Robbins & Cotran 10th Ed. Pathology Test Bank | Chapter-
by-Chapter Questions & Verified Solutions
Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease
10th Edition
• Author(s)Vinay Kumar; Abul K. Abbas; Jon C. Aster
Chapter 1 — The Genome
Stem: A young couple asks why most human DNA does not
code for proteins despite extensive sequencing. Which
statement best explains the functional importance of the
noncoding portion of the genome?
A. Noncoding DNA is entirely “junk” and has no regulatory
function.
B. Noncoding DNA contains regulatory elements (e.g.,
enhancers, promoters, noncoding RNAs) that control gene
expression.
C. Noncoding DNA only includes introns and is removed during
transcription.
D. Noncoding DNA is entirely repetitive and exclusively
structural (centromeres/telomeres).
,Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Robbins emphasizes that only a small fraction
of the genome encodes proteins and that much noncoding
DNA has regulatory roles (enhancers, promoters,
microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs) crucial for controlling
gene expression and phenotype. ClinicalKey+1
• A: Incorrect — Robbins specifically rejects the idea that
noncoding DNA is wholly “junk”; many regions have
regulatory functions. ClinicalKey
• C: Incorrect — Introns are noncoding but noncoding DNA
also includes regulatory sequences and noncoding RNAs
beyond introns. Google Books
• D: Incorrect — Some noncoding DNA is
repetitive/structural, but not all; regulatory elements are
interspersed throughout. ClinicalKey
Teaching Point: Most noncoding DNA has important regulatory
and structural roles.
Citation: Chapter 1 — The Genome. ClinicalKey+1
2) Chapter 1 — Cellular Housekeeping
Stem: A patient’s neurons show intracellular accumulation of
ubiquitinated proteins and Lewy-body–like inclusions. Which
intracellular clearance pathway is most likely dysfunctional?
,A. Lysosomal degradation via autophagy only
B. Ubiquitin–proteasome system for short-lived and misfolded
proteins
C. Exosome-mediated extracellular disposal
D. Phagocytosis by neighboring microglia
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Robbins describes the ubiquitin–proteasome
system as the primary mechanism for degrading short-
lived and misfolded cytosolic and nuclear proteins;
dysfunction leads to protein aggregates (e.g.,
neurodegenerative inclusions). ClinicalKey+1
• A: Incorrect — Autophagy/lysosomes clear damaged
organelles and some aggregated proteins but the classic
ubiquitylation–proteasome pathway handles many soluble
misfolded proteins. ClinicalKey
• C: Incorrect — Exosomes export material but are not the
primary intracellular quality-control mechanism for
ubiquitinated proteins. Google Books
• D: Incorrect — Phagocytosis by microglia is an
extracellular/immune process, not the cell-intrinsic
degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. ClinicalKey
Teaching Point: The ubiquitin–proteasome system clears most
misfolded intracellular proteins.
Citation: Chapter 1 — Cellular Housekeeping. ClinicalKey+1
, 3) Chapter 1 — Cellular Metabolism and Mitochondrial
Function
Stem: A clinician explains mitochondrial inheritance to a family
with a maternally transmitted mitochondrial myopathy. Which
mitochondrial DNA feature best accounts for maternal
transmission?
A. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited equally from both parents.
B. Mitochondrial DNA is located in the nucleus and follows
Mendelian inheritance.
C. Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited because oocytes
contribute most cytoplasm/mitochondria to the embryo.
D. Paternal mitochondria outcompete maternal mitochondria
and determine phenotype.
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct (C): Robbins notes that mitochondria contain their
own DNA and are transmitted almost exclusively through
the oocyte cytoplasm, producing maternal inheritance
patterns for mtDNA mutations. ClinicalKey+1
• A: Incorrect — mtDNA is not inherited equally from both
parents; paternal mitochondria are typically eliminated.
