,
,Question 1
Which of the following drugs was originally isolated from a plant
source?
A. Atorvastatin
B. Morphine
C. Furosemide
D. Losartan
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine was isolated from the opium poppy (Papaver
somniferum) in the early 19th century and is one of the earliest
examples of a plant-derived drug. Atorvastatin, furosemide, and
losartan are synthetic compounds developed through chemical
synthesis and rational design, not isolated from plants.
Question 2
The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming is best described as an
example of which drug discovery approach?
A. Rational structure-based design
B. Serendipitous observation
C. High-throughput screening
D. Computer-aided drug design
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fleming observed lysis of staphylococcal colonies
surrounding a contaminating Penicillium mold, an accidental finding
that led to penicillin's discovery. Rational design, high-throughput
, screening, and computer-aided design are deliberate, later-developed
methodologies that did not play a role in this discovery.
Question 3
Which class of molecular targets is the most common target for
approved small-molecule drugs?
A. G protein-coupled receptors
B. Nuclear hormone receptors
C. Voltage-gated sodium channels
D. Ribosomal RNA
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targeted by roughly
one-third of approved small-molecule drugs, making them the largest
single target family. Nuclear receptors, ion channels, and ribosomal RNA
are all legitimate drug targets but account for smaller fractions of
approved agents.
Question 4
In drug discovery, a "lead compound" is best defined as:
A. A drug that has received regulatory approval
B. A compound that has entered Phase III clinical trials
C. A prototype molecule with the desired biological activity that serves
as a starting point for optimization
D. The final marketed formulation of a drug
Correct Answer: C
,Question 1
Which of the following drugs was originally isolated from a plant
source?
A. Atorvastatin
B. Morphine
C. Furosemide
D. Losartan
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine was isolated from the opium poppy (Papaver
somniferum) in the early 19th century and is one of the earliest
examples of a plant-derived drug. Atorvastatin, furosemide, and
losartan are synthetic compounds developed through chemical
synthesis and rational design, not isolated from plants.
Question 2
The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming is best described as an
example of which drug discovery approach?
A. Rational structure-based design
B. Serendipitous observation
C. High-throughput screening
D. Computer-aided drug design
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fleming observed lysis of staphylococcal colonies
surrounding a contaminating Penicillium mold, an accidental finding
that led to penicillin's discovery. Rational design, high-throughput
, screening, and computer-aided design are deliberate, later-developed
methodologies that did not play a role in this discovery.
Question 3
Which class of molecular targets is the most common target for
approved small-molecule drugs?
A. G protein-coupled receptors
B. Nuclear hormone receptors
C. Voltage-gated sodium channels
D. Ribosomal RNA
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targeted by roughly
one-third of approved small-molecule drugs, making them the largest
single target family. Nuclear receptors, ion channels, and ribosomal RNA
are all legitimate drug targets but account for smaller fractions of
approved agents.
Question 4
In drug discovery, a "lead compound" is best defined as:
A. A drug that has received regulatory approval
B. A compound that has entered Phase III clinical trials
C. A prototype molecule with the desired biological activity that serves
as a starting point for optimization
D. The final marketed formulation of a drug
Correct Answer: C
