Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary goal of systems biology?

Accepted Answer

To understand the interactions and dynamics of all components within a biological system as a whole.

Question 2

During genome sequencing, which step involves identifying the locations and functions of genes within the assembled sequence?

Accepted Answer

Genome annotation

Question 3

Which of the following statements about horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is correct?

Accepted Answer

HGT is a process by which genetic material is transferred between unrelated organisms, often via transformation, transduction, or conjugation.

Question 4

A researcher is comparing the genomes of several bacterial strains. She identifies a set of genes present in all strains, and another set present in only some strains. What are these sets called, respectively?

Accepted Answer

Core genome and pan genome

Question 5

Which of the following best describes metagenomics?

Accepted Answer

The analysis of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples, without the need for culturing organisms.

Question 6

Which Baltimore virus class includes viruses with a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome that can serve directly as mRNA?

Accepted Answer

Class IV

Question 7

Which hypothesis about the origin of viruses suggests that viruses evolved from genetic elements that gained the ability to move between cells?

Accepted Answer

Escape hypothesis

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the replication cycle of phage MS2 is correct?

Accepted Answer

It is a single-stranded RNA phage that replicates its genome using an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes a prion?

Accepted Answer

A misfolded protein that can induce misfolding in normal proteins, leading to disease.

Question 10

A point mutation that changes a codon to a stop codon is called:

Accepted Answer

Nonsense mutation

Question 11

Which of the following best distinguishes screening from selection in mutant isolation?

Accepted Answer

Screening involves growing all cells and visually identifying mutants, while selection only allows mutants with a specific trait to grow.

Question 12

Which process involves the uptake of free DNA from the environment by a bacterial cell?

Accepted Answer

Transformation

Question 13

A laboratory strain of E. coli contains an F plasmid integrated into its chromosome. What is this strain called?

Accepted Answer

Hfr strain

Question 14

Which of the following statements about transposons is correct?

Accepted Answer

Transposons can be used in the lab to create insertional mutations for gene function studies.

Question 15

Which technique is used to amplify a specific DNA sequence exponentially in vitro?

Accepted Answer

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Question 16

A genetically modified bacterium is engineered to express human insulin for medical use. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Transgenic organism

Question 17

Which of the following is a real-world application of synthetic biology?

Accepted Answer

Designing bacteria to produce artemisinin, an antimalarial drug.

Question 18

A researcher wants to prevent a genetically modified microbe from surviving outside the lab. Which of the following is a biocontainment strategy?

Accepted Answer

Engineering the microbe to require a synthetic amino acid not found in nature.

Question 19

Which of the following equations correctly represents the exponential amplification of DNA during PCR, where $$n is $$the number of cycles and $$N_0 is $$the initial number of DNA molecules?

Accepted Answer

$$N = N_0$ 	imes 2^n$$

Question 20

A patient is infected with a virus that uses reverse transcriptase to replicate its genome. To which Baltimore class does this virus belong?

Accepted Answer

Class VI

Microbiology Exam 4 Study Guide: Systems Biology, Genomics, Viruses, Mutations, Gene Transfer, Genetic Engineering, and Synthetic Biology

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