Molecular biology - Exam
  • 1. Molecular biology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of biological processes at the molecular level, particularly the interactions between various systems within a cell, including the interactions between DNA, RNA, and proteins. It involves the study of the structure and function of molecules essential to life, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and how they regulate various biological processes. Molecular biology plays a crucial role in understanding genetics, gene expression, cell signaling, and many other fundamental biological processes. Researchers in this field utilize a variety of techniques to investigate these molecular mechanisms, including genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics, leading to significant advancements in our understanding of life at a molecular level.

    Which of the following describes the structure of DNA?
A) Single strand
B) Circular
C) Double helix
D) Triple helix
  • 2. What is the role of mRNA in protein synthesis?
A) Stabilizes the genetic information
B) Carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome
C) Translates proteins into genetic code
D) Replicates DNA
  • 3. What is a codon?
A) A protein subunit
B) An enzyme in the nucleus
C) A three-nucleotide sequence in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid
D) A segment of DNA that regulates gene expression
  • 4. Which of the following organelles is responsible for cellular respiration?
A) Golgi apparatus
B) Mitochondria
C) Nucleus
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
  • 5. What is a plasmid?
A) Small RNA molecule involved in protein synthesis
B) Segment of chromosomal DNA
C) Circular DNA molecule found in bacteria that can replicate independently
D) Large protein structure in the cell membrane
  • 6. Which technique is used to determine the sequence of nucleotides in a DNA molecule?
A) DNA sequencing
B) PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
C) Gel electrophoresis
D) Gene cloning
  • 7. What is the function of tRNA in protein synthesis?
A) Transfers amino acids to the ribosome
B) Stabilizes the genetic code
C) Connects mRNA and ribosomes
D) Transcribes DNA
  • 8. What is the process by which a protein is made from mRNA called?
A) Transcription
B) Mutation
C) Translation
D) Replication
  • 9. Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication?
A) Ligase
B) Topoisomerase
C) DNA polymerase
D) Helicase
  • 10. Who first used the term 'molecular biology'?
A) Rosalind Franklin
B) James Watson
C) The English physicist William Astbury
D) Francis Crick
  • 11. In which year was the double helix model of DNA first described?
A) 1962
B) 1953
C) 1869
D) 1945
  • 12. Who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 for proposing a model of the structure of DNA?
A) Rosalind Franklin, Erwin Chargaff, and Max Perutz
B) James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins
C) Gregor Mendel, Friedrich Miescher, and Phoebus Levene
D) William Astbury, Rosalind Franklin, and James Watson
  • 13. What did Gregor Mendel pioneer in 1866?
A) Chargaff's rule
B) The laws of inheritance through studies on pea plants
C) The double helix model of DNA
D) The discovery of DNA structure
  • 14. Who proposed the 'polynucleotide model' of DNA in 1919?
A) James Watson
B) Francis Crick
C) Phoebus Levene
D) Erwin Chargaff
  • 15. Which disciplines does molecular biology rely on?
A) Chemistry, engineering, and philosophy
B) Biology, geology, and meteorology
C) Genetics, biochemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science (bioinformatics)
D) Physics, chemistry, and astronomy
  • 16. Who conducted the experiment that discovered genetic transformation?
A) Frederick Griffith
B) James Watson
C) Gregor Mendel
D) Francis Crick
  • 17. In what year did Frederick Griffith conduct his experiment on pneumococcus bacteria?
A) 1944
B) 1905
C) 1953
D) 1928
  • 18. What is the term for gene transfer occurring in members of the same generation?
A) Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
B) Genetic recombination
C) Vertical gene transfer
D) Mutation
  • 19. Why is the smooth strain of pneumococcus bacteria virulent?
A) Its polysaccharide capsule prevents recognition by the host's immune system.
B) It has a rough colony appearance.
C) It produces toxins that kill the host.
D) It lacks genetic material.
  • 20. How is the target DNA analyzed for probe presence in ASO techniques?
A) By measuring pH changes.
B) Through electron microscopy.
C) Using mass spectrometry.
D) Via radioactivity or fluorescence.
  • 21. Which technique can be used to introduce mutations into specific bases of DNA?
A) Gel electrophoresis
B) Site-directed mutagenesis using PCR
C) Transformation
D) Transfection
  • 22. At what wavelength does Coomassie Blue shift when it binds to protein in an acidic solution?
A) 465 nm
B) 700 nm
C) 620 nm
D) 595 nm
  • 23. Which technique involves introducing DNA into bacterial cells via cell-cell contact?
