Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between genotype and phenotype in microbial genetics?

Accepted Answer

Genotype is the set of genes in the genome that determines phenotype, while phenotype is the observable physical expression of those genes.

Question 2

In prokaryotic cells, the genome is typically found in which cellular region?

Accepted Answer

Nucleoid

Question 3

Which statement correctly describes plasmids in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Plasmids are small molecules of DNA that replicate independently and often confer survival advantages such as antibiotic resistance.

Question 4

Eukaryotic genomes are typically described as:

Accepted Answer

Linear, double-stranded DNA found in the nucleus

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a component of a nucleotide?

Accepted Answer

Fatty acid chain

Question 6

During DNA replication, which direction does DNA polymerase synthesize the new strand?

Accepted Answer

In the $5' \rightarrow 3'$ direction

Question 7

Which base pairing is unique to RNA and not found in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Adenine-Uracil

Question 8

A bacterial cell is described as haploid. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

It contains a single copy of its chromosome.

Question 9

Which of the following is a survival advantage conferred by plasmids in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotic resistance

Question 10

If a mutation changes a DNA sequence from $AAA$ (coding for Lysine) to $AGA$ (coding for Arginine), what type of mutation has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Missense mutation

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why eukaryotic cells are described as diploid?

Accepted Answer

They have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Question 12

Which of the following is the correct base pairing in DNA?

Accepted Answer

$A$ pairs with $T$, $G$ pairs with $C$

Question 13

Which of the following is a correct description of the structure of a nucleotide?

Accepted Answer

A nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a nitrogenous base, and a pentose sugar.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes is correct?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic genomes are usually circular and found in the nucleoid, while eukaryotic genomes are linear and found in the nucleus.

Question 15

Which of the following is true regarding the number of chromosomes in human cells?

Accepted Answer

Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the difference in DNA replication between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotes replicate DNA in the cytoplasm with a single origin, while eukaryotes replicate DNA in the nucleus with many origins.

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct pairing of a nitrogenous base with its sugar in DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

Thymine with deoxyribose in DNA

Question 18

Which of the following is a function of methylation in bacterial DNA?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct description of Okazaki fragments?

Accepted Answer

Short DNA fragments synthesized on the lagging strand during replication

Question 20

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein is called:

Accepted Answer

Silent mutation

Microbial Genetics: Structure and Function of Genomes and Nucleic Acids

Study Guide - Practice Questions