.OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is the definition of biotechnology?
A. The alteration of DNA in a cell
B. The use of living systems to benefit humankind*
C. Using computers to synthesize biomolecules
D. Using DNA for solving mathematical problems
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 26
2. Which of the following is the definition of genetic engineering?
A. The alteration of DNA in a cell*
B. The use of living systems to benefit humankind
C. Using computers to synthesize biomolecules
D. Using DNA for solving mathematical problems
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 15, 19, 26, 31
3. The first set of genes to be introduced into E. coli came from which of the following?
A. Arabidopsis
B. Haemophilus
C. Mycobacterium
D. Xenopus*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 15, 19
4. Which of the following is a palindrome sequence that could be recognized by a restriction
enzyme?
A. 5′ – GAAAAG – 3′
3′ – CTTTTC – 5′
B. 5′ – GAATTC – 3′
* 3′ – CTTAAG –
5′
C. 5′ – GACT –
3′ 3′ – CTGA
– 5′
D. 5′ – GCCCC – 3′
3′ – CGGGG – 5′
Difficulty: Moderate
Page 1 of 18
, .OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
ASM Standard: 26, 36
Page 2 of 18
, .OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
5. Restriction enzymes (endonucleases) are produced by bacteria as a means of protection
against which infectious agent?
A. antibiotics
B. antibodies
C. bacteriophages*
D. prions
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 18, 26
6. Which of the following enzymes rejoins two sugar-phosphate backbones of DNA?
A. helicase
B. ligase*
C. restriction enzyme
D. reverse transcriptase
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 26, 36
7. Genes to be cloned into a plasmid are typically inserted in which location?
A. in a location disrupting the antibiotic selective marker
B. oriC (origin of replication)
C. polylinker site*
D. randomly
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 19, 26, 36
8. Which genus of bacterium is naturally competent?
A. Bacillus*
B. Escherichia
C. Listeria
D. Yersinia
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 11, 19
9. Which of the following regarding pUC19 and blue/white screening is NOT true?
A. Colonies that appear white have the gene of interest inserted into the plasmid pUC19.
B. pUC19 confers antibiotic resistance.
C. The gene of interest being cloned disrupts the lacI gene.*
D. X-gal is a chromogenic agent used in blue/white screening to test for -galactosidase
activity.
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 19, 26, 36
Page 3 of 18
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following is the definition of biotechnology?
A. The alteration of DNA in a cell
B. The use of living systems to benefit humankind*
C. Using computers to synthesize biomolecules
D. Using DNA for solving mathematical problems
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 26
2. Which of the following is the definition of genetic engineering?
A. The alteration of DNA in a cell*
B. The use of living systems to benefit humankind
C. Using computers to synthesize biomolecules
D. Using DNA for solving mathematical problems
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 15, 19, 26, 31
3. The first set of genes to be introduced into E. coli came from which of the following?
A. Arabidopsis
B. Haemophilus
C. Mycobacterium
D. Xenopus*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 15, 19
4. Which of the following is a palindrome sequence that could be recognized by a restriction
enzyme?
A. 5′ – GAAAAG – 3′
3′ – CTTTTC – 5′
B. 5′ – GAATTC – 3′
* 3′ – CTTAAG –
5′
C. 5′ – GACT –
3′ 3′ – CTGA
– 5′
D. 5′ – GCCCC – 3′
3′ – CGGGG – 5′
Difficulty: Moderate
Page 1 of 18
, .OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
ASM Standard: 26, 36
Page 2 of 18
, .OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 12: Modern Applications of Microbial Genetics
5. Restriction enzymes (endonucleases) are produced by bacteria as a means of protection
against which infectious agent?
A. antibiotics
B. antibodies
C. bacteriophages*
D. prions
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 18, 26
6. Which of the following enzymes rejoins two sugar-phosphate backbones of DNA?
A. helicase
B. ligase*
C. restriction enzyme
D. reverse transcriptase
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 26, 36
7. Genes to be cloned into a plasmid are typically inserted in which location?
A. in a location disrupting the antibiotic selective marker
B. oriC (origin of replication)
C. polylinker site*
D. randomly
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 19, 26, 36
8. Which genus of bacterium is naturally competent?
A. Bacillus*
B. Escherichia
C. Listeria
D. Yersinia
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 11, 19
9. Which of the following regarding pUC19 and blue/white screening is NOT true?
A. Colonies that appear white have the gene of interest inserted into the plasmid pUC19.
B. pUC19 confers antibiotic resistance.
C. The gene of interest being cloned disrupts the lacI gene.*
D. X-gal is a chromogenic agent used in blue/white screening to test for -galactosidase
activity.
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 19, 26, 36
Page 3 of 18
