GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

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All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 201 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Help With Epigenetics

Histones are proteins that bind to and order the DNA into tight clusters, making it inaccessible to transcription machinery. How does the cells loosen the interaction of the histone and DNA.

Possible Answers:

By removing acyl groups from the histone

By methylating the DNA

By adding acetyl groups to the DNA

By adding methyl groups to the histone

By adding acetyl groups to the histone

Correct answer:

By adding acetyl groups to the histone

Explanation:

By adding acetyl groups to the positively charged histone tails, the cell can loosen the binding of DNA to a histone since DNA is largely negatively charged. This DNA can now be accessed by transcription machinery such as RNA polymerase. In this way acetylation of histones promotes transcription of genes on that piece of DNA. Deacetylation does the opposite - replaces positive charges onto histones so that they can interact more tightly with the DNA, ultimately suppressing expression of the DNA. 

Example Question #1 : Help With Epigenetics

Bees use enzymes called DNMT1 and DNMT3 (DNA methyltransferases) to create epigenetic changes that differentiate social castes at a common site pattern. What is this type of epigenetic change called?

Possible Answers:

Histone modification

None of these are correct

Lysine acetylation

ApT methylation

CpG methylation

Correct answer:

CpG methylation

Explanation:

CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) methylation is a common type of epigenetic change caused by this set of enzymes. In this case, the bees use this to create difference castes of bees out of the same shared genome.

Example Question #521 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

Which comparisons between eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes are true?

Possible Answers:

Prokaryotic genomes frequently have many transposable elements

Both types of genomes have large spacer regions between genes

Both genomes are replicated in the nucleus

Eukaryotic genes are often single and not in operons like prokaryotic genes

All of these

Correct answer:

Eukaryotic genes are often single and not in operons like prokaryotic genes

Explanation:

The only true comparison of those listed is that eukaryotic genes are not often present in operons, like prokaryotes often have (think the frequently studied lac operon). Eukaryotes, not prokaryotes, have many transposable elements (a contributing factor to why our genomes are so large). Prokaryotes do not have large spacer regions between their genes, their genomes are often extremely compact. Prokaryotic cells lack nuclei, thus, DNA replication occurs in the cytosol.

Example Question #521 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

The Frederick Griffith experiment showed that previously safe pneumococcus can become lethal when it incorporates DNA from the surroundings into its genome.

What type of genetic transfer was displayed in the Frederick Griffiith experiment?

Possible Answers:

Transformation

Transduction

Conjugation

Binary fission

Correct answer:

Transformation

Explanation:

When a bacterium has incorporated DNA from the outside environment into its own genome, the process of transformation has occurred.

Example Question #2 : Prokaryotic Genome

Which type of bacterial genetic recombination involves the use of a viral vector?

Possible Answers:

Assimilation

Conjugation

Transduction

Transformation

Correct answer:

Transduction

Explanation:

Sometimes a bacteriophage can encapsulate host bacterial DNA instead of viral DNA. When this virus infects another bacterium, it will inject the previous bacterium's DNA into the new bacterium. This process is referred to as transduction.

Example Question #522 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

What plasmid, usually in multiple copies in a prokaryote, is responsible for production of proteins to attack susceptible organisms?

Possible Answers:

F plasmids

Virulence plasmids

Col plasmids

R plasmids

Degradative plasmids

Correct answer:

Col plasmids

Explanation:

The correct answer is the Col plasmid, which produce attack proteins called colicins. These are generally small and in many copies in a prokaryote for efficiency. F plasmids are involved in conjugation, R plasmids in resistance, degradative plasmids in digestion of unusual substances, and virulence plasmids in the conversion of certain bacteria into pathogens.

Example Question #523 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

What type of phages facilitate specialized transduction?

Possible Answers:

Lysogenic phages

Animal viruses

Lytic phages

None of these

Retroviruses

Correct answer:

Lysogenic phages

Explanation:

Specialized transduction occurs when a prophages excises from the host bacterial genome incorrectly and brings some of the bacterial chromosome with it. This DNA then gets packaged into viral particles along with the viral genome and gets inserted into the next bacterium that virus infects. Since only lysogenic phage can become prophage, specialized transduction can only be mediated by lysogenic phage. Retroviruses are enveloped and thus infect animal cells, not bacterial cells. 

Example Question #1 : Help With Transduction, Conjugation, And Transformation

Bacteria are capable of "sharing" genetic material that can be advantageous in certain environments. This type of gene transmission is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Fission

Transformation

Transduction

Conjugation

Correct answer:

Conjugation

Explanation:

In this example, note that the new genes are being received from a donor bacterium. This is only seen in conjugation events.

Example Question #1 : Mutation And Variation

Which of the following is NOT a type of mutation that can occur in DNA?

Possible Answers:

Silent

Countersense

Nonsense

Missense

Correct answer:

Countersense

Explanation:

There are four principle types of mutation that can affect DNA. Most of these mutations result from point mutations affecting a single nucleotide residue, though nonsense mutations can be caused by insertions or deletions. Frame shift mutations are solely caused by insertions or deletions.

A silent mutation results from the degeneracy of the genetic code. In a silent mutation a single nucleotide is changed, but the overall translation product is unaffected. This can occur because multiple codons are capable of coding for the same amino acid.

A missense mutation results in the swapping of a single amino acid for another in the final translation product. If the amino acids are similar in character, missense mutations can still result in fully functional proteins. When the changed amino acid lacks characteristics of the original, it can result in protein misfolding and loss of function.

Nonsense mutations result in a premature stop codon, and early termination of the translation process. The final product is a shortened version of the protein, often lacking function.

Frame shift mutations cause a shift in the ribosomal reading frame. Every codon downstream of the mutation will be affected, and the protein will be completely altered. Frame shift mutations often result in premature stop codons.

Countersense is not a form of DNA mutation.

Example Question #1 : Mutation And Variation

Which of the following could cause a frameshift mutation?

Possible Answers:

Insertions or deletions

Mismatches

Deletions

Insertions

Correct answer:

Insertions or deletions

Explanation:

Both insertions and deletions are capable of creating frameshift mutations. A frameshift mutation results in a shift in the reading frame of the gene, significantly altering translation. The cause of such a mutation is the insertion or deletion of any sequence of nucleotides within the gene that is not a multiple of three. The following examples detail different types of frameshift mutations.

Normal gene: ATT-CGT-AGG-TAC

Frameshift deletion examples: ATC-GTA-GGT-AC or ATT-CTA-C

Frameshift insertion examples: ATT-TCG-TAG-GTA-C or ACC-CGA-TAG-GTA-C

Mismatches would not cause a shift in the reading frame, like insertions or deletions.

All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

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