) The cells from the two sources exhibit different patterns of DNA methylation.
B) Adult stem cells have more DNA nucleotides than their counterparts.
C) The two kinds of cells have virtually identical gene expression patterns in microarrays.
D) The non-stem cells have fewer repressed genes.
E) The non-stem cells have lost the promoters for more genes.

Answer: A