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

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Mutation And Variation

Which of the following genotypes represents an individual with Turner syndrome? 

Possible Answers:

XXX

YO

XXY

XYY

XO

Correct answer:

XO

Explanation:

Individuals with Turners Syndrome have the XO genotype. They are phenotypically female but experience abnormalities. XXY is the genotype of an individual with Klinefelter syndrome. Individuals with the genotype XYY have what is known as XYY syndrome and are phenotypically normal, though they may be taller, and secrete excess testosterone. Triple-X syndrome is cause by an XXX genotype, and individuals are phenotypically normal. Lack of an X chromosome is lethal in humans. 

Example Question #3 : Help With Mutation Types

Which of the following terms best describes non-random association of alleles at different loci? 

Possible Answers:

Linkage equilibrium

Independent assortment 

None of the other answers 

Linkage disequilibrium

Crossing over

Correct answer:

Linkage disequilibrium

Explanation:

The correct answer is linkage disequilibrium. This phenomenon occurs when two alleles do not segregate independently even though they are at different loci. Rather, they are statistically associated with one another above non-random conditions. This is important for understanding evolution of organisms from a common ancestor as well as for identification of disease-associated mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms.  

Example Question #1 : Mutation And Variation

Which of the following does not contribute to linkage disequilibrium?

Possible Answers:

Natural selection

Rate of recombination

Rate of mutation 

Genetic drift

Asexual reproduction

Correct answer:

Asexual reproduction

Explanation:

The correct answer is asexual reproduction. Linkage disequilibrium is the non-random association of alleles at different loci. Under typical genetic assumptions, alleles segregate independently. However, some alleles have statistical significant association. There are many causes for this "linkage", including natural selection of linked genes that may confer increased fitness, recombination events bringing distant alleles in close proximity, genetic drift favoring a subset of alleles over another due to random sampling, and rate of mutation (either insertions or deletions) that result in statistical association between alleles. 

Example Question #5 : Help With Mutation Types

When mutations occur after the embryo has been fertilized and result in two or more genetically distinct populations of cells is best described as which of the following? 

Possible Answers:

Chimera 

None of the other answers 

Non-disjunction 

Mosaicism 

Aneuploidy 

Correct answer:

Mosaicism 

Explanation:

The correct answer is mosaicism. Mosaicism within an organism occurs when mutations, such as non-disjunction, occur in a subset of cells to give rise to genetically distinct cell populations. Chimeras also have genetically distinct cell populations, however, they occur from the fusion of two fertilized embryos. Aneuploidy occurs when an organism has an incorrect, but consistent number of chromosomes. 

Example Question #6 : Help With Mutation Types

If two alleles, that is both copies of a given gene, are required for proper function of that gene and its product, a mutation in just one of the copies will result in a mutant phenotype. This is called (a) __________.

Possible Answers:

haplo-insufficiency 

homozygosity 

hypomorphism

heterozygosity

missense mutation 

Correct answer:

haplo-insufficiency 

Explanation:

Haplo-insufficent means that both copies of the gene must be fully functional to impart a wild-type phenotype. Mutating/inactivating one copy is enough to cause a mutant phenotype, which can result in a disordered state. Heterozygosity/homozygosity describe whether the alleles are the same or different, but do not necessarily describe the above case. A missense mutation is a type of mutation that changes the protein structure. A hypomorph is a type of mutation that results in reduced gene function, but does not necessarily describe the above case.  

Example Question #7 : Help With Mutation Types

Which of the following answers best describes a mutation where one allele is mutated in such a way that the resultant protein is structurally or functionally different, such that it interferes with the normal activity of the wild-type protein and disrupts that activity to form a partial or total mutant phenotype?

Possible Answers:

Missense mutation 

Point mutation

Dominant-negative mutation 

Frameshift mutation 

Nonsense mutation 

Correct answer:

Dominant-negative mutation 

Explanation:

While each of the mutations described above can lead to a dominant negative situation, the phrase dominant negative itself refers to the case where the mutant protein interacts with and interrupts the normal protein. 

Example Question #8 : Help With Mutation Types

Which of the following descriptions reflects a nonsense mutation?

Possible Answers:

A uracil is replaced by an adenine in the primary transcript, resulting in a severely shortened final protein product.

A transition mutation changes one nucleotide in a gene, but the final protein still has the same amino acid structure as it did prior to the mutation.

A mutation in a gene causes a valine to be replaced by a glutamic acid residue in the final protein product.

An adenine is improperly added into a gene, resulting in a completely different amino acid sequence downstream to the mutation.

Correct answer:

A uracil is replaced by an adenine in the primary transcript, resulting in a severely shortened final protein product.

Explanation:

Answering this question requires an understanding of what a nonsense mutation will entail for a protein. Nonsense mutations occur when a mutation in a gene causes an amino acid codon to be converted into a stop codon. This premature stop codon will cause the translation of the primary transcript to be prematurely terminated, resulting in a smaller than normal protein product. The uracil to adenine mutation that made a smaller protein reflects this type of mutation.

Example Question #1 : Help With Recombination

Which of the following methods results in no loss of information when repairing a double-stranded DNA break?

Possible Answers:

Translesion synthesis

Recombination

Non-homologous end joining

There is no way to prevent loss of information from a double-stranded break in DNA

Correct answer:

Recombination

Explanation:

Recombination between homologous chromosomes is one of the only methods for repairing double-stranded breaks in DNA without losing information. This method only works, however, if there is an extra copy of the same DNA in the cell (i.e. on a homologous chromosome). Recombination is not possible prior to the S phase of the cell cycle, during which DNA is replicated.

Non-homologous end joining results in the deletion of a few base pairs, which can be problematic if done in the coding region of a gene. Translesion synthesis actually has nothing to do with double-stranded breaks, and refers to a method of accurately synthesizing DNA over mutations (such as thymine dimers) by using specialized polymerases.

Example Question #1 : Help With Recombination

Genetic recombination occurs during __________ of meiosis I, and genetic information is exchanged between __________.

Possible Answers:

metaphase . . . non-sister chromatids

metaphase . . . crossover gametes

anaphase . . . sister chromatids

prophase I . . . non-sister chromatids

prophase I . . . sister chromatids

Correct answer:

prophase I . . . non-sister chromatids

Explanation:

Recombination occurs between homologous chromosomes, not the sister chromatids, and this happens in prophase I of meiosis. 

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

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