MMSC 491 Exam 1 Questions and Correct
Answers
Question 1
If we take the number of chromosomes in a haploid sperm cell or egg cell to be n and
the total content of genomic DNA to be C, what is the number of chromosomes and
the total genomic DNA content of a diploid G1 phase cell and in a diploid G2 phase
cell from the same organism.
a) n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 4C in
G2.
b) 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 4n chromosomes, DNA content of 4C
in G2.
c) 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 4n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C
in G2.
d) 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 4C
in G2.
Correct Answer
D
Page 1 of 61
,Question 2
Regarding DNA replication and DNA synthesis, which, if any, of the following
statements is incorrect?
a) The leading strand is replicated continuously.
b) The lagging strand is replicated discontinuously: the new DNA is synthesized as
short
pieces of DNA that must be ligated together.
c) A DNA polymerase always requires a DNA template to synthesize a complementary
DNA.
d) A DNA polymerase requires a short RNA primer when synthesizing new DNA
strands using a DNA template.
Correct Answer
C
Question 3
Which of the following statements, if any, is false?
a) Amplifying DNA always requires a DNA polymerase.
b) Amplifying DNA must be carried out in bacterial or yeast cells.
c) DNA cloning in cells involves attaching the DNA to be cloned to a vector DNA to
form a
recombinant DNA that may be circular or linear.
d) Vector molecules in DNA cloning must have a replication origin that confers the
ability
Correct Answer
B, D
Page 2 of 61
,Question 4
Which, if any, of the following statements are false?
a) Constitutive heterochromatin remains highly condensed throughout the cell cycle.
b) Unlike constitutive heterochromatin, facultative heterochromatin describes
chromatin that
can de-condense and behave as euchromatin under certain circumstances.
c) Most of the long arm of the Y chromatin is made up of constitutive
heterochromatin.
d) In women one of the two X chromosomes in each diploid cell is
heterochromatinised.
e) All of the above are true
Correct Answer
E
Question 5
Regarding DNA replication, which, if any, of the following statements is incorrect?
a) DNA replication is said to be semi-conservative because for each DNA helix only
one
strand serves as a template for new DNA synthesis.
b) The two DNA strands of the parental DNA helix are unwound using a DNA helicase.
c) The replication fork marks the point at which DNA is actively being replicated from
a
single DNA duplex to form new DNA strands.
d) The synthesis of new DNA strands always proceeds in the 5' → 3' direction.
Correct Answer
A
Page 3 of 61
, Question 6
Regarding the structures of amino acids, which, if any, of the following statements is
incorrect?
a) The general formula for a nonionised amino acid is H2N-CH(R)-COOH, that is, a
central
carbon atom is linked to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a
side
chain, R.
b) The identity of the amino acid is determined by the side chain that is connected to
the
central carbon atom.
c) The side chain of an amino acid is based on a branch that contains one or more
carbon
atoms
d) Proline is unique in having a side chain that is connected to both the central
carbon and
also to the nitrogen atom of the amino group.
Correct Answer
C
Question 7
Microsatellite DNA is expected to show variation with respect to
A. DNA sequence
B. Chromosome location
C. Copy number
D. Replication efficiency
Correct Answer
C
Page 4 of 61
Answers
Question 1
If we take the number of chromosomes in a haploid sperm cell or egg cell to be n and
the total content of genomic DNA to be C, what is the number of chromosomes and
the total genomic DNA content of a diploid G1 phase cell and in a diploid G2 phase
cell from the same organism.
a) n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 4C in
G2.
b) 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 4n chromosomes, DNA content of 4C
in G2.
c) 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 4n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C
in G2.
d) 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 2C in G1; 2n chromosomes, DNA content of 4C
in G2.
Correct Answer
D
Page 1 of 61
,Question 2
Regarding DNA replication and DNA synthesis, which, if any, of the following
statements is incorrect?
a) The leading strand is replicated continuously.
b) The lagging strand is replicated discontinuously: the new DNA is synthesized as
short
pieces of DNA that must be ligated together.
c) A DNA polymerase always requires a DNA template to synthesize a complementary
DNA.
d) A DNA polymerase requires a short RNA primer when synthesizing new DNA
strands using a DNA template.
Correct Answer
C
Question 3
Which of the following statements, if any, is false?
a) Amplifying DNA always requires a DNA polymerase.
b) Amplifying DNA must be carried out in bacterial or yeast cells.
c) DNA cloning in cells involves attaching the DNA to be cloned to a vector DNA to
form a
recombinant DNA that may be circular or linear.
d) Vector molecules in DNA cloning must have a replication origin that confers the
ability
Correct Answer
B, D
Page 2 of 61
,Question 4
Which, if any, of the following statements are false?
a) Constitutive heterochromatin remains highly condensed throughout the cell cycle.
b) Unlike constitutive heterochromatin, facultative heterochromatin describes
chromatin that
can de-condense and behave as euchromatin under certain circumstances.
c) Most of the long arm of the Y chromatin is made up of constitutive
heterochromatin.
d) In women one of the two X chromosomes in each diploid cell is
heterochromatinised.
e) All of the above are true
Correct Answer
E
Question 5
Regarding DNA replication, which, if any, of the following statements is incorrect?
a) DNA replication is said to be semi-conservative because for each DNA helix only
one
strand serves as a template for new DNA synthesis.
b) The two DNA strands of the parental DNA helix are unwound using a DNA helicase.
c) The replication fork marks the point at which DNA is actively being replicated from
a
single DNA duplex to form new DNA strands.
d) The synthesis of new DNA strands always proceeds in the 5' → 3' direction.
Correct Answer
A
Page 3 of 61
, Question 6
Regarding the structures of amino acids, which, if any, of the following statements is
incorrect?
a) The general formula for a nonionised amino acid is H2N-CH(R)-COOH, that is, a
central
carbon atom is linked to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a
side
chain, R.
b) The identity of the amino acid is determined by the side chain that is connected to
the
central carbon atom.
c) The side chain of an amino acid is based on a branch that contains one or more
carbon
atoms
d) Proline is unique in having a side chain that is connected to both the central
carbon and
also to the nitrogen atom of the amino group.
Correct Answer
C
Question 7
Microsatellite DNA is expected to show variation with respect to
A. DNA sequence
B. Chromosome location
C. Copy number
D. Replication efficiency
Correct Answer
C
Page 4 of 61
