Download View/Open

SOUTH EASTERN KENYA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2016/2017
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR SCIENCE
IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BCH 207: BIOCHEMISTRY OF MICROOGANISMS II
DATE:15TH DECEMBER, 2016
TIME: 10.3012.30 P.M
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
(a) Answer ALL the Questions in Section A
(b) Answer ANY TWO Questions in Section B
(c) Illustrate your answers with well labeled diagrams where appropriate
SECTION A (30 marks)
1. Explain the following terms:
i.
ii.
iii.
Attenuation
Operon
Repressible genes
(2 marks).
(2 marks).
(2 marks).
2. Distinguish between retrotransposons and transposons.
(4 marks).
3. Explain the significance of gene transfer in bacteria.
(5 marks).
4. State any five features of a bacterial plasmid.
(5 marks).
5. Explain the three structural genes that code for enzymes involved in lactose
metabolism.
6. Explain any two factors that affect bacterial gene transformation.
SEKU/09-12/2016/2017
(6 marks).
(4 marks).
Page 1
SECTION B (40 marks)
7. Describe the process of gene transcription in Escherichia coli.
(20 marks).
8 a) Discuss any four regulatory mechanisms of gene transcription in
Bacillus subtilis.
b) Discuss the mode of action of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms.
(8 marks).
(12 marks).
9 a) Describe the molecular mechanism by which bacteria utilizes glucose as a
source of energy.
(10 marks).
b) Discuss any two ways of bacterial enzymatic activity regulation.
(10 marks).
10. Discuss conjugation as a mechanism of gene transfer in bacteria.
(20 marks).
SEKU/09-12/2016/2017
Page 2