Question

Multiple answers to each question might be possible!

You decide to identify the CFTR mutation by analyzing the genomic DNA of your patients compared to healthy individuals. You specifically are looking to see whether a specific 3' gene truncation has occurred in the patients. You will determine this using hybridization techniques with samples from healthy and CF patients. Which of the following will allow you to accomplish this?

	Using an RNA probe complementary to the region not removed by the truncation.
	Using an RNA probe complementary to the region removed by the truncation.
	Using an DNA probe complementary to the region not removed by the truncation.
	Using an DNA probe complementary to the region removed by the truncation.

To conduct the hybridization experiment, you are trying to decide between using a DNA or RNA probe. Which would be ideal to use and why?

	As both are composed of nucleic acids, using either would result in identical results.
	An RNA probe because RNA has uracil bases.
	An RNA probe because it could also be used in a translation experiment.
	A DNA probe because it is more stable than RNA.
	A DNA probe because RNA cannot bind to DNA.

One step of the Hershey/Chase experiment involved blending the virus/cell mixture before centrifugation and probing the pellet for radioactivity. Why was the blending step necessary?

	To collect the bacteria at the bottom of the tube.
	To break open the bacteria to release the genome.
	To separate the bacteria from the bacteriophages.
	To be able to detect the radioactivity.

Imagine Hershey/Chase had used an RNA virus (genome composed of RNA) instead of a DNA virus in their experiment. Would radioactivity still have been found in the pellet?

	No, because only DNA can be labeled with radioactivity.
	No, because the RNA genome would not enter the bacteria upon infection.
	No, because while DNA and RNA nucleotides are similar, they are not identical.
	Yes, because DNA and RNA nucleotides are similar.
	Yes, because genome in any form (DNA, RNA, protein) would be labeled similarly.

The human genome consists mostly of non-coding DNA. Which of the following are benefits of this?

	Random DNA mutations generally won't affect RNA and protein function.
	It is faster to duplicate the genome when these are present.
	The existence of introns can lead to multiple variations of proteins encoded by a single gene.
	It is unlikely transposons would exist in the genome if there was too much protein coding DNA.

Explain the 5’ to 3’ directionality of a DNA stand.

	It is due to the fact that the free 5’ carbon is on one end and the free 3’ carbon is on the other
	It is due to the fact that new nucleotide are added to the 5’ carbon of the previous nucleotide
	It is due to the fact that there are 3 phosphate groups attached to the 5’ carbon
	It is due to the fact the complementary strand is 3’ to 5’
	More than one of the above explain the 5’ to 3’ directionality

You accidentally add a mutant dNTP (which has an H instead of an OH connected to the 3’ carbon) to a reaction where DNA is being replicated. Which of the following is true of this mutant dNTP?

	It can be incorporated into DNA strand but cannot form a phosphodiester bond with an incoming wild type dNTP
	It can be incorporated into a DNA strand but cannot base pair with a complementary nucleotide
	It can be incorporated into a DNA strand and can form a phosphodiester bond with an incoming dNTP, but only if it is another mutant dNTP
	It cannot be incorporated into a DNA strand.

Why does DNA polymerase utilize an RNA primer?

	DNA polymerase is unable to initiate strand synthesis but RNA polymerase can
	DNA polymerase can only add a dNTP to an rNTP
	DNA synthesis proceeds in the 3’ to 5’ when initiating strand synthesis
	Chromosomal DNA contains interspersed RNA fragments
	The RNA primer increases stability of the newly synthesized strand