Molecular Biology & Diagnostics Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is agarose?

A gel-forming polysaccharide extracted from seaweed

What is an allele?

Alternative forms of a gene that are present at a given locus

What does the term heterozygous refer to?

All alleles are the same

Identical alleles

Alleles in different genes

Non-identical alleles (correct)

What does homozygous mean?

Identical alleles Signup and view all the answers

What does the cell nucleus carry?

Genetic information Signup and view all the answers

What is a codon?

Three bases in mRNA that code for amino acid production Signup and view all the answers

Diploid cells contain a single copy of the genome.

False Signup and view all the answers

Haploid cells contain two copies of the genome.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is epigenetics?

Study of changes in gene activity regulation not dependent on DNA sequence Signup and view all the answers

What is an exon?

Coding DNA Signup and view all the answers

What is an intron?

Non-coding DNA between two exons Signup and view all the answers

What is gene expression?

Protein synthesis (gene product) that is tightly controlled and regulated Signup and view all the answers

What is protein expression?

Different proteins are expressed in different cells according to the function of the cell Signup and view all the answers

What is a genetic code?

Combination of nucleotides that build different codons Signup and view all the answers

What is a genome?

An organism's total DNA content Signup and view all the answers

What is a genotype?

The observed alleles for an individual at a genetic locus Signup and view all the answers

What is a phenotype?

Observable characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What does a dominant gene do?

Expresses itself more strongly than any other version of the gene Signup and view all the answers

What is a recessive gene?

A gene that can be masked by a dominant gene Signup and view all the answers

What is a haplotype?

Series of alleles on a single chromosome Signup and view all the answers

What is ligation in molecular biology?

Process of joining two DNA molecule ends, creating a phosphodiester bond Signup and view all the answers

What is linkage disequilibrium?

Allelic association when closely linked alleles are inherited together during many generations Signup and view all the answers

What are molecular diagnostics?

The use of DNA, RNA, or mRNA to identify and/or characterize disease Signup and view all the answers

What are mutations?

Changes in the DNA sequence Signup and view all the answers

What is penetrance?

The probability of expressing a phenotype given a particular genotype Signup and view all the answers

What is polymorphism?

A variation in the base sequence of DNA Signup and view all the answers

What are proteins made up of?

Amino acids Signup and view all the answers

What is proteomics?

An organism's complete complement of proteins Signup and view all the answers

What is RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)?

Variation in the size of DNA fragments generated by restriction enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What is a sequence in DNA?

The order of nucleotide bases along a DNA strand Signup and view all the answers

What are short tandem repeats (STR)?

Short sequences of DNA, normally 2-5 base pairs, that are repeated numerous times Signup and view all the answers

In forensic investigations, suspects should match the DNA sample taken from the crime scene.

True Signup and view all the answers

In paternity testing, how do children inherit chromosomes from their parents?

Children inherit half their chromosomes from each parent Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Molecular Biology Concepts

Agarose: Gel-forming polysaccharide from seaweed, used in gel electrophoresis for separating DNA fragments.
Allele: Different forms of a gene located at a specific locus; essential in genetics for understanding variations.
Heterozygous vs. Homozygous: Heterozygous individuals carry two different alleles; homozygous individuals have identical alleles.

Genetic Structure and Processes

Cell Nucleus: Contains genetic material; essential for cellular function and heredity.
Codon: Triplet of nucleotide bases in mRNA that specify amino acids during protein synthesis.
Diploid vs. Haploid: Diploid cells have two sets of chromosomes; haploid cells, such as gametes, have one set.

Gene Function and Regulation

Epigenetics: Focuses on gene regulation changes that aren't linked to the DNA sequence; impacts gene expression.
Exon vs. Intron: Exons are coding regions that express genetic information, while introns are non-coding sequences that interrupt exons.
Gene Expression: The process leading to protein synthesis, tightly regulated to maintain cell function.

Genetic Terminology

Genetic Code: System of nucleotide combinations encoding for amino acids; foundational for protein synthesis.
Genome: Complete set of an organism’s DNA, including all of its genes.
Genotype vs. Phenotype: Genotype is the set of alleles present, while phenotype represents observable traits resulting from gene expression.

Genetic Relationships

Dominant vs. Recessive Genes: Dominant genes express traits over recessive ones; a recessive trait is masked in presence of a dominant allele.
Haplotype: Specific combination of alleles present on one chromosome; useful in population genetics and inheritance studies.

Molecular Techniques

Ligation: Joins DNA molecule ends via phosphodiester bonds, crucial in recombinant DNA technology.
Linkage Disequilibrium: When alleles at different loci are inherited together more frequently than expected by chance over generations.
Molecular Diagnostics: Utilizes nucleic acids to diagnose diseases caused by infections or genetic mutations.

Genetic Changes and Variation

Mutations: Alterations in DNA sequence that can lead to genetic diversity or disease.
Penetrance: Likelihood of a genotype translating into an observable phenotype; varies among individuals.
Polymorphism: Variability in DNA sequences that can contribute to differences between individuals.

Proteins and Proteomics

Proteins: Composed of amino acids; fundamental to cell structure and function.
Proteomics: Study of the complete set of proteins expressed in a cell or organism, providing insights into function and regulation.

DNA Fragment Analysis

RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism): Variation in DNA fragments length generated by restriction enzyme digestion; used in genetic mapping.
Short Tandem Repeats (STR): Repetitive DNA sequences used for DNA profiling; critical for forensic analysis and paternity testing.

Forensics and Paternity

Procedure in DNA Profiling: Involves DNA sample collection, PCR amplification, digestion with restriction enzymes, and separation by gel electrophoresis to analyze unique DNA profiles.
Forensic Investigations: Requires complete DNA match with crime scene samples for conviction.
Paternity Testing: Analyzes inherited DNA segments to establish familial relationships, with children receiving half their DNA from each parent.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts in molecular biology and diagnostics. This quiz covers important terms such as agarose, alleles, and the structure of the cell nucleus. Evaluate your understanding of genetic information and molecular mechanisms.