Question 1

Which of the following best explains why stem cells are considered 'pluripotent'?

Accepted Answer

They can differentiate into many, but not all, types of specialized cells.

Question 2

Which enzyme is responsible for sealing the bonds between restriction fragments during the creation of recombinant DNA?

Accepted Answer

Ligase

Question 3

A researcher wants to amplify a specific gene from a small DNA sample. Which technique should they use?

Accepted Answer

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Question 4

Which of the following is a limitation of PCR?

Accepted Answer

It can occasionally incorporate errors into the amplified DNA.

Question 5

In Sanger sequencing, what is the role of dideoxyribonucleotides (ddNTPs)?

Accepted Answer

They terminate DNA strand elongation at specific bases.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the main ethical concern regarding embryonic stem (ES) cells?

Accepted Answer

They are harvested from human embryos, raising questions about the moral status of embryos.

Question 7

A genetically modified (GM) crop is engineered to express a bacterial gene for pest resistance. What is a potential ecological risk of this technology?

Accepted Answer

The pest-resistant gene may spread to wild relatives, creating 'invincible' weeds.

Question 8

Which of the following is a real-world application of DNA microarray assays?

Accepted Answer

Measuring the expression of thousands of genes at once to compare healthy and diseased tissues.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is correct?

Accepted Answer

It uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 protein to a specific DNA sequence.

Question 10

A scientist wants to determine which genes are being expressed in a specific tissue at a specific time. Which technique would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the function of restriction enzymes in recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

They cut DNA at specific sequences, creating fragments with 'sticky ends'.

Question 12

Why are plasmids commonly used as cloning vectors in genetic engineering?

Accepted Answer

They replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome and can carry foreign DNA.

Question 13

Which of the following is a potential limitation of using gene therapy to treat genetic diseases?

Accepted Answer

Gene therapy may provoke immune responses or have unintended effects.

Question 14

A scientist uses gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA fragments. What property of the fragments determines their movement through the gel?

Accepted Answer

The size (length) and charge of the DNA fragments.

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the difference between totipotent and pluripotent stem cells?

Accepted Answer

Totipotent cells can become any cell type, including extraembryonic tissues; pluripotent cells can become many, but not all, cell types.

Question 16

Which of the following is a common misconception about genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

Accepted Answer

There is currently no concrete data showing GMOs cause health problems.

Question 17

Which of the following equations correctly represents the exponential amplification of DNA during PCR, where $$n is $$the number of cycles?

Accepted Answer

$$2^n$$

Question 18

A patient is diagnosed with a genetic disease caused by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Which technology would be most useful for identifying the specific mutation?

Accepted Answer

Genome-wide association study (GWAS)

Question 19

Which of the following is a reason why cloned animals, such as Dolly the sheep, often die prematurely?

Accepted Answer

Their donor nuclei may not be fully reprogrammed, leading to abnormal gene expression.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the process of making a transgenic animal?

Accepted Answer

Introducing genes from one species into the genome of another animal.

DNA Technology and Biotechnology: Methods, Applications, and Ethical Considerations

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