ASCP MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔T/F: Coronaviruses use reverse transcriptase to convert ssDNA into ssRNA -
✔✔False- reverse transcriptase converts ssRNA to dsDNA via RT - PCR
✔✔The most efficient PCR technique using primer mix to detect deletions or
duplications in a large gene - ✔✔Multiplex PCR
✔✔T/F: quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) shows only the plateaued number of
copies of DNA made every 30 minutes - ✔✔False- qRT-PCR detects the products of
conventional PCR reactions
✔✔T/F: requiring large amounts of template DNA is a disadvantage to PCR - ✔✔True-
although this may not sound advantageous, in reality it only takes a small amount of
sample to generate large amounts of DNA
✔✔PCR technique designed to minimize amplification of non-specific PCR products by
using 2 primer sets - ✔✔Nested PCR
✔✔What are the disadvantages of PCR? - ✔✔expensive
lower specificity
prior knowledge of template DNA required
✔✔T/F: PCR is used for identification of psychological ailments - ✔✔False: PCR is used
in genomic cloning, prenatal diagnosis, paternity testing, and newborn screening but
NOT for detection of main causes for psychological ailments/diseases
✔✔Reverse Transcriptase or RT PCR - ✔✔PCR variant designed for the study of RNA
expression level
✔✔T/F: Genetic testing can be used to identify main causes of environmental pollution -
✔✔False: genetic testing is strictly for medical purposes and has zero connection to the
environment
✔✔T/F: DNA fingerprinting/Short Tandem Repeats (STR) is NOT detected by PCR -
✔✔False- by using a primer sequence complimentary to a unique sequence flanking
STR, PCR elongates the short sequence to a readable frame that can be used for
further analysis
✔✔qPCR or Quantitative PCR - ✔✔PCR technique measuring the DNA amplification of
each cycle of PCR contrary to the end point detection in traditional PCR
, ✔✔T/F: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of genetic
variation among people - ✔✔True: each SNP represents the difference in single
nucleotides.
✔✔Genotyping - ✔✔the process of determining differences in the genetic make-up
(genotype) of an individual by examining the individual's DNA sequence and comparing
it to another individual's sequence or a reference sequence.
✔✔Hotstart PCR - ✔✔PCR procedure where Taq polymerase is added after the rest of
the PCR components are heated to the DNA melting point to avoid non-specific
amplification at lower temperatures
✔✔T/F: HCV 1 is associated with a less severe liver disease than 2 and 3 - ✔✔False:
80% of disease condition is HCV 1. It is the most common and difficult to treat. HCV 2 &
3 are three times more likely to respond to drug therapy (alpha-INF or combo with
ribavirin)
✔✔Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) - ✔✔a genetically based disorder causing disease from
mild to moderate level of intelligence disability
✔✔How is Fragile X syndrome caused? - ✔✔1) severe reduction of FMRP protein
encoded by FMR1 gene
2) Unstable repeat of CGG in exon 1
3) genetic disorder leading to expansion of repeats w/aberrant hypermethylation of CpG
✔✔How do you create a recombinant DNA molecule? - ✔✔Joining two or more DNA
fragments originating from different organisms
✔✔T/F: PBP2a found in MRSA has a high binding affinity for methicillin - ✔✔False:
Methicillin resistance is caused by an accumulation of PBP2a(replaces PBP1) which
reduces binding affinity for beta lactams
✔✔T/F: Epstein-Barr virus only infects T cells - ✔✔False: The virus infects B cells
primarily out of post-transplant reactivation or primary EBV infection
✔✔What is a chimeric gene? - ✔✔The gene formed by the joining of DNA segments
from two different sources
✔✔mecA gene - ✔✔encodes PBP2a creating methicillin resistance
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔T/F: Coronaviruses use reverse transcriptase to convert ssDNA into ssRNA -
✔✔False- reverse transcriptase converts ssRNA to dsDNA via RT - PCR
✔✔The most efficient PCR technique using primer mix to detect deletions or
duplications in a large gene - ✔✔Multiplex PCR
✔✔T/F: quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) shows only the plateaued number of
copies of DNA made every 30 minutes - ✔✔False- qRT-PCR detects the products of
conventional PCR reactions
✔✔T/F: requiring large amounts of template DNA is a disadvantage to PCR - ✔✔True-
although this may not sound advantageous, in reality it only takes a small amount of
sample to generate large amounts of DNA
✔✔PCR technique designed to minimize amplification of non-specific PCR products by
using 2 primer sets - ✔✔Nested PCR
✔✔What are the disadvantages of PCR? - ✔✔expensive
lower specificity
prior knowledge of template DNA required
✔✔T/F: PCR is used for identification of psychological ailments - ✔✔False: PCR is used
in genomic cloning, prenatal diagnosis, paternity testing, and newborn screening but
NOT for detection of main causes for psychological ailments/diseases
✔✔Reverse Transcriptase or RT PCR - ✔✔PCR variant designed for the study of RNA
expression level
✔✔T/F: Genetic testing can be used to identify main causes of environmental pollution -
✔✔False: genetic testing is strictly for medical purposes and has zero connection to the
environment
✔✔T/F: DNA fingerprinting/Short Tandem Repeats (STR) is NOT detected by PCR -
✔✔False- by using a primer sequence complimentary to a unique sequence flanking
STR, PCR elongates the short sequence to a readable frame that can be used for
further analysis
✔✔qPCR or Quantitative PCR - ✔✔PCR technique measuring the DNA amplification of
each cycle of PCR contrary to the end point detection in traditional PCR
, ✔✔T/F: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common type of genetic
variation among people - ✔✔True: each SNP represents the difference in single
nucleotides.
✔✔Genotyping - ✔✔the process of determining differences in the genetic make-up
(genotype) of an individual by examining the individual's DNA sequence and comparing
it to another individual's sequence or a reference sequence.
✔✔Hotstart PCR - ✔✔PCR procedure where Taq polymerase is added after the rest of
the PCR components are heated to the DNA melting point to avoid non-specific
amplification at lower temperatures
✔✔T/F: HCV 1 is associated with a less severe liver disease than 2 and 3 - ✔✔False:
80% of disease condition is HCV 1. It is the most common and difficult to treat. HCV 2 &
3 are three times more likely to respond to drug therapy (alpha-INF or combo with
ribavirin)
✔✔Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) - ✔✔a genetically based disorder causing disease from
mild to moderate level of intelligence disability
✔✔How is Fragile X syndrome caused? - ✔✔1) severe reduction of FMRP protein
encoded by FMR1 gene
2) Unstable repeat of CGG in exon 1
3) genetic disorder leading to expansion of repeats w/aberrant hypermethylation of CpG
✔✔How do you create a recombinant DNA molecule? - ✔✔Joining two or more DNA
fragments originating from different organisms
✔✔T/F: PBP2a found in MRSA has a high binding affinity for methicillin - ✔✔False:
Methicillin resistance is caused by an accumulation of PBP2a(replaces PBP1) which
reduces binding affinity for beta lactams
✔✔T/F: Epstein-Barr virus only infects T cells - ✔✔False: The virus infects B cells
primarily out of post-transplant reactivation or primary EBV infection
✔✔What is a chimeric gene? - ✔✔The gene formed by the joining of DNA segments
from two different sources
✔✔mecA gene - ✔✔encodes PBP2a creating methicillin resistance
