mol bio 2 lecture 1 questions

What does a gene encode?

mRNA or non-coding RNA

What is one technique used for detecting RNA?

Nucleic acid hybridization

Which of the following techniques is NOT used for studying gene expression?

DNA sequencing

What does RT PCR stand for?

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

What is the purpose of quantifying and visualizing gene expression data?

To measure the levels of RNA transcripts

What does molecular biology primarily examine?

The structure and function of biomolecules

Which two fields does molecular biology combine aspects of?

Biochemistry and Genetics

What is the primary focus of molecular biology in relation to genes?

Gene inheritance and function

How does molecular biology relate to proteins?

It examines the relationship between genes and proteins

What is the basic unit of heredity?

Gene

What additional sequences are included in a gene?

Transcribed sequence and adjacent sequences

What is the role of non-coding RNA molecules?

They have a structural or functional role

What is the function of the promoter in a eukaryotic protein-coding gene?

To initiate transcription

What does the term 'enhancer' refer to in the context of gene regulation?

A sequence that enhances transcription

What is the role of introns in eukaryotic genes?

They are non-coding regions

What is the significance of the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) in mRNA?

It plays a role in the regulation of translation

What is the function of the terminator in a eukaryotic gene?

To terminate transcription

What is the primary function of DNA in the cell?

Storing genetic data

What primarily provides functionality in the cell according to the text?

Proteins and/or RNAs

How is information in DNA expressed?

In the form of proteins and RNAs

What term is used in the text to describe the process of expressing information stored in DNA?

Gene Expression

What are the two main types of gene products mentioned in the text?

Proteins and RNAs

What is the role of gene products in relation to phenotypes?

They are responsible for phenotypes/traits

What are constitutive genes?

Genes that are always expressed without much regulation

What is an example of a housekeeping gene?

GAPDH

What is the function of actin in the cell?

Component of the cytoskeleton

What are facultative genes also referred to as?

Regulated genes

What is an example of a facultative gene in E. coli?

Lac Operon

What does it mean for a gene to be inducible?

It can be turned on

What is the role of HSPA8 in humans?

It encodes a heat shock protein

What is one technique used for detecting RNA?

Nucleic acid hybridization

Which of the following techniques is NOT used for studying gene expression?

DNA sequencing

What does RT PCR stand for?

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

What is the purpose of quantifying and visualizing gene expression data?

To measure the levels of RNA transcripts

What are the levels at which gene expression can be regulated?

All of the above

Which level of gene expression regulation occurs after RNA is produced?

Post transcriptional

In which course is the regulation of gene expression examined?

BIOL 3130

What determines whether a gene is active or silent?

The level of transcription

What is the primary function of transcription in gene expression?

To generate RNA

How does a cell regulate gene expression?

By controlling the amount of RNA produced

What is one way gene transcription can be regulated?

In a tissue specific manner

Which example illustrates tissue-specific gene expression?

Liver enzymes are expressed only in the liver

What condition must be met for the genes of the bacterial lac operon to be expressed?

Lactose must be present and glucose must be absent

What does HBG1 encode?

Fetal specific ɣ globin

What is alternative splicing?

A process that modifies RNA after transcription

What does RNA localization refer to?

Transport of mRNAs to specific parts of the cell

What factors influence the steady state level of an RNA?

Both rates of synthesis and degradation

What is alternative polyadenylation?

A mechanism of gene expression regulation

What is post-transcriptional regulation primarily concerned with?

RNA level

Which of the following is an example of post-transcriptional regulation?

mRNA localization

What is an example of a proteolytic cleavage in post-translational regulation?

Zymogens like chymotrypsin

Which of the following is NOT a type of post-translational modification?

Transcription

What role do prosthetic groups play in protein function?

They are non-polypeptide units that bind to proteins

What is the significance of protein degradation in cellular processes?

It is a regulated process

What is one technique used for detecting RNA?

Nucleic acid hybridization

Which of the following techniques is NOT used for studying gene expression?

DNA sequencing

What does RT PCR stand for?

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

What is the purpose of quantifying gene expression data?

To measure the levels of RNA transcripts

What are the two main processes involved in gene expression?

Transcription and Translation

Which assays can be used to detect if a gene is expressed?

All of the above

What is the purpose of assays for detecting RNA?

To determine the presence of RNA transcripts

Which of the following methods is NOT mentioned as an assay for detecting RNA?

Western blot

What can RNA detection assays tell you about the RNA transcript?

Its abundance relative to other transcripts

Which of the following assays is based on hybridization with probes?

All of the above

What is one technique used for detecting RNA?

Nucleic acid hybridization

Which of the following techniques is NOT used for studying gene expression?

DNA sequencing

What does RT PCR stand for?

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

What is the purpose of quantifying and visualizing gene expression data?

To understand gene regulation and expression levels

What is hybridization in the context of nucleic acids?

The process of annealing two complementary strands of nucleic acid from different sources

What must happen to a target nucleic acid before hybridization can occur?

It must be denatured

Why is DNA denatured prior to hybridization?

To separate the two strands

What is the purpose of denaturing RNA before hybridization?

To remove secondary structures that might inhibit hybridization

What are the two methods mentioned for denaturing double-stranded DNA?

Heat and alkali conditions

Which chemicals are mentioned as capable of unfolding RNA secondary structures?

Formaldehyde and urea

What is the purpose of adding excess probe under hybridizing conditions when detecting nucleic acids?

To enhance the signal

What type of nucleic acids can be detected using the method described?

Single stranded DNA or RNA

What is the role of the labeled probe in the detection of nucleic acids?

To bind to the target nucleic acid

What must be done after hybridization to ensure accurate results in nucleic acid detection?

Wash away unhybridized probe

What is meant by 'complementarity to target' in the context of nucleic acid detection?

The probe must have a sequence that can base-pair with the target

What is the purpose of washing away unhybridized probes in nucleic acid hybridization?

To prevent background noise

What does nucleic acid hybridization help to detect?

The location and intensity of the probe

What is one technique used for detecting RNA?

Nucleic acid hybridization

Which of the following techniques is NOT used for studying gene expression?

DNA sequencing

What does RT PCR stand for?

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

What is the purpose of quantifying and visualizing gene expression data?

To measure RNA levels

What does RNA Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (RNA FISH) allow researchers to visualize?

Specific RNA transcripts

What can be inferred if RNA FISH shows strong or multiple signals for a gene?

The gene is highly expressed

What information can RNA FISH provide about the location of RNA transcripts within a cell?

The exact location of RNA transcripts

Which of the following is NOT a feature of RNA FISH?

Identifying protein structures

What is DAPI used for in fluorescence microscopy?

To stain DNA

What does RNA Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (RNA FISH) detect?

RNA

What is one technique used for detecting RNA?

Nucleic acid hybridization

Which of the following techniques is NOT used for studying gene expression?

DNA sequencing

What does RT PCR stand for?

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

What is the purpose of quantifying gene expression data?

To measure RNA levels

What is the primary purpose of a northern blot?

To determine the presence of a specific RNA molecule

What type of RNA can be analyzed using a northern blot?

All types of RNA

What does a high level of RNA transcripts for a gene indicate?

The gene is highly expressed

What is the first step in preparing an RNA sample for a northern blot?

Lyse the cells to break them open

What technique was used to isolate mRNAs from different tissues in the study?

Northern blot