Question 1

Which term best describes the use of microorganisms to produce useful products such as antibiotics, vaccines, or hormones?

Accepted Answer

Biotechnology

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a typical product of recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

Natural penicillin extracted from mold

Question 3

Mutagens are commonly used in biotechnology research for which purpose?

Accepted Answer

To increase the rate of genetic mutations for strain improvement

Question 4

The sequencing and analysis of an organism's entire genetic information is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Genomics

Question 5

Which statement best describes a transgenic organism?

Accepted Answer

An organism that contains genes from another species

Question 6

Bacillus thuringiensis is a microbe used in agriculture because it produces a protein that:

Accepted Answer

Kills a variety of insect pests

Question 7

Gene therapy involves:

Accepted Answer

Replacing a patient's defective gene with a functional gene fragment

Question 8

A procedure used to determine whether a person has a heritable disease is called:

Accepted Answer

Genetic screening

Question 9

Double-stranded DNA fragments are separated by size using which technique?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Question 10

In recombinant DNA technology, 'heat shock' is most commonly used to:

Accepted Answer

Facilitate the uptake of plasmid DNA by bacterial cells

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a primary goal of recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

To increase the rate of natural selection

Question 12

The use of microbes to make practical products such as vaccines or hormones is called:

Accepted Answer

Biotechnology

Question 13

Fluorescent nucleotides are most commonly associated with which laboratory technique?

Accepted Answer

DNA sequencing

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good vector in recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

Large size for carrying multiple genes

Question 15

DNA fingerprinting may be used for all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Diagnosing infectious diseases

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT considered a tool of recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics

Question 17

A scientist wants to produce human growth hormone using bacteria. Which steps must be included in the process? Select the correct sequence.

Accepted Answer

Isolate the human gene, insert into a plasmid, transform bacteria, select for expression

Question 18

A patient is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a heritable disease. Which biotechnology technique could be used to confirm the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Genetic screening for CFTR gene mutations

Question 19

If a DNA fragment is 1000 base pairs long and another is 500 base pairs, which will migrate further in an agarose gel during electrophoresis? Use the formula $$d \propto \frac{1}{L}$$, where $$d is $$distance migrated and $$L is $$fragment length.

Accepted Answer

The 500 base pair fragment

Question 20

A vector used in recombinant DNA technology must have which feature to allow selection of transformed cells?

Accepted Answer

A selectable marker gene, such as antibiotic resistance

Microbiology Chapter 8 Review: Biotechnology and Recombinant DNA Guidance

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards