Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

To understand the interactions and functions 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 allows for the transfer of genetic material between unrelated organisms, often contributing to rapid adaptation.

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. 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 study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples.

Question 6

Which Baltimore virus class includes viruses with a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome?

Accepted Answer

Class IV

Question 7

Which of the following is a plausible hypothesis for the origin of viruses?

Accepted Answer

Viruses may have evolved from mobile genetic elements that gained the ability to move between cells.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about prions is correct?

Accepted Answer

Prions are infectious proteins that propagate by inducing misfolding of normal host proteins.

Question 9

A point mutation that changes a codon from coding for one amino acid to a stop codon is called:

Accepted Answer

Nonsense mutation

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the process of generalized transduction?

Accepted Answer

A bacteriophage accidentally packages host DNA and transfers it to another bacterium.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about F plasmids is correct?

Accepted Answer

F plasmids carry genes required for bacterial conjugation and can be transferred between cells.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the difference between conservative and replicative transposition?

Accepted Answer

Conservative transposition moves the transposon without replication, while replicative transposition copies the transposon to a new site.

Question 13

A scientist uses the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a DNA fragment. Which equation best describes the theoretical number of DNA copies after $$n$$ cycles, starting from a single molecule?

Accepted Answer

$$N = 2^n$$

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a transgenic organism?

Accepted Answer

A mouse engineered to express a jellyfish GFP gene.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Engineering bacteria to produce artemisinin, an antimalarial drug.

Question 16

A researcher wants to ensure that a genetically modified microbe cannot survive outside the laboratory. Which of the following is a plausible biocontainment strategy?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the process of homologous recombination?

Accepted Answer

Exchange of genetic material between similar or identical DNA sequences.

Question 18

Which of the following is a key difference between screening and selection in mutant isolation?

Accepted Answer

Selection allows only mutants with a desired trait to grow, while screening requires examining all colonies for the trait.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes a chromosomal island?

Accepted Answer

A region of the genome acquired by horizontal gene transfer, often associated with virulence or specialized functions.

Question 20

Which of the following is a correct statement about viroids?

Accepted Answer

Viroids are small, circular RNA molecules that infect plants and lack protein-coding capacity.

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

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