Download CIT - Cork Institute of Technology

CORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
INSTITIÚID TEICNEOLAÍOCHTA CHORCAÍ
Winter Examinations 2012/13
Module Title: Introductory Molecular Biology
Module Code:
GENE7001
School:
Science
Programme Title(s):
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science
Programmes Code(s):
SBISC_8_Y2
External Examiner(s):
Prof Richard O’Kennedy
Internal Examiner(s):
Mr Christopher Johnston
Instructions:
Answer 4 out of 5 questions. All questions carry equal marks.
Duration:
2 hours.
Sitting:
Winter. Semester 1 2012
Requirements for this examination:
Note to Candidates: Please check the Programme Title and the Module Title to ensure that you have received the
correct examination. If in doubt please contact an Invigilator.
Page 1 of 3
Q1.
a) Describe the experiments of Fred Griffith and the Hershey/Chase experiment.
How did they contribute to determining DNA was the genetic material?
(15marks)
b) Describe the three associated enzymatic activities of E.coli DNA polymerase.
(5marks)
c) Draw the structure of the 4 nitrogenous bases associated with DNA, indicate which are
purines and which are pyrimidines
(5marks)
(25 marks)
Q2.
a) What are the ingredients needed to conduct the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on a
gene and what are the function/s of each component.
(10marks)
b) In relation to chromosome abnormalities, describe the different types of structural
abnormalities.
(10marks)
c) Explain what is meant by the term eukaryote RNA splicing.
(5marks)
(25 marks)
Q3. In relation to bacterial conjugation (using diagrams where appropriate):
a) Describe the different types of E. coli donor and recipient strains.
(10 marks)
b) Describe a typical conjugative mating event between two of the strains you have
described.
(15 marks)
(25 marks)
Page 2 of 3
Q4. Write a detailed account of the manner in which a mRNA template is translated to a
polypeptide chain in a prokaryotic cell.
(25 marks)
Q5.
a) Discuss the structure of the trp operon and its regulation in both the presence and absence
of tryptophan.
(15 marks)
b) In relation to point mutations within a coding region of a gene, differentiate between the
following mutations and indicate their effect at an amino acid level.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Silent
Missense
Nonsense
Frameshift
(10 marks)
(25 marks)
Page 3 of 3