Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary function of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in biotechnology?

Accepted Answer

To amplify specific DNA sequences exponentially using cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension

Question 2

A researcher wants to confirm the presence of a specific gene in a bacterial sample. Which technique would be most appropriate for separating DNA fragments by size before probing for the gene of interest?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis followed by Southern blot hybridization

Question 3

During molecular cloning, which of the following steps is essential for ensuring that only bacteria containing recombinant plasmids are selected?

Accepted Answer

Using antibiotic selection markers in the plasmid vector

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why site-directed mutagenesis is performed in genetic engineering?

Accepted Answer

To introduce specific nucleotide changes in a gene to study protein function

Question 5

A scientist fuses the promoter region of a gene of interest to the coding sequence of green fluorescent protein (GFP). What is the primary purpose of this reporter gene fusion?

Accepted Answer

To visualize the expression pattern of the gene of interest in living cells

Question 6

Which of the following is a key difference between subunit vaccines and live attenuated vaccines produced using genetic engineering?

Accepted Answer

Subunit vaccines contain only specific antigens produced by recombinant DNA technology, while live attenuated vaccines contain weakened but whole organisms.

Question 7

Gene mining is a powerful tool in biotechnology. Which of the following best describes its main benefit?

Accepted Answer

It allows the discovery of novel genes with useful properties from environmental samples without culturing organisms.

Question 8

In synthetic biology, what is the main advantage of using biobricks?

Accepted Answer

They provide standardized DNA sequences that can be easily assembled to build new genetic circuits.

Question 9

Which of the following statements best explains why CRISPR-Cas9 technology is considered superior to conventional cloning for genome editing?

Accepted Answer

CRISPR-Cas9 allows precise, targeted modifications at specific genomic locations using guide RNAs and the Cas9 nuclease.

Question 10

A researcher is designing a PCR reaction. Which of the following equations correctly represents the theoretical number of DNA copies after $$n$$ cycles, starting from a single DNA molecule?

Accepted Answer

$$N = 2^n$$

Question 11

During gel electrophoresis, DNA fragments migrate through an agarose gel. Which factor primarily determines the rate of migration of these fragments?

Accepted Answer

The size (length in base pairs) of the DNA fragments

Question 12

A scientist uses a mutagenesis technique to introduce a stop codon into a gene. What is the most likely outcome for the protein product?

Accepted Answer

The protein will be truncated and likely nonfunctional

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the role of a selectable marker in a plasmid vector during molecular cloning?

Accepted Answer

It allows identification of cells that have successfully taken up the plasmid by conferring resistance to an antibiotic.

Question 14

A new vaccine is developed using recombinant DNA technology to express a viral protein in yeast cells. Which type of vaccine is this most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A subunit vaccine

Question 15

Which of the following is a key consideration when expressing a foreign gene in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

The codon usage of the gene should be optimized for the bacterial host.

Question 16

A researcher uses CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce a double-strand break at a specific locus. Which cellular process is most likely to repair this break, potentially introducing mutations?

Accepted Answer

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)

Question 17

Which of the following best describes a 'fusion protein' created in a reporter gene experiment?

Accepted Answer

A single polypeptide containing sequences from both the gene of interest and the reporter gene

Question 18

In a real-world scenario, a hospital is screening for antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial isolates. Which combination of techniques would be most effective for detecting and confirming the presence of these genes?

Accepted Answer

PCR amplification followed by gel electrophoresis and hybridization with a specific probe

Question 19

Which of the following is a significant advantage of using synthetic biology approaches, such as biobricks, in industrial biotechnology?

Accepted Answer

They enable rapid and modular assembly of genetic parts to create novel metabolic pathways for the production of valuable compounds.

Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology: Tools, Applications, and Genome Editing

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