Molecular Genetics Techniques: Interactive Quizzes for Medical Students

Question 1

DNA sequencing involves determining the order of which biological molecules?

Accepted Answer

Nucleotides

Answer

Amino acids

Answer

Codons

Answer

Exons

Question 2

Which molecular technique is primarily used to amplify a specific region of DNA?

Accepted Answer

PCR

Answer

DNA microarrays

Answer

Southern blotting

Answer

Gene cloning

Question 3

In the process of gene cloning, which step typically comes first?

Accepted Answer

Isolation of the target gene

Answer

Cloning vector selection

Answer

Transformation of the host organism

Answer

Screening for recombinant clones

Question 4

Which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands during the PCR process?

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase

Answer

Restriction endonuclease

Answer

Ligase

Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 5

DNA microarrays are primarily utilized for which purpose in genetic research?

Accepted Answer

Detecting gene expression patterns

Answer

Identifying genetic mutations

Answer

Sequencing DNA

Answer

Cloning genes

Question 6

Southern blotting is a molecular technique commonly used for:

Accepted Answer

Detecting specific DNA sequences in a sample

Answer

Sequencing DNA

Answer

Amplifying DNA

Answer

Cloning genes

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a step in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)?

Accepted Answer

Ligation

Answer

Denaturation

Answer

Annealing

Answer

Extension

Question 8

What is the primary purpose of Sanger sequencing?

Accepted Answer

To determine the sequence of a DNA molecule

Answer

To amplify a specific DNA fragment

Answer

To create a gene library

Answer

To map genetic mutations

Question 9

Which enzyme is primarily responsible for extending DNA primers during PCR?

Accepted Answer

Taq polymerase

Answer

Restriction endonuclease

Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Answer

DNA ligase

Question 10

What is the primary purpose of a plasmid in gene cloning?

Accepted Answer

To carry the foreign gene into the host organism

Answer

To transcribe the foreign gene into mRNA

Answer

To translate the foreign gene into protein

Answer

To regulate the expression of the foreign gene

Question 11

Which technique is specifically used to separate DNA fragments based on their size?

Accepted Answer

Agarose gel electrophoresis

Answer

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)

Answer

Next-generation sequencing (NGS)

Answer

Microarray analysis

Question 12

What is the primary goal of a shotgun sequencing library?

Accepted Answer

To sequence the entire genome of an organism

Answer

To sequence a specific gene or locus

Answer

To identify genetic mutations

Answer

To amplify a particular DNA fragment

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a technology used in gene editing?

Accepted Answer

DNA microarrays

Answer

CRISPR-Cas9

Answer

TALENs

Answer

ZFNs

Question 14

Describe the crucial role of bioinformatics in DNA sequencing analysis.

Accepted Answer

Bioinformatics facilitates the assembly and alignment of large DNA sequence datasets.

Answer

Bioinformatics is solely concerned with the annotation of genes.

Answer

Bioinformatics has no relevance to DNA sequencing analysis.

Question 15

Which technique is not commonly used for gene cloning?

Accepted Answer

Microarray analysis

Answer

PCR amplification

Answer

Restriction enzyme digestion

Answer

Southern blotting

Question 16

The amplification of specific DNA sequences is achieved through:

Accepted Answer

PCR

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Southern blotting

Answer

Gene cloning

Question 17

Which enzyme is responsible for cleaving DNA at specific recognition sites?

Accepted Answer

Restriction enzyme

Answer

Polymerase

Answer

Ligase

Answer

Helicase

Question 18

The process of determining the order of nucleotides in DNA is known as:

Accepted Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

PCR

Answer

Gene cloning

Answer

Southern blotting

Question 19

The process of integrating a gene of interest into a vector for propagation in an organism is known as:

Accepted Answer

Gene cloning

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

PCR

Answer

Southern blotting

Question 20

The separation of DNA fragments by size using an electric field is a technique known as:

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Southern blotting

Answer

Gene cloning

Question 21

A hybridization technique used to detect specific DNA sequences is:

Accepted Answer

Southern blotting

Answer

PCR

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Gene cloning

Question 22

The enzymatic joining of DNA fragments is crucial in:

Accepted Answer

Gene cloning

Answer

PCR

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Southern blotting

Question 23

Which technique is used to amplify specific DNA sequences?

Accepted Answer

c. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Answer

a. DNA sequencing

Answer

b. Gene cloning

Answer

d. Microarray analysis

Question 24

The process of determining the nucleotide sequence of a DNA molecule is known as:

Accepted Answer

b. DNA sequencing

Answer

a. Gene cloning

Answer

c. PCR amplification

Answer

d. RFLP analysis

Question 25

Which enzyme is used in PCR to synthesize new DNA strands?

Accepted Answer

c. DNA polymerase

Answer

a. Ligase

Answer

b. Reverse transcriptase

Answer

d. Topoisomerase

Question 26

The method used to isolate and propagate specific DNA fragments of interest is:

Accepted Answer

b. Gene cloning

Answer

a. DNA microarray

Answer

c. PCR amplification

Answer

d. Gel electrophoresis

Question 27

The process of separating DNA fragments based on their size and charge is known as:

Accepted Answer

c. Gel electrophoresis

Answer

a. PCR

Answer

b. DNA sequencing

Answer

d. Gene cloning

Question 28

Which of the following is a potential ethical concern associated with gene cloning?