A) Transformation
B) Transduction
C) Conjugation
D) Transfection
  • 24. What is the typical length range of probes used in ASO techniques?
A) 30–40 nucleotides.
B) 5–10 nucleotides.
C) 50–100 nucleotides.
D) 20–25 nucleotides.
  • 25. What apparatus was famously used in the Hershey–Chase experiment?
A) Microscope
B) Spectrophotometer
C) Centrifuge
D) Kitchen blender
  • 26. What type of DNA replication was supported by the Meselson–Stahl experiment?
A) Conservative replication
B) Dispersive replication
C) Non-conservative replication
D) Semiconservative replication
  • 27. Which technique involves using antibodies to detect specific proteins?
A) Microarrays
B) Western blotting
C) Eastern blotting
D) Northern blotting
  • 28. Which technique is used to amplify a specific DNA sequence in predetermined ways?
A) Transfection
B) Gel electrophoresis
C) Molecular cloning
D) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  • 29. Which process describes how bacteriophages transfer DNA to bacteria?
A) Transduction
B) Conjugation
C) Replication
D) Transformation
  • 30. Which technique involves introducing DNA into eukaryotic cells by physical or chemical means?
A) Transfection
B) Transformation
C) Transduction
D) Conjugation
  • 31. Which method can be used to amplify RNA sequences?
A) Standard PCR
B) Molecular cloning
C) Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR)
D) Gel electrophoresis
  • 32. Which type of antigen do different subtypes of S and R bacteria produce?
A) Different types
B) Only one common type
C) The same type
D) No antigens
  • 33. What is the typical size of spots on a DNA microarray?
A) ~500 micrometre diameter
B) ~200 micrometre diameter
C) ~50 micrometre diameter
D) ~100 micrometre diameter
  • 34. Which type of gel electrophoresis separates proteins based on size and electric charge?
A) Agarose gel electrophoresis
B) Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
C) SDS-PAGE
D) 2D gel electrophoresis
  • 35. What role does biophysics play in molecular biology?
A) Studying biomolecules 'from the ground up'.
B) Using computer science techniques.
C) Predicting genetic mutations.
D) Focusing on chemical substances in living organisms.
  • 36. In the Hershey–Chase experiment, which element was used to label DNA?
A) Radioactive carbon
B) Radioactive sulfur
C) Radioactive phosphorus
D) Radioactive hydrogen
  • 37. What dye is utilized in the Bradford protein assay?
A) Methylene blue
B) Ethidium bromide
C) Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250
D) SYBR Green
  • 38. What organism was used to demonstrate transformation in Griffith's experiment?
A) Escherichia coli
B) Salmonella typhimurium
C) Bacteriophage
D) Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • 39. What is the most common material used for fabricating microarrays?
A) Silicon chips
B) Nitrocellulose
C) Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
D) Nylon membranes
  • 40. Which technique allows for quantitative measurement of DNA or RNA molecules?
A) Gel electrophoresis
B) Quantitative PCR
C) Standard PCR
D) Molecular cloning
  • 41. What substance can interfere with the Bradford assay?
A) Magnesium chloride
B) Ethanol
C) Proteins
D) Strong alkaline buffering agents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)
  • 42. What is used to transfer DNA samples onto a membrane in Southern blotting?
A) Centrifugation
B) Electrophoresis
C) Capillary action
D) Chromatography
  • 43. What decade was molecular cloning first developed?
A) 1970s
B) 1980s
C) 1990s
D) 1960s
  • 44. What was the method used to determine DNA size before rate sedimentation in sucrose gradients?
A) Chromatography.
B) X-ray crystallography.
C) Gel electrophoresis.
D) Viscometry.
  • 45. Who developed the Bradford assay?
A) Kary Mullis
B) Marion M. Bradford
C) Patricia Thomas
D) Edwin Southern
  • 46. Which technique is used to study when and how much gene expression is occurring?
A) Microarrays
B) Eastern blotting
C) Western blotting
D) Northern blotting
  • 47. What is a common visualization technique used in western blotting?
A) RNA electrophoresis.
B) DNA hybridization.
C) Microarray spot analysis.
D) Chemiluminescence
  • 48. What is the primary difference between northern and western blotting?
A) Northern blotting is used for gene expression profiling.
B) Western blotting detects post-translational modifications.
C) Northern blotting analyzes RNA, while western blotting analyzes proteins.
D) Northern blotting uses antibodies, while western blotting does not.
  • 49. What type of membrane is commonly used in western blotting for protein transfer?
A) Nylon
B) Nitrocellulose
C) Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
D) Silicon chips
Created with That Quiz — the math test generation site with resources for other subject areas.