Download genetic engineering and biotechnology sample questions File

1.
Which enzymes are needed to produce recombinant plasmids that are used in gene transfer?
A.
DNA polymerase and ligase
B.
DNA polymerase and restriction enzymes
C.
Restriction enzymes and ligase
D.
Helicase and restriction enzymes
(Total 1 mark)
2.
The following is a DNA gel. The results are from a single probe showing a DNA profile for a
man, a woman and their four children.
mother
child 2 father child 4
child 1
child 3
origin
I.
II.
III.
IV.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Which child is least likely to be the biological offspring of the father?
A.
Child 1
B.
Child 2
C.
Child 3
D.
Child 4
(Total 1 mark)
1
3.
Weeds growing with crop plants can reduce yields because they compete for nutrients, water
and sunlight. Synthetic chemical herbicides are often used to control these weeds. Herbicides
are classified by the kinds of plants they kill and their mechanism of action. Broad-spectrum
herbicides kill many different kinds of plants, but often kill the crop plant as well. Genetic
engineering can create resistance to specific broad-spectrum herbicides which may solve the
problem in crop plants.
Different genes from bacterial sources known to protect against the effects of individual
herbicides were engineered into corn plants (Zea mais). The resistance of normal and
genetically engineered corn plants was measured and compared by calculating the percentage of
plants that survived for 200 days with regular herbicide treatments.
Graph 1
Exposure of Normal and Resistant Plants to Different Herbicides
100
80
60
Percentage of plants
surviving 200 days
40
20
0
GP-R+BR-R BR-R+GU-R BR-R+SU-R GU-R+SU-R
GP+BR
BR+GU
BR+SU
GU+SU
Herbicide treatment on resistant plants
(a)
(i)
Herbicide
Resistant Genes
GP
Glyphosate
GP-R
BR
Bromozymil
BR-R
GU
Glufosinate
GU-R
SU
Sulfonylurea
SU-R
Calculate the difference between the survival of engineered plants and normal
plants treated with Glyphosate (GP).
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
2
(ii)
Identify the engineered plant which shows the greatest difference in resistance to
herbicide treatment.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(iii)
Suggest a reason for the difference in survival of the normal plants treated with
Glyphosate (GP) and Bromozymil (BR).
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(b)
(i)
Define the term genetically modified crop.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
State an example of a genetically modified plant other than corn.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
3
The graph below represents data from experiments in which plants were genetically engineered
with more than one resistance gene.
Graph 2
Exposure of resistant plants to combinations of herbicides
100
80
60
Percentage of plants
surviving 200 days
40
20
0
GP+BR
BR+GU
BR+SU
GU+SU
Herbicide treatment on resistant plants
(c)
(i)
Using both graphs, compare the data for BR-R with the data for SU-R, and for BRR + SU-R in the same plant.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(2)
(ii)
Suggest a possible reason for these results.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
4
(d)
Evaluate the effects on survival when combining two herbicide resistance genes in the
same plant.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 11 marks)
4.
Outline a basic technique for gene transfer involving plasmids.
(Total 5 marks)
5.
Outline the process of DNA profiling (genetic fingerprinting), including ways in which it can be
used.
(Total 6 marks)
6.
(a)
State one advantage and one disadvantage of genetic modification technology for crop
plants.
Advantage:
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
Disadvantage:
........................................................................................................
........................................................................................................
(2)
5
(b)
Explain the effect of base substitution mutation in sickle cell anemia.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)
7.
What was the original goal of the Human Genome Project?
A.
To determine the function of genes
B.
To determine the nucleotide sequence of all human chromosomes
C.
To determine how genes control biological processes
D.
To understand the evolution of species
(Total 1 mark)
8.
A tiny amount of DNA was obtained from a crime scene and amplified. Following digestion
with restriction enzymes, which laboratory technique would be used to separate the fragments of
DNA?
A.
Karyotyping
B.
Genetic screening
C.
Gel electrophoresis
D.
Polymerase chain reaction
(Total 1 mark)
6