Accepted Answer

d. All of the above

Answer

a. Creation of designer babies

Answer

b. Gene patents

Answer

c. Genetic discrimination

Question 29

The Human Genome Project was a groundbreaking initiative that achieved:

Accepted Answer

a. Sequencing the entire human genome

Answer

b. Identifying all human genes

Answer

c. Developing new gene therapies

Answer

d. Curing all genetic diseases

Question 30

Outline an experimental protocol utilizing molecular techniques to determine the presence of a specific genetic mutation linked to a particular disease.

Accepted Answer

Obtain patient samples, extract DNA, amplify the target region using PCR, sequence the PCR product, and analyze the sequence data for the presence of the mutation.

Answer

Obtain patient samples, extract DNA, and perform a microarray analysis to identify the mutation.

Answer

Obtain patient samples, amplify the target region using PCR, and perform a Southern blot to detect the mutation.

Answer

Obtain patient samples, extract RNA, and perform RT-PCR to detect the expression of the mutated gene.

Question 31

Which of the following techniques is used to amplify a specific DNA sequence?

Accepted Answer

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Gene cloning

Answer

Microarray

Question 32

What is the purpose of dideoxy nucleotides in DNA sequencing?

Accepted Answer

To terminate DNA synthesis at specific bases

Answer

To label DNA fragments for visualization

Answer

To amplify DNA sequences

Answer

To clone DNA fragments

Question 33

What is the primary application of microarrays in genetics?

Accepted Answer

Gene expression analysis

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

Genome editing

Question 34

Which of the following methods is used to separate DNA fragments by size?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Chromatography

Answer

Spectrophotometry

Answer

PCR

Question 35

What is the principle behind real-time PCR?

Accepted Answer

Detection of fluorescently labeled DNA amplicons

Answer

Measurement of DNA concentration

Answer

Identification of specific DNA sequences

Answer

Cloning of DNA fragments

Question 36

Which of the following is an application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology?

Accepted Answer

Genome editing

Answer

Gene expression analysis

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Protein synthesis

Question 37

What is the primary purpose of a DNA sequencing gel?

Accepted Answer

To separate DNA fragments based on size

Answer

To amplify DNA samples

Answer

To cut DNA at specific sequences

Answer

To clone DNA fragments into vectors

Question 38

Which type of enzyme is used to cut DNA at specific recognition sequences?

Accepted Answer

Restriction enzyme

Answer

Polymerase

Answer

Ligase

Answer

Helicase

Question 39

What is the main function of a plasmid in gene cloning?

Accepted Answer

As a carrier for foreign DNA

Answer

As a template for PCR

Answer

As a probe for genetic diagnosis

Answer

As a target for genetic engineering

Question 40

Which factor has the greatest impact on the efficiency of a PCR reaction?

Accepted Answer

Annealing temperature

Answer

Initial denaturation temperature

Answer

Extension temperature

Answer

Primer sequence

Question 41

Which vector is the preferred choice for cloning extensive DNA fragments?

Accepted Answer

BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome)

Answer

Plasmid

Answer

Cosmid

Answer

Lambda phage

Question 42

Which technique is employed to separate DNA fragments based on their size?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Chromatography

Answer

Centrifugation

Answer

Immunoassay

Question 43

What is the fundamental purpose of a loading control in a PCR reaction?

Accepted Answer

Verifies consistent amplification across samples

Answer

Improves the specificity of the reaction

Answer

Calibrates the amount of template DNA

Answer

Detects potential contamination

Question 44

In Sanger sequencing, which type of DNA polymerase is utilized?

Accepted Answer

ddNTP-terminating DNA polymerase

Answer

RNA polymerase

Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 45

What is the primary role of a fluorescent dye in capillary electrophoresis DNA sequencing?

Accepted Answer

Labelling DNA fragments for detection

Answer

Enhancing the resolution of DNA fragments

Answer

Increasing the speed of electrophoresis

Answer

Preventing the formation of artifacts

Question 46

Which method of DNA labelling is non-radioactive?

Accepted Answer

Fluorescent labelling

Answer

Autoradiography

Answer

Chemiluminescence

Answer

Immunofluorescence

Question 47

What is the primary application of a hybridization probe in molecular diagnostics?

Accepted Answer

Detecting the presence of a specific DNA or RNA sequence

Answer

Amplifying a DNA or RNA sequence

Answer

Creating a DNA or RNA library

Question 48

Which molecular technique enables researchers to amplify a specific DNA fragment exponentially?

Accepted Answer

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Answer

DNA Hybridization

Answer

DNA Microarray

Answer

DNA Footprinting

Question 49

Which enzyme catalyzes the addition of nucleotides during DNA sequencing?

Accepted Answer

DNA Polymerase

Answer

DNA Ligase

Answer

Topoisomerase

Answer

Reverse Transcriptase

Question 50

Which molecular technique involves the insertion of a foreign gene into a host organism's genome?

Accepted Answer

Gene Cloning

Answer

DNA Amplification

Answer

DNA Microinjection

Answer

DNA Extraction

Question 51

Which enzyme recognizes and cleaves DNA at specific nucleotide sequences?

Accepted Answer

Restriction Enzyme

Answer

DNA Polymerase

Answer

RNA Polymerase

Answer

DNA Helicase

Question 52

Which technique separates DNA fragments based on their length using an electric current?

Accepted Answer

Gel Electrophoresis

Answer

DNA Hybridization

Answer

DNA Sequencing

Answer

DNA Microarray

Question 53

Which advantage does PCR offer over traditional DNA cloning methods?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced speed and efficiency

Answer

Reduced cost

Answer

Higher accuracy

Answer

Larger-scale production

Question 54

Which molecular technique is employed to create organisms with modified genetic characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Gene Cloning

Answer

Gel Electrophoresis

Answer

DNA Sequencing

Answer

PCR