Question 1

Which of the following best describes the field of genomics?

Accepted Answer

The discipline of mapping, sequencing, analyzing, and comparing entire genomes.

Question 2

What is the primary bottleneck in modern microbial genomics?

Accepted Answer

The annotation of vast amounts of nucleic acid sequence data.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the Sanger dideoxy sequencing method is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

It uses dideoxyribonucleotides (ddNTPs) to terminate DNA chain elongation.

Question 4

A researcher is using BLAST to compare an open reading frame (ORF) from a newly sequenced bacterium to known sequences. What is the main purpose of this analysis?

Accepted Answer

To identify potential functional domains or homologous genes in other organisms.

Question 5

Which of the following is a likely explanation if an ORF in a bacterial genome shows a codon usage pattern very different from the organism's consensus?

Accepted Answer

The ORF may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer.

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why some bacterial genomes contain more genes than some eukaryotic genomes?

Accepted Answer

Bacterial genomes lack or have very few introns, so more of their DNA encodes proteins.

Question 7

A symbiotic bacterium has a genome size of 120,000 base pairs and encodes 137 ORFs. What does this suggest about its lifestyle?

Accepted Answer

It is likely a parasite or endosymbiont highly dependent on its host for nutrients.

Question 8

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the gene content of archaeal genomes compared to bacterial genomes?

Accepted Answer

Archaea devote a higher percentage of their genomes to energy and coenzyme production.

Question 9

Which of the following is a characteristic of the chloroplast genome in green plants?

Accepted Answer

It is mostly circular DNA, often with two inverted repeats encoding rRNA genes.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about mitochondrial genomes is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

Many proteins required for mitochondrial function are encoded by nuclear genes.

Question 11

A hypothetical protein is identified in a bacterial genome. Which of the following is most likely TRUE about this protein?

Accepted Answer

It is an uncharacterized ORF with an uninterrupted reading frame but unknown function.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the relationship between genome size and gene content in Bacteria and Archaea?

Accepted Answer

Each megabase pair of DNA encodes approximately 1000 open reading frames (ORFs).

Question 13

Which of the following is a key difference between bacterial and eukaryotic genomes?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic genomes often contain many introns and noncoding regions.

Question 14

If a gene in a microbial genome encodes an RNA that is not translated into protein, which of the following is it most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

A transfer RNA (tRNA) or ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Question 15

Which of the following is a real-world application of microbial genomics?

Accepted Answer

Identifying the cause of historical disease outbreaks such as the Black Death.

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why the number of sequenced microbial genomes has increased rapidly in recent years?

Accepted Answer

Improvements in molecular technologies and computing power.

Question 17

Which of the following is a feature of small symbiont genomes in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

They provide their host with essential amino acids and nutrients the host cannot synthesize.

Question 18

Which of the following is TRUE about the largest known prokaryotic genome?

Accepted Answer

It is Sorangium cellulosum, a bacterium, with a genome size of 14.8 Mbp.

Question 19

Which of the following is the most abundant functional gene category in most bacterial genomes?

Accepted Answer

Genes for metabolic functions

Microbial Genomics and Other Omics (Chapter 10 Study Notes)

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