School of Science
Hamilton Campus
Session 2011 – 12
Trimester 1
Module Code: BIOL09020
PURE AND APPLIED GENETICS
Date: 16 January 2012
Time: 1000 - 1200
Duration: 2 Hours
Answer THREE questions, at least ONE from each section
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BIOL09020
January 2012
Section A
Answer at least one question
1.
a) Discuss the features of the plasmid pUC18/19 (Figure 1)
which make it a good vector for cloning DNA in bacterial cells.
b) Describe the steps you would perform to clone a DNA
fragment in E.coli using the vector in Figure 1.
Figure 1
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(6)
(14)
BIOL09020
January 2012
Section A Continued
2.
3.
You are studying a gene coding for an enzyme that breaks down
toxins which are harmful to the cell.
a) Describe how you would use the polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) to amplify the gene from genomic DNA.
(12)
b) Outline how the basic PCR technique can be modified to
determine if the gene is expressed after exposure to toxins.
(8)
Two types of genes, oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes
have been shown to play a role in the development of cancer.
Discuss the normal function(s) of these genes in the cell and
examples of mutations that can lead to cancer.
(20)
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BIOL09020
January 2012
Section B
Answer at least one question from this Section
4.
a) Compare and contrast the content and organisation of the
genome in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
(10)
b) Outline why the ends of linear chromosomes get shorter
during successive rounds of replication in eukaryotes.
(4)
c) Discuss the effect telomere shortening has on the cell and
describe the mechanism some cells have developed to
overcome this shortening.
(6)
5.
Discuss the events that occur at the level of transcription when
E.coli is grown on a mixture of glucose and lactose.
(20)
6.
Three types of RNA are involved in Translation (Protein
synthesis) discuss the role and interaction of all three.
(20)
END OF QUESTION PAPER
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