Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary goal of recombinant DNA technology in biotechnology?

Accepted Answer

To intentionally modify genomes for practical purposes such as combining beneficial traits or synthesizing products humans need

Question 2

A scientist wants to clone a eukaryotic gene in a prokaryotic cell. Why is cDNA, synthesized using reverse transcriptase, often used instead of the original eukaryotic DNA?

Accepted Answer

cDNA lacks introns, which prokaryotes cannot process, making it suitable for expression in prokaryotic cells

Question 3

Which enzyme is responsible for joining DNA fragments with sticky ends during the creation of recombinant DNA molecules?

Accepted Answer

DNA ligase

Question 4

A researcher uses EcoRI to cut both a plasmid and a gene of interest. What is the significance of using the same restriction enzyme for both DNA sources?

Accepted Answer

It ensures that both DNA fragments have compatible sticky ends for ligation

Question 5

Which of the following restriction enzymes produces blunt ends when cutting DNA?

Accepted Answer

SmaI

Question 6

Why is ligation of sticky ends generally more efficient than ligation of blunt ends in recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

Sticky ends form hydrogen bonds with complementary sequences, facilitating alignment and ligation

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a property of an ideal vector used in recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

It should be small enough to manipulate in the lab

Question 8

A scientist wants to insert a gene into a plant cell that has a thick cell wall. Which artificial method is most appropriate for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Protoplast fusion

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the function of a DNA probe in molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

A probe is a single-stranded DNA or RNA sequence that hybridizes with a complementary target sequence to identify specific genes

Question 10

During a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), what is the purpose of raising the temperature to 95°C?

Accepted Answer

To denature the DNA strands, separating them into single strands

Question 11

Which of the following equations best 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 12

A Southern blot is used to:

Accepted Answer

Transfer DNA fragments from a gel to a membrane for hybridization with a probe

Question 13

Which of the following best explains why Taq polymerase is used in PCR?

Accepted Answer

It is resistant to high temperatures required for DNA denaturation

Question 14

A DNA microarray is most useful for which of the following applications?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosing infections by detecting the presence of specific DNA or RNA sequences

Question 15

Which of the following is a real-world application of recombinant DNA technology in agriculture?

Accepted Answer

Producing herbicide-resistant crops by inserting genes from Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Question 16

Which of the following statements about CRISPR-Cas9 technology is correct?

Accepted Answer

It uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 enzyme to a specific DNA sequence for editing

Question 17

A gene library is constructed by:

Accepted Answer

Cutting the genome into fragments, cloning each fragment into a vector, and introducing them into host cells

Question 18

Which of the following is a potential ethical concern associated with recombinant DNA technology?

Accepted Answer

The possibility of transgenic organisms triggering allergies or transferring genes to other species

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the role of dNTPs in PCR?

Accepted Answer

They are the building blocks that are incorporated into the newly synthesized DNA strand

Question 20

A scientist wants to compare the gene expression profiles of healthy and cancerous tissue samples. Which technique would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

DNA microarray analysis

Chapter Eight: Recombinant DNA Technology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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