GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : Help with Transposable and Repeated Elements

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Help With Transposable And Repeated Elements

Which of the following is not true about transposable elements?

Possible Answers:

Transposable elements are primarily considered non-coding DNA

Transposable elements are only found in eukaryotes

Transposable elements can cause disease

Transposable elements often move around the genome

Correct answer:

Transposable elements are only found in eukaryotes

Explanation:

Transposable elements are portions of the DNA that are free to move around the genome and are generally considered non-coding DNA. This can be potentially dangerous, however. Transposable elements can insert themselves in the coding regions of genes, thus making them non-functional. This can lead to disease. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes contain transposable elements.

Example Question #1 : Genomics

Transposable elements, or transposons, are separated into two classes. Which of these categories of life have class I transposons in their genomes?

I. Bacteria

II. Yeast

III. Eukaryotes

Possible Answers:

I, II, and III

I and II

III only

II and III

None of these

Correct answer:

II and III

Explanation:

Class I transposable elements are RNA-mediated elements of a single evolutionary origin, and are found in yeast, which only have class I elements, and in eukaryotes, which have both class I and class II elements. Bacteria only have class II elements, and hence are not included in the correct answer to this question.

Example Question #2 : Genomics

What differentiates a LTR retrotransposon and a retrovirus?

Possible Answers:

Retroviruses do not insert DNA into their host

None of these are correct

Retroviruses encode an envelope protein

LTR retrotransposons cannot move between organisms

Retroviruses are the only ones present in eukaryotes

Correct answer:

Retroviruses encode an envelope protein

Explanation:

The only difference between most LTR retrotransposons and retroviruses are that retroviruses can encode an envelope protein. Phylogenetic analyses have shown that retrotransposons and retroviruses are extremely closely related, and may be direct ancestors of one another.

Example Question #2 : Genomics

The hybrid dysgenesis phenomenon was observed in Drosophila flies. It was determined that this was caused by a transposon no longer under control in wild type - lab strain crosses. What are transposons commonly controlled by in their hosts?

Possible Answers:

The immune system

RNAi and piRNAs

Other types of transposons

A transposase inhibitor

None of these

Correct answer:

RNAi and piRNAs

Explanation:

Movement of transposons is very commonly controlled by RNA interference. The RNAi system cuts up problematic RNAs, and uses these small pieces to target transposons for destruction.

Example Question #3 : Genomics

How do transposons rapidly propogate through and between species?

Possible Answers:

Vertical transfer

Transposons cannot move between species

Bacterial infections

Horizontal transfer

None of these are correct

Correct answer:

Horizontal transfer

Explanation:

It is hypothesized that transposons can rapidly move through populations and species by horizontal transfer, most likely through viruses.

Example Question #11 : Genomics

Barbara McClintock initially discovered transposons in her work on corn at Cold Spring Harbor Lab, which she called the Ac / Ds system. What were dissociators (Ds)?

Possible Answers:

Transposons that are mobile and insert all over the genome

None of these are correct

A transposon that suppresses another transposon

Defective transposons that served as sites of chromosome breakage

Genes that are interrupted by a transposon

Correct answer:

Defective transposons that served as sites of chromosome breakage

Explanation:

Barbara McClintock named the transposons that are defective, and serve as sites of chromosomal breakage where other transposons insert (the associator, Ac) the dissociators. These were likely transposons that lacked the transposase that catalyzes their movement.

Example Question #1 : Help With Transposable And Repeated Elements

Transposable elements can be significant factors in causing newly resistant bacterial strains. How do transposons cause resistance to develop?

Possible Answers:

Transposons change gene expression levels

A transposon modifies a bacterial resistance plasmid

An individual transposon incorporates into the genome and is adapted

Transposons are not actually involved in creating resistance

A composite of two transposons and a gene insert into the bacterial genome

Correct answer:

A composite of two transposons and a gene insert into the bacterial genome

Explanation:

Two transposons flanking an antibiotic resistance gene can easily move between bacteria and confer new resistance. A mix of transposons and new genes such as this is called a composite transposon. Recall that bacteria exchange genetic information via conjugation, transduction, and transformation.

Example Question #2 : Help With Transposable And Repeated Elements

What makes an LTR retrotransposon unique among other transposons?

Possible Answers:

LTR retrotransposons are not present in eukaryotes like humans

The transposon is bound by repeats that contain a series of proteins

The LTR regions allows insertion of the transposon anywhere in the genome, versus other restricted transposons

None of these are correct

LTR retrotransposons are derived from short RNAs

Correct answer:

The transposon is bound by repeats that contain a series of proteins

Explanation:

LTR stands for Long Terminal Repeats, which are 250-500 base pair repeats located on the ends of a transposon. These repeats encode a series of proteins, most significantly transposase. These are very likely to be early evolutionarily stages of retroviruses.

Example Question #421 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

How do non-LTR retrotransposons insert into the genome?

Possible Answers:

Host DNA repair functions are tricked into integrating the transposon

The transposon carries an RNA polymerase promoter

The ends of the transposon mimic ribosomal RNA gene sequences

None of these are correct

The transposon uses the standard transposase insertion method

Correct answer:

Host DNA repair functions are tricked into integrating the transposon

Explanation:

Non-LTR retrotransposons use an endonuclease that nicks thymine-rich host DNA, which eventually leads to incorporation of the transposon by host DNA repair functions. These other methods are all associated with different specializations of transposon.

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