Molecular Diagnostics Practice
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. What is the original source for Taq?
- Correct Answer: Thermus aquaticus
2. What is Taq's optimal temperature for synthesizing DNA?
- Correct Answer: 72 C
3. What constitutes one cycle of PCR?
- Correct Answer: After each step is completed once
4. How many times is a cycle of PCR generally repeated?
- Correct Answer: 20-40
5. How many copies of DNA would you have after 3 cycles of PCR?
- Correct Answer: 8
6. How many copies of DNA would you have after 15 cycles of PCR?
- Correct Answer: 32,768
,7. List three post-PCR analysis methods used to detect and/or analyze amplicons.
- Correct Answer: 1. Gel electrophoresis
2. Labeled probes
3. DNA sequencing
8. What is the major cause of contamination in the molecular lab?
- Correct Answer: Aerosols
9. List 2 things that can help prevent contamination in the molecular lab?
- Correct Answer: 1. Physical separation
2. Unidirectional workflow
10. What is meant by PCR "variations"?
- Correct Answer: Adaptations made to the PCR method for various
applications
11. What methods are considered PCR variations?
- Correct Answer: 1. Multiplex PCR
2. Reverse Transcriptase PCR
3. Real time (Quantitative) PCR
4. Others (nested PCR, sequence specific PCR)
12. What is the principle of multiplex PCR?
,- Correct Answer: Simultaneous detection of multiple targets in a single
reaction well
13. What are the common uses of multiplex PCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. SNP genotyping
2. Pathogen detection
3. Forensics
4. Gene deletion analysis
14. What are the advantages/disadvantages of multiplex PCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. More information with smaller sample size
2. Cost effective (less consumables used)
3. Time saving
4. Less opportunity for pipetting errors
15. What is the principle of reverse transcriptase PCR?
- Correct Answer: Revised central dogma, where DNA can be synthesized from
mRNA
-mRNA is used as a template to synthesize cDNA
16. What are the common used of reverse transcriptase PCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. Testing used for RNA viruses (HIV, HCV, etc.)
2. Gene expression in cancer cells
17. What are the advantages/disadvantages of reverse transcriptase PCR?
- Correct Answer: RNA is fragile and prone to destruction by RNAses
, 18. What is the principle of real-time PCR (qPCR)?
- Correct Answer: A modified PCR method that combines PCR with
spectrofluorometry
-Measures target after each cycle using fluorescence
19. What are the common uses of qPCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. Gene expression profiling
2. Viral titers
3. Protein analysis
4. Genetic variation analysis
5. Mutation detection
20. What is cDNA?
- Correct Answer: Complementary DNA
21. What is used to synthesize cDNA?
- Correct Answer: mRNA
22. How often does the target get measured in qPCR?
- Correct Answer: After each cycle
23.List two types of detectors used in qPCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. Non-sequence-specific dyes (SYBR Green)
2. Sequence-specific probes (TaqMan, Molecular Beacons)
Comprehensive Resource To Help You Ace 2026-2027 Exams
Includes Frequently Tested Questions With ELABORATED
100% Correct COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Guaranteed Pass First Attempt!! Current Update!!
1. What is the original source for Taq?
- Correct Answer: Thermus aquaticus
2. What is Taq's optimal temperature for synthesizing DNA?
- Correct Answer: 72 C
3. What constitutes one cycle of PCR?
- Correct Answer: After each step is completed once
4. How many times is a cycle of PCR generally repeated?
- Correct Answer: 20-40
5. How many copies of DNA would you have after 3 cycles of PCR?
- Correct Answer: 8
6. How many copies of DNA would you have after 15 cycles of PCR?
- Correct Answer: 32,768
,7. List three post-PCR analysis methods used to detect and/or analyze amplicons.
- Correct Answer: 1. Gel electrophoresis
2. Labeled probes
3. DNA sequencing
8. What is the major cause of contamination in the molecular lab?
- Correct Answer: Aerosols
9. List 2 things that can help prevent contamination in the molecular lab?
- Correct Answer: 1. Physical separation
2. Unidirectional workflow
10. What is meant by PCR "variations"?
- Correct Answer: Adaptations made to the PCR method for various
applications
11. What methods are considered PCR variations?
- Correct Answer: 1. Multiplex PCR
2. Reverse Transcriptase PCR
3. Real time (Quantitative) PCR
4. Others (nested PCR, sequence specific PCR)
12. What is the principle of multiplex PCR?
,- Correct Answer: Simultaneous detection of multiple targets in a single
reaction well
13. What are the common uses of multiplex PCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. SNP genotyping
2. Pathogen detection
3. Forensics
4. Gene deletion analysis
14. What are the advantages/disadvantages of multiplex PCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. More information with smaller sample size
2. Cost effective (less consumables used)
3. Time saving
4. Less opportunity for pipetting errors
15. What is the principle of reverse transcriptase PCR?
- Correct Answer: Revised central dogma, where DNA can be synthesized from
mRNA
-mRNA is used as a template to synthesize cDNA
16. What are the common used of reverse transcriptase PCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. Testing used for RNA viruses (HIV, HCV, etc.)
2. Gene expression in cancer cells
17. What are the advantages/disadvantages of reverse transcriptase PCR?
- Correct Answer: RNA is fragile and prone to destruction by RNAses
, 18. What is the principle of real-time PCR (qPCR)?
- Correct Answer: A modified PCR method that combines PCR with
spectrofluorometry
-Measures target after each cycle using fluorescence
19. What are the common uses of qPCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. Gene expression profiling
2. Viral titers
3. Protein analysis
4. Genetic variation analysis
5. Mutation detection
20. What is cDNA?
- Correct Answer: Complementary DNA
21. What is used to synthesize cDNA?
- Correct Answer: mRNA
22. How often does the target get measured in qPCR?
- Correct Answer: After each cycle
23.List two types of detectors used in qPCR?
- Correct Answer: 1. Non-sequence-specific dyes (SYBR Green)
2. Sequence-specific probes (TaqMan, Molecular Beacons)
