GENETICS EXAM REVIEWED
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which term or phrase is used to describe the ability of
the environment to cause different phenotypes to
develop from the same genotype?
A. Developmental plasticity
B. Histone modification
C. Phenotype variability
D. Nutrigenomics
A. Developmental plasticity
How is alcohol consumption thought to increase
methylation in cancer suppressor genes to increase
the risk for head and neck cancer?
A. Preventing DNA repair
B. Enhancing cell division
C. Acting as a methyl donor
D. Activating select oncogenes
C. Acting as a methyl donor
What would be the expected outcome for a person
who has a normal gene allele and an abnormal gene
allele for insulin and the area around the abnormal
gene allele is heavily methylated?
,A. Normal insulin is produced in normal amounts
B. Normal insulin is produced in lower-than-normal
amounts
C. Abnormal insulin is produced in normal amounts
D. Abnormal insulin is produced in higher-than-normal
amounts
B. Normal insulin is produced in lower-than-normal
amounts
Which statement regarding the influence of epigenetic
changes on gene expression is always true?
A. The change must be inherited from the parent of
the same gender as the child for expression to be
affected
B. Although gene expression is changed by inheriting
these changes, the gene's DNA sequence remains
unaffected
C. Epigenetic changes must first occur in the parental
somatic cells in order to be inherited
D. These changes occur throughout the genome
rather than in the area of any single specific gene
B. Although gene expression is changed by inheriting
these changes, the gene's DNA sequence remains
unaffected
What part of a chromosome's DNA is altered by
histone modification?
A. Complementary base pairing
B. Attachment of phosphate groups
C. Development of telomeric "caps"
D. The degree of tension in helical tightness
,D. The degree of tension in helical tightness
What would be the expected result when the area
around an oncogene is hypomethylated?
A. Cell division increases; cancer risk increases
B. Cell division increases; cancer risk decreases
C. Cell division decreases; cancer risk decreases
D. Cell division decreases; cancer risk increases
A. Cell division increases; cancer risk increases
By which mechanism does microRNA "silence" gene
expression?
A. Preventing cytoplasm from coming into contact
with the gene
B. Surrounding mRNA and preventing attachment of
ribosomes
C. Binding to mRNA and keeping it double stranded
D. Substituting a thymine for uracil
C. Binding to mRNA and keeping it double stranded
Which statement about the microbiome is true?
A. The microbiome does not undergo further changes
after development is complete
B. With aging, its influence on health is reduced
C. The microbiome is necessary for good health
D. identical twins have identical microbiomes
C. The microbiome is necessary for good health
How is eating a diet high in broccoli alter gene
expression?
A. Increasing the excretion rate of foods known to be
methyl donors
, B. Increasing histone acetylation, turning on
anticancer genes
C. Decreasing the rate of microDNA synthesis and
activity
D. Decreasing the exposure of carcinogens to nuclear
DNA
B. Increasing histone acetylation, turning on anticancer
genes
How does histone modification alter gene expression?
A. Modified histones result in increased DNA
methylation, which increases the transcription of
genes in that area
B. In areas where histones are modified, the DNA is
more tightly wound, and genes are not transcribed
C. Histone modification results in an increase in
microRNA production, which inhibits gene expression
by preventing translation
D. Histone modification results in an increase in
microRNA production, which promotes gene
expression by enhancing translation
B. In areas where histones are modified, the DNA is more
tightly wound, and genes are not transcribed
In fragile X syndrome, only noncoding regions within
the gene for a protein that directs and maintains brain
development are heavily methylated, resulting in
decreased cognitive ability and behavioral problems.
What is the most likely mechanism of this abnormal
expression?
A. Increased microRNA molecules reducing the
QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which term or phrase is used to describe the ability of
the environment to cause different phenotypes to
develop from the same genotype?
A. Developmental plasticity
B. Histone modification
C. Phenotype variability
D. Nutrigenomics
A. Developmental plasticity
How is alcohol consumption thought to increase
methylation in cancer suppressor genes to increase
the risk for head and neck cancer?
A. Preventing DNA repair
B. Enhancing cell division
C. Acting as a methyl donor
D. Activating select oncogenes
C. Acting as a methyl donor
What would be the expected outcome for a person
who has a normal gene allele and an abnormal gene
allele for insulin and the area around the abnormal
gene allele is heavily methylated?
,A. Normal insulin is produced in normal amounts
B. Normal insulin is produced in lower-than-normal
amounts
C. Abnormal insulin is produced in normal amounts
D. Abnormal insulin is produced in higher-than-normal
amounts
B. Normal insulin is produced in lower-than-normal
amounts
Which statement regarding the influence of epigenetic
changes on gene expression is always true?
A. The change must be inherited from the parent of
the same gender as the child for expression to be
affected
B. Although gene expression is changed by inheriting
these changes, the gene's DNA sequence remains
unaffected
C. Epigenetic changes must first occur in the parental
somatic cells in order to be inherited
D. These changes occur throughout the genome
rather than in the area of any single specific gene
B. Although gene expression is changed by inheriting
these changes, the gene's DNA sequence remains
unaffected
What part of a chromosome's DNA is altered by
histone modification?
A. Complementary base pairing
B. Attachment of phosphate groups
C. Development of telomeric "caps"
D. The degree of tension in helical tightness
,D. The degree of tension in helical tightness
What would be the expected result when the area
around an oncogene is hypomethylated?
A. Cell division increases; cancer risk increases
B. Cell division increases; cancer risk decreases
C. Cell division decreases; cancer risk decreases
D. Cell division decreases; cancer risk increases
A. Cell division increases; cancer risk increases
By which mechanism does microRNA "silence" gene
expression?
A. Preventing cytoplasm from coming into contact
with the gene
B. Surrounding mRNA and preventing attachment of
ribosomes
C. Binding to mRNA and keeping it double stranded
D. Substituting a thymine for uracil
C. Binding to mRNA and keeping it double stranded
Which statement about the microbiome is true?
A. The microbiome does not undergo further changes
after development is complete
B. With aging, its influence on health is reduced
C. The microbiome is necessary for good health
D. identical twins have identical microbiomes
C. The microbiome is necessary for good health
How is eating a diet high in broccoli alter gene
expression?
A. Increasing the excretion rate of foods known to be
methyl donors
, B. Increasing histone acetylation, turning on
anticancer genes
C. Decreasing the rate of microDNA synthesis and
activity
D. Decreasing the exposure of carcinogens to nuclear
DNA
B. Increasing histone acetylation, turning on anticancer
genes
How does histone modification alter gene expression?
A. Modified histones result in increased DNA
methylation, which increases the transcription of
genes in that area
B. In areas where histones are modified, the DNA is
more tightly wound, and genes are not transcribed
C. Histone modification results in an increase in
microRNA production, which inhibits gene expression
by preventing translation
D. Histone modification results in an increase in
microRNA production, which promotes gene
expression by enhancing translation
B. In areas where histones are modified, the DNA is more
tightly wound, and genes are not transcribed
In fragile X syndrome, only noncoding regions within
the gene for a protein that directs and maintains brain
development are heavily methylated, resulting in
decreased cognitive ability and behavioral problems.
What is the most likely mechanism of this abnormal
expression?
A. Increased microRNA molecules reducing the
