BIO 101 NVCC Comprehensive Biology Study
Guide 2026: Cell Biology, Genetics, Metabolism &
Core Concepts with Exam Prep Questions
A molecule that facilitates the formation of covalent bonds between
nucleotides: - ............ANSWER..........DNA ligase
A set of techniques for manipulating DNA:
- ............ANSWER..........DNA technology
The use of organisms or their products for human purposes:
- ............ANSWER..........Biotechnology
The creation of a large number of copies of a target sequence of DNA:
- ............ANSWER..........DNA cloning
A round bacterial chromosome: - ............ANSWER..........Plasmid
DNA combined from two different sources:
- ............ANSWER..........Recombinant DNA
Purposefully altering genes for human purposes:
- ............ANSWER..........Genetic engineering
True or false: Plasmids are crucial in gene cloning because they can carry
almost any gene. If false, make it a correct statement.
- ............ANSWER..........True
,Why is the DNA in steps 3 and 4 cut with the same enzyme? Refer to
Figure 12.1B on page 237 of your textbook.
- ............ANSWER..........This way the two sources of DNA can be mixed
and spliced together because the ends of the cuts will match.
Restriction enzymes do not cut the DNA of bacteria because of
___________ groups on the bacterial DNA. Refer to the "Visualizing the
Concept" on page 238 of your textbook. - ............ANSWER..........methyl
Bacteria can be infected by viruses just as human cells can. Propose an
explanation for the normal role of restriction enzymes in a bacterial cell. -
............ANSWER..........A possible explanation is that bacteria can
degrade invading viral DNA.
Which of the following explains why DNA from two different sources
can be joined together as long as they were cut with the same restriction
enzyme?
a. The restriction enzyme forms hydrogen bonds with the DNA.
b. The bases at the sticky ends will be complementary to each other.
c. DNA ligase recognizes that the two sources of DNA were cut with the
same enzyme and joins the fragments.
d. The restriction fragments will be the exact same length, which allows
the two fragments to join - ............ANSWER..........b. The bases at the
sticky ends will be complementary to each other.
A short radioactively/fluorescently labeled single strand of DNA is
known as a(n) - ............ANSWER..........nucleic acid probe.
, A researcher wants to search a genomic library for a plasmid that
contains the human gene for human growth hormone (HGH). He needs to
design a nucleic acid probe that will recognize the gene contained within
the library. The only other information he has is that a short sequence of
the mRNA made from the HGH gene reads: AGGCUAUCGC. Would he
be able to make a nucleic acid probe from this information? Briefly
explain your answer either way. - ............ANSWER..........Yes, he would
be able to because of the complementary nature of the bases.
True or false: A scientist can obtain cDNA from every gene from a
particular cell. If false, make it a correct statement.
- ............ANSWER..........False, the scientist can obtain cDNA only from
the genes that are actively being transcribed at that time.
A biologist makes cDNA from a normal pancreatic cell and then from a
cancerous pancreatic cell. The biologist expects the cDNA to be different
between the two cells. Briefly explain why you think she is doing this
experiment. - ............ANSWER..........The biologist is trying to determine
what, if any, differences there are in gene expression between the two
conditions.
Briefly explain how the CRISPR-Cas9 system could be used to
potentially edit mutant genes that cause disease in humans. Refer to
Figure 12.5 on page 240. - ............ANSWER..........A segment of the
normal gene is inserted along with the Cas9 RNA complex. The Cas9
complex will cut the defective gene at which point the cell's normal
repair enzymes will use the functional gene as a template to repair the
defective gene.
List three reasons why bacteria are great organisms for the mass
production of desirable protein products.
Guide 2026: Cell Biology, Genetics, Metabolism &
Core Concepts with Exam Prep Questions
A molecule that facilitates the formation of covalent bonds between
nucleotides: - ............ANSWER..........DNA ligase
A set of techniques for manipulating DNA:
- ............ANSWER..........DNA technology
The use of organisms or their products for human purposes:
- ............ANSWER..........Biotechnology
The creation of a large number of copies of a target sequence of DNA:
- ............ANSWER..........DNA cloning
A round bacterial chromosome: - ............ANSWER..........Plasmid
DNA combined from two different sources:
- ............ANSWER..........Recombinant DNA
Purposefully altering genes for human purposes:
- ............ANSWER..........Genetic engineering
True or false: Plasmids are crucial in gene cloning because they can carry
almost any gene. If false, make it a correct statement.
- ............ANSWER..........True
,Why is the DNA in steps 3 and 4 cut with the same enzyme? Refer to
Figure 12.1B on page 237 of your textbook.
- ............ANSWER..........This way the two sources of DNA can be mixed
and spliced together because the ends of the cuts will match.
Restriction enzymes do not cut the DNA of bacteria because of
___________ groups on the bacterial DNA. Refer to the "Visualizing the
Concept" on page 238 of your textbook. - ............ANSWER..........methyl
Bacteria can be infected by viruses just as human cells can. Propose an
explanation for the normal role of restriction enzymes in a bacterial cell. -
............ANSWER..........A possible explanation is that bacteria can
degrade invading viral DNA.
Which of the following explains why DNA from two different sources
can be joined together as long as they were cut with the same restriction
enzyme?
a. The restriction enzyme forms hydrogen bonds with the DNA.
b. The bases at the sticky ends will be complementary to each other.
c. DNA ligase recognizes that the two sources of DNA were cut with the
same enzyme and joins the fragments.
d. The restriction fragments will be the exact same length, which allows
the two fragments to join - ............ANSWER..........b. The bases at the
sticky ends will be complementary to each other.
A short radioactively/fluorescently labeled single strand of DNA is
known as a(n) - ............ANSWER..........nucleic acid probe.
, A researcher wants to search a genomic library for a plasmid that
contains the human gene for human growth hormone (HGH). He needs to
design a nucleic acid probe that will recognize the gene contained within
the library. The only other information he has is that a short sequence of
the mRNA made from the HGH gene reads: AGGCUAUCGC. Would he
be able to make a nucleic acid probe from this information? Briefly
explain your answer either way. - ............ANSWER..........Yes, he would
be able to because of the complementary nature of the bases.
True or false: A scientist can obtain cDNA from every gene from a
particular cell. If false, make it a correct statement.
- ............ANSWER..........False, the scientist can obtain cDNA only from
the genes that are actively being transcribed at that time.
A biologist makes cDNA from a normal pancreatic cell and then from a
cancerous pancreatic cell. The biologist expects the cDNA to be different
between the two cells. Briefly explain why you think she is doing this
experiment. - ............ANSWER..........The biologist is trying to determine
what, if any, differences there are in gene expression between the two
conditions.
Briefly explain how the CRISPR-Cas9 system could be used to
potentially edit mutant genes that cause disease in humans. Refer to
Figure 12.5 on page 240. - ............ANSWER..........A segment of the
normal gene is inserted along with the Cas9 RNA complex. The Cas9
complex will cut the defective gene at which point the cell's normal
repair enzymes will use the functional gene as a template to repair the
defective gene.
List three reasons why bacteria are great organisms for the mass
production of desirable protein products.
