CLASS SET-- Biotechnology - Final Exam Review Guide (Subterm II)
Directions: Answer the following questions ON YOUR OWN PAPER and in COMPLETE
SENTENCES.
I. Proteins
1. List and explain the 4 different protein structures.
2. What is the name of the enzyme that is responsible for unwinding/unzipping the DNA strand and
adding the correct RNA nucleotides to the growing mRNA strand?___________
3. Draw a “generic” amino acid (be sure to label: the “central” or alpha carbon, R-group, amino group,
and the carboxyl group)
4. What the name of the bond that holds the amino acids together in a polypeptide chain? How is this
bond formed?________________________________________________________________
5. mRNA is synthesized (made) in the _______________direction.
6. List 3 ways in which RNA differs from DNA.
7. How do the processes of transcription and translation differ in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
Transcription
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
Translation
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes
8. What is the function of a Promotor region on the newly opened DNA strand in eukaryotic cells during
transcription? What is the sequence?____________________
9. How is elongation different than termination during transcription?
10. Using your “genetic map” chart, fill in the following table:
DNA triplet
GGG
mRNA codon
tRNA Anticodon
Amino Acid
GAA
Lysine
AGC
Leucine
11. Draw a “generic” transfer RNA (tRNA) label the anticodon and site of
Amino acid attachment.
12. Sketch and label a typical ribosome.
13. Complete the chart below summarizing the changes made to a pre-mRNA molecule in eukaryotes.
mRNA end
Description of
Function #1
Function #2
modification
5’ end
3’ end
14. Complete the following table for the functions of the various types of RNA molecules in a eukaryotic
cell.
Type of RNA
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
Function
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
15. Describe the “initiation” step in translation.
16. What is the difference between the elongation step and the translocation step in translation?
17. In DETAIL, describe the “termination” step of translation.
18. What is the difference between introns and exons?
19. What is meant by antisense strand of DNA and the sense strand of DNA?
20.
a) What is the purpose of the mRNA “start” codon? What is the start codon? ___________
b) What is the purpose of the 3 mRNA “stop” codons?
c). List these stop codons. _________________________________
21. Explain the statement: “There is redundancy in the genetic code, but no ambiguity.” Provide an
example to illustrate your explanation.
II. Enzymes
22. What type of macromolecule are enzymes?
23. What is a biological catalyst?
24. Explain “induced fit”.
25. What 3 things affect enzyme activity? What are 3 environmental things that can affect enzyme
activity?
26. Explain the term “ to denature” an enzyme.
27. Enzymes are changed in chemical reactions (true or false).
28. What is “activation energy”? This is a thought question you should know this!
29. Draw a graph which shows how enzymes LOWER the activation energy in chemical reactions that
take place in the body.
30. Define “substrate”.
31. Define “active site”.
32. Draw an enzyme and label the active site. Don’t forget to draw the substrate.
33. What kind of temperatures is detrimental to enzyme activity?
34. What kinds of pH values are detrimental to enzyme activity?
35. What are cofactors and coenzymes? Give an example of each.
36. EXPLAIN the difference between competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors.
37. What is rennin?
38. What is a protease?
39. How do companies prepare rennin for commercial use?
40. What are the types of rennin cheeses? Why do vegetarians avoid these cheeses?
41. What is chymosin?
42. Name some cheeses made with chymosin.
III. Coastal Marine Biolabs
43. What is so special about the mitochondrial DNA? (discuss shape)
44. How many base pairs are found on the mitochondrial DNA?
45. Genomic DNA is abbreviated _________. What is genomic DNA?
46. What kinds of genes are located on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)?
47. Write out the “lab flow” series for CMB.
49. In lab 1, What is the function of the Proteinase K?
50. In lab 1, What is the function of the digestion buffer?
51. How will you get the gDNA/mtDNA from the other molecules in the lysate? (lab2).
52. What gets stuck to the silica matrix of the spin column? Why? (lab 2)
53. How did you ensure that the silica matrix was not disturbed? (lab2)
54. What was the purpose of adding distilled water to the spin column in lab 2?
Lab#3/4
55. What is the purpose of an agarose gel?
56. What type of macromolecule is the agarose?
57. Why did the lab procedure tell you not to move the gel chamber after loading?
58. What is the indicator dye that is added to the loading buffer?
59. What is the purpose of this indicator dye?
60. Why was glycerol added to the loading buffer?
61. DNA will migrate through the gel in which direction? Explain
62. Explain how DNA fragments of different sizes migrate through an agarose gel.
63. How are we going to visualize our DNA in the gel (what compound will be used)?
64. What piece of equipment will be used to visualize the DNA labeled agarose gel?
TRANSILLUMINATOR
Lab#5/6 (Review your lecture notes on PCR from subterm I-chapter 4)
65. PCR stands for what?
66. Name and Explain the steps of PCR in detail.
66. What is the size fragment that we are looking to amplify?
67. What kind of DNA are we hoping to amplify? Which gene from this DNA are we hoping to amplify?
68. What does your PCR reaction mixture contain?
69. What does dNTP stand for? (look in lecture notes chapter 4)
70. What is the purpose of the magnesium chloride?
71. What is in your PCR tube at the end of the 35 cycles? Be specific
72. How are we going to check to make sure that our PCR reaction worked?
73. What is our ultimate goal? What do we want to do with our PCR products?
74. Explain how we purified our PCR products? What did we use and why?
75. What was in the “master mix” that was put into each PCR tube?
76. Explain the “transfer down” method when setting up your experiments?
77. What is a “cation bridge”?
78. What does “elute” mean?
79. What was the purpose of the water at the end of the protocol?
80. What is our final purified PCR product (we hope)?
81. What did we do with our products?
DNA Sequencing
82. Define DNA sequencing? (you will need your book + CMB lecture notes on sequencing)
83. What does ddNTP stand for?
84. What makes these molecules so unique?
85. What is a chromatogram?
86. Quality scores less than ________ are considered inaccurate.
87. Sequencing runs are unreliable around ___________nucleotides in the front of the sequence and
___________nucleotides at the end of the sequence.
88. Know how to read a chromatogram. (see example under resources)
IV. Chapter 6: Look over the review questions you already have. Check the key online on Wed. night.
V. Chapter 14:
89. Define “genomics”.
90. Define Bioinformatics.
91. Define Proteomics.
92. Define environmental biotechnology.
93. How is biotechnology being used in marine studies? (pg. 411-412)
94. How do veterinarians use biotechnology? (give some examples) pg. 412-413.
95. Define synthetic biology.