Cardinal Newman College
Name: Teacher:
Genome Projects and Gene Technologies PPQ Workbook
Q1.(a) Scientists can use protein structure to investigate the evolutionary relationships between different
species. Explain why.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ (2)
(b) Comparing the base sequence of genes provides more evolutionary information than
comparing the structure of proteins. Explain why.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ (2)
(Total 4 marks)
Q2. Plasmids can be used as vectors to insert lengths of foreign DNA into bacteria. The
diagram shows how this is achieved.
(a) Name enzyme E.
......................................................................................................................(1)
(b) Cut plasmids and lengths of foreign DNA can join. What features of their ends allows
them to join?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................... (2)
Page 1
, Cardinal Newman College
(c) Draw three different structures that could be formed by incubating cut plasmids and
lengths of foreign DNA with ligase. Use the spaces provided on the diagram.
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
Q3. (a) What is meant by a gene?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................(2)
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to obtain many copies of a particular gene.
(b) Explain how the strands of DNA are separated during the PCR.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................... (2)
(c) In a particular PCR, two different primers are added to the DNA.
(i) Why are primers required?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................(1)
(ii) Suggest why two different primers are required.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................(1)
(d) Starting with a single molecule of DNA, the polymerase chain reaction was allowed to go
through three complete cycles. How many molecules of DNA would be produced?
Answer .......................................(1)
(Total 7 marks)
Page 2
, Cardinal Newman College
Q4. One way to detect and measure accurately the amount of RNA in a tissue sample is by
RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction).
RT-PCR uses a reaction mixture containing:
• the sample for testing
• reverse transcriptase
• DNA nucleotides
• primers
• DNA polymerase
• fluorescent dye.
The principle behind this method is shown in Figure 1.
(a) Explain the role of reverse transcriptase in RT-PCR.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….(1)
(b) Explain the role of DNA polymerase in RT-PCR.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………. (1)
(c) Any DNA in the sample is hydrolysed Page 3by enzymes before the sample is added to
Name: Teacher:
Genome Projects and Gene Technologies PPQ Workbook
Q1.(a) Scientists can use protein structure to investigate the evolutionary relationships between different
species. Explain why.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ (2)
(b) Comparing the base sequence of genes provides more evolutionary information than
comparing the structure of proteins. Explain why.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................ (2)
(Total 4 marks)
Q2. Plasmids can be used as vectors to insert lengths of foreign DNA into bacteria. The
diagram shows how this is achieved.
(a) Name enzyme E.
......................................................................................................................(1)
(b) Cut plasmids and lengths of foreign DNA can join. What features of their ends allows
them to join?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................... (2)
Page 1
, Cardinal Newman College
(c) Draw three different structures that could be formed by incubating cut plasmids and
lengths of foreign DNA with ligase. Use the spaces provided on the diagram.
(3)
(Total 6 marks)
Q3. (a) What is meant by a gene?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................(2)
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to obtain many copies of a particular gene.
(b) Explain how the strands of DNA are separated during the PCR.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................... (2)
(c) In a particular PCR, two different primers are added to the DNA.
(i) Why are primers required?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................(1)
(ii) Suggest why two different primers are required.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................(1)
(d) Starting with a single molecule of DNA, the polymerase chain reaction was allowed to go
through three complete cycles. How many molecules of DNA would be produced?
Answer .......................................(1)
(Total 7 marks)
Page 2
, Cardinal Newman College
Q4. One way to detect and measure accurately the amount of RNA in a tissue sample is by
RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction).
RT-PCR uses a reaction mixture containing:
• the sample for testing
• reverse transcriptase
• DNA nucleotides
• primers
• DNA polymerase
• fluorescent dye.
The principle behind this method is shown in Figure 1.
(a) Explain the role of reverse transcriptase in RT-PCR.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….(1)
(b) Explain the role of DNA polymerase in RT-PCR.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………. (1)
(c) Any DNA in the sample is hydrolysed Page 3by enzymes before the sample is added to