Google Books
• B: Incorrect — mtDNA is separate from nuclear DNA and
does not follow Mendelian inheritance. ClinicalKey
by-Chapter Questions & Verified Solutions
Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease
10th Edition
• Author(s)Vinay Kumar; Abul K. Abbas; Jon C. Aster
Chapter 1 — The Genome
Stem: A young couple asks why most human DNA does not
code for proteins despite extensive sequencing. Which
statement best explains the functional importance of the
noncoding portion of the genome?
A. Noncoding DNA is entirely “junk” and has no regulatory
function.
B. Noncoding DNA contains regulatory elements (e.g.,
enhancers, promoters, noncoding RNAs) that control gene
expression.
C. Noncoding DNA only includes introns and is removed during
transcription.
D. Noncoding DNA is entirely repetitive and exclusively
structural (centromeres/telomeres).
,Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Robbins emphasizes that only a small fraction
of the genome encodes proteins and that much noncoding
DNA has regulatory roles (enhancers, promoters,
microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs) crucial for controlling
gene expression and phenotype. ClinicalKey+1
• A: Incorrect — Robbins specifically rejects the idea that
noncoding DNA is wholly “junk”; many regions have
regulatory functions. ClinicalKey
• C: Incorrect — Introns are noncoding but noncoding DNA
also includes regulatory sequences and noncoding RNAs
beyond introns. Google Books
• D: Incorrect — Some noncoding DNA is
repetitive/structural, but not all; regulatory elements are
interspersed throughout. ClinicalKey
Teaching Point: Most noncoding DNA has important regulatory
and structural roles.
Citation: Chapter 1 — The Genome. ClinicalKey+1
2) Chapter 1 — Cellular Housekeeping
Stem: A patient’s neurons show intracellular accumulation of
ubiquitinated proteins and Lewy-body–like inclusions. Which
intracellular clearance pathway is most likely dysfunctional?
,A. Lysosomal degradation via autophagy only
B. Ubiquitin–proteasome system for short-lived and misfolded
proteins
C. Exosome-mediated extracellular disposal
D. Phagocytosis by neighboring microglia
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Robbins describes the ubiquitin–proteasome
system as the primary mechanism for degrading short-
lived and misfolded cytosolic and nuclear proteins;
dysfunction leads to protein aggregates (e.g.,
neurodegenerative inclusions). ClinicalKey+1
• A: Incorrect — Autophagy/lysosomes clear damaged
organelles and some aggregated proteins but the classic
ubiquitylation–proteasome pathway handles many soluble
misfolded proteins. ClinicalKey
• C: Incorrect — Exosomes export material but are not the
primary intracellular quality-control mechanism for
ubiquitinated proteins. Google Books
• D: Incorrect — Phagocytosis by microglia is an
extracellular/immune process, not the cell-intrinsic
degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. ClinicalKey
Teaching Point: The ubiquitin–proteasome system clears most
misfolded intracellular proteins.
Citation: Chapter 1 — Cellular Housekeeping. ClinicalKey+1
, 3) Chapter 1 — Cellular Metabolism and Mitochondrial
Function
Stem: A clinician explains mitochondrial inheritance to a family
with a maternally transmitted mitochondrial myopathy. Which
mitochondrial DNA feature best accounts for maternal
transmission?
A. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited equally from both parents.
B. Mitochondrial DNA is located in the nucleus and follows
Mendelian inheritance.
C. Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited because oocytes
contribute most cytoplasm/mitochondria to the embryo.
D. Paternal mitochondria outcompete maternal mitochondria
and determine phenotype.
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct (C): Robbins notes that mitochondria contain their
own DNA and are transmitted almost exclusively through
the oocyte cytoplasm, producing maternal inheritance
patterns for mtDNA mutations. ClinicalKey+1
• A: Incorrect — mtDNA is not inherited equally from both
parents; paternal mitochondria are typically eliminated.
Google Books
• B: Incorrect — mtDNA is separate from nuclear DNA and
does not follow Mendelian inheritance. ClinicalKey
