Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a required property of DNA as the genetic material of the cell?

Accepted Answer

Must undergo change (mutagenesis) at a high rate

Question 2

Which component is present in RNA nucleotides but absent in DNA nucleotides?

Accepted Answer

A 2' hydroxyl group ($$-OH) on $$the sugar

Question 3

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the double helix?

Accepted Answer

Helicase

Question 4

What is the significance of DNA's anti-parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

It allows for complementary base pairing and semi-conservative replication

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the direction of DNA polymerization?

Accepted Answer

5' to 3'

Question 6

A human genome contains approximately $$10^9$$ base pairs. If a textbook contains $$4 	imes 10^8$ letters, how many textbooks would be needed to represent the human genome?

Accepted Answer

25 textbooks

Question 7

Which enzyme is responsible for sealing nicks between Okazaki fragments during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

DNA ligase

Question 8

Why is an RNA primer required for DNA polymerase to begin synthesis?

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase cannot initiate synthesis without a free 3' hydroxyl group

Question 9

Which of the following statements about PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

PCR requires sequence-specific DNA primers

Question 10

If the error rate of human DNA polymerase is 1 error per $$10^9$$ base pairs, how many errors would you expect when copying the entire human genome?

Accepted Answer

1 error

Question 11

Which of the following is a function of SSB (single-stranded binding) proteins during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

Stabilize single-stranded DNA to prevent re-annealing

Question 12

Which base pairs with guanine in DNA, and how many hydrogen bonds are formed between them?

Accepted Answer

Cytosine; 3 hydrogen bonds

Question 13

What would happen to PCR if the temperature during the denaturation step was too low?

Accepted Answer

Double-stranded DNA would not fully separate, reducing amplification efficiency

Question 14

Which of the following is a real-world application of PCR?

Accepted Answer

Detecting disease-causing alleles such as Huntington's disease

Question 15

Which of the following best describes semi-conservative DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

Each daughter DNA molecule contains one parental and one newly synthesized strand

Question 16

Which of the following is a purine base found in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Adenine

Question 17

What is the role of DNA gyrase during replication?

Accepted Answer

Relieves torsional stress ahead of the replication fork

Question 18

Which of the following would most likely result from a loss of DNA polymerase proofreading activity?

Accepted Answer

Increased mutation rate in daughter cells

Question 19

Which of the following is required for the initiation of DNA synthesis in PCR?

Accepted Answer

Sequence-specific DNA primers

Question 20

If you run a gel after PCR amplification of the Huntington's disease gene, what would you expect to see for a patient with one mutant copy?

Accepted Answer

Two bands: one corresponding to the normal allele and one to the mutant allele

DNA Replication, PCR, and Sequencing: Core Concepts and Mechanisms

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