Micro test 1 ch. 6 (MCAT)

Newer sequencing techniques require only one lane on an electrophoresis gel rather than four. How is this possible? A) Each base is identified with a different fluorescent color. B) The different bases are recognized by their depth in the electrophoresis gel. C) Computers are able to recognize the different bases by their structure. D) The fragments of different lengths have different charges, meaning that they travel different distances in the electrophoresis gel.

A) Each base is identified with a different fluorescent color.

Which of these organisms is likely to have the largest genome? A) a chloroplast B) an autotrophic bacterium C) an extremophile Archaean due to the demands of surviving in harsh environments D) a yeast cell

D) a yeast cell

The ion torrent sequencing method uses "the world's smallest pH meter" to detect the addition of bases. What change related to pH would be measured? A) Each time a new base is added, an H+ is removed. A pH meter would record an increase in H+ concentration in the environment as a decrease in pH (greater acidity). B) Each time a new base is added, an H+ is added. A pH meter would record a decrease in H+ concentration in the environment as an increase in pH (reduced acidity). C) Each time a new base is added, an H+ is added. A pH meter would record a decrease in H+ concentration in the environment as an increase in pH (greater alkalinity). D) Each time a new base is added, an H+ is removed. A pH meter would record an increase in H+ concentration in the environment as an increase in pH (greater alkalinity).

A) Each time a new base is added, an H+ is removed. A pH meter would record an increase in H+ concentration in the environment as a decrease in pH (greater acidity).

Horizontal gene transfer refers to the transfer of genes from one organism to another, as occurs during conjugation between bacteria. How does this differ from vertical gene transfer? A) In horizontal gene transfer, genes are transferred from one mature adult organism to another. In vertical gene transfer, genes are transferred from adults to offspring. B) In vertical gene transfer, genes are transferred by a vector such as a bacteriophage. C) Conjugation can involve horizontal or vertical gene transfer, depending on the physical orientation of the bacteria involved. D) In horizontal gene transfer, genes are transferred between two organisms of the same species. In vertical gene transfer, genes are transferred between two organisms of different species.

A) In horizontal gene transfer, genes are transferred from one mature adult organism to another. In vertical gene transfer, genes are transferred from adults to offspring.

You are interested in trying to determine the function of a particular gene in a common bacterium (meaning that it has a haploid genome). To do this, could you use a knockout mutation? A) Possibly; it would depend on whether the gene was essential for survival and on whether you could create a diploid bacteria as well. B) Yes; knockout mutations can be used for any genes. C) No, the knockout technique is not ever possible in haploid organisms. D) Yes; the second copy of the gene would continue to function and allow the organism to live even if the gene encoded an essential gene product.

A) Possibly; it would depend on whether the gene was essential for survival and on whether you could create a diploid bacteria as well.

Nitrosopumilis are archaea that can convert ammonia to nitrate. What is the term for organisms with this ability? A) nitrifying B) organotrophic C) denitrifying bacteria D) ammotelic

A) nitrifying

In Sanger sequencing and in many newer sequencing techniques, labeled precursors are used. What are these precursors? A) primers or nucleotides that will be incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA B) RNA C) DNA polymerase D) fluorescent dyes

A) primers or nucleotides that will be incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA

Why is having few or no inteins related to having a very small genome? A) Inteins are responsible for nonessential enzymatic functions and organisms with small genomes produce minimal numbers of proteins. B) Organisms with very small genomes tend to have essential genes with minimal additional material. C) Inteins are the same as introns, so any organism with relatively few introns will have few inteins. D) Inteins are coded from introns and organisms with small genomes tend to lack introns.

B) Organisms with very small genomes tend to have essential genes with minimal additional material.

Researchers discover a new species of bacterium that has an unusual metabolism. However, it has biochemical and morphological similarities to other species. What is the most comprehensive and effective approach to determine how to classify these bacteria? A) Because of their unusual metabolic pathways, the bacteria should be classified in a new group. B) The bacteria should be classified by using genomic analyses to construct phylogenies. C) The bacteria should be classified with the other bacteria that use the most similar biochemical pathways. D) The bacteria should be classified with other bacteria that have the most similar morphology.

B) The bacteria should be classified by using genomic analyses to construct phylogenies.

Which of the following is NOT included in the genome? A) coding regions of DNA B) genes that encode RNAs C) proteins D) noncoding regions of DNA

C) proteins

In sequencing, it may be necessary to find a consensus nucleotide. What does this mean? A) It is a type of nucleotide used in shotgun sequencing. B) It is an ambiguous nucleotide that is different in multiple fragments. C) In sequencing, it is a nucleotide found at the beginning of one fragment and the end of another. D) It is the nucleotide most commonly found at a particular location.

D) It is the nucleotide most commonly found at a particular location.

In DNA replication in vivo, RNA primers are used. However, researchers use DNA primers instead in the lab because DNA primers are more stable. Why might this be the case? A) DNA has a more stable structure because the deoxyribose in DNA is a larger molecule than the ribose in RNA. B) RNA molecules are shorter than DNA molecules, making them more stable. C) RNA is usually single-stranded and the double-stranded nature of DNA makes it more stable. D) RNA has a relatively short half life compared with DNA and does not need to be as stable to perform its functions in the cell.

D) RNA has a relatively short half life compared with DNA and does not need to be as stable to perform its functions in the cell.