MB ASCP Exam Study Guide Questions And Answers
Verified 100% Correct
What are the components of a nucleotide? - ANSWER Phosphate group, ribose sugar,
nitrogen base
Clinical laboratories must have clearly written protocols in place describing handling of
specimens for clinical testing. Many factors can affect testing performance before the
actual testing is conducted. Such factors or variables are collectively known as
preanalytical. All the pre-analytical variables that can have a negative impact on
clinical testing: - ANSWER Storage conditions
Patient identifiers
Anticoagulant in collection tubes
Transport procedures
Its discovery shed light on why there is simultaneous, though not continuous, synthesis
of DNA on both leading and lagging strands of DNA: - ANSWER Okazaki fragments
What is the rate of DNA translation? - ANSWER 60 nucleotides per second
Which of the following is least likely to increase the specificity of a PCR reaction? -
ANSWER Decrease the annealing temperature of primers
What assay amplifies the target using reverse transcriptase? - ANSWER TMA
Testing for HOXB13, BRCA1 and BCRA2 is usually done in patients with: - ANSWER
Prostate cancer
In what part of a qPCR Amplification Plot do you take your measurement? - ANSWER
Exponential phase
What is the name of the molecule that is added to the 5' end of eukaryotic RNA
transcripts? - ANSWER GTP
Mutations in the CFTR gene is associated with what disease? - ANSWER Cystic
Fibrosis
The phosphate group in a nucleotide is expected to be found on which position of the
sugar? - ANSWER C5'
Southern blot can be used for all of the following purposes: - ANSWER Paternity
testing
Gene discovery and mapping
,Mutation analysis and identification
Sources of DNA damage: - ANSWER Chemical damage
Attack by water
Radiation damage
Between which phosphate groups is the linkage between the GTP molecule and RNA
chain in the 5' cap? - ANSWER Alpha-beta
Characteristics of eukaryotic DNA transcription: - ANSWER Multiple RNA
polymerases
TATA-binding protein
Transcription factors
Next Generation Sequencing uses: - ANSWER Short sequence reads
Deletion in the paternal chromosome 15: del(15)(q11q13) results in Prader-willi
syndrome. However, deletion in the same region in the maternal chromosome results
in a completely different condition known as Angelman syndrome. This phenomenon is
an example of: - ANSWER Genomic imprinting
Which DNA polymerase is responsible for copying DNA by reading existing strand,
building new complementary strand and always adds to 3' end, but can't start a new
strand on its own (ORI sites)? - ANSWER DNA Polymerase III
A technologist uses the spectrophotometer to quantify the amount of DNA extracted
from a blood specimen diluted 1:30. The absorbance reading at 260 nm was found to
be 2.545. If the absorbance at 280 nm gave a reading of 1.406, and if the the DNA
extract was re-suspended in 0.800 mL of EDTA solution, the DNA yield is: - ANSWER
3054 micrograms
This highly polymorphic loci region is crucial in assessing immune system compatibility:
- ANSWER HLA
Essential steps specific to the isolation of RNA: - ANSWER Lyse the cells
Treat with protease
Treat with DNase
This polymerase acts on DNA and produces Transfer RNA: - ANSWER RNA Pol III
A parent has an autosomal dominant disorder. What percent chance does this parent
have to pass down this affected gene to his/her child? - ANSWER 50%
Which PCR method has the highest specificity? - ANSWER Nested PCR
,What is multiplex PCR? - ANSWER A PCR technique to amplify multiple targets
What signals the end of transcription? - ANSWER Terminator
What is the most common mutation in Hemochromatosis? - ANSWER C282Y
Which method would best be used to detect the Leiden mutation? - ANSWER PCR-
RFLP
Which of the following will more likely lower stringency conditions in the washing step
of a hybridization experiment? - ANSWER Increase the concentration of salt in the
wash solution buffer
A technologist uses the spectrophotometer to quantify the amount of DNA extracted
from a blood specimen diluted 1:30. The absorbance reading at 260 nm was found to
be 2.545. The concentration of DNA in this extract is: - ANSWER 3817.5
micrograms/mL
How many hydrogen bonds are formed between one A:T base pair? - ANSWER 2
Which of the following is the sequence of the -10 region of prokaryotic promoters? -
ANSWER TATAAT
What does the MSI test detect? - ANSWER Microsatellite instability
What are the phases in a qPCR Amplification Plot? - ANSWER Initiation, exponential,
plateau
Find the palindrome in this restriction enzyme site: 5'-CTGCAG-3' - ANSWER 3'-GAC
What does barcoding do in Next Generation Sequencing? - ANSWER Adds a unique
tag to all nucleic acids within one sample so that various samples can be mixed
The t(11;22) translocation is responsible for: - ANSWER Ewing sarcoma
What is the enzyme responsible for stitching together Okazaki fragments? - ANSWER
Ligase
While at the doctor's office with your father, you overheard his physician tell another
physician that test results came in, confirming the presence of the Factor V Leiden
mutation, a mutation associated with deep venous thrombosis. Which of the following
is the mutation your father has: - ANSWER 1691G>A
What type of restriction enzyme has methylation activity? - ANSWER Type I
, What assay amplifies the target using DNA polymerase? - ANSWER PCR
Testing for Aldehyde Dehydrogenase deficiency is important in patients with: -
ANSWER Alcohol dependence
The bond between a phosphate group and the ribose sugar group in RNA is called
which of the following? - ANSWER Glycosidic bond
You have sequenced a gene and observe the following:
Reference: atgctggcacgacaggtttcccgActgg
Sequenced: atgctggcacgacaggtttcccgCctgg
The mutation observed is a: - ANSWER Silent mutation
What links codons and anti-codons together during DNA translation? - ANSWER
Complementary base pairing
Sickle cell disease is an autosomal genetic disease due to a point mutation in the
betaglobin gene, where glutamic acid is substituted for valine at the sixth codon of the
gene, resulting in a faulty hemoglobin S (Hb S). Sickle cell disease is one of many
genetic diseases where a single gene controls the expression of many phenotypic
traits. The phenomenon where a single gene controls the expression of many
phenotypic traits is best referred to as: - ANSWER Pleiotrophy
RT-PCR can be used to quantify messenger RNA (mRNA) among other uses. All of the
following concerning RT-PCR are true: - ANSWER PT PCR is useful in detecting RNA-
viruses, such as HIV
RT PCR produces cDNA using RNA templates
All of the following methods of amplification are considered target amplification: -
ANSWER Quantitative PCR
Strand Displacement Amplification
Reverse Transcriptase PCR
What genes would be screened in a colorectal panel? - ANSWER KRAS, BRAF,
PIK3CA
If a woman is infected with the HPV virus, what increases her risk of developing cervical
cancer? - ANSWER Smoking
The ideal spacing between the -10 and -35 regions of a prokaryotic promoter is: -
ANSWER 17
Verified 100% Correct
What are the components of a nucleotide? - ANSWER Phosphate group, ribose sugar,
nitrogen base
Clinical laboratories must have clearly written protocols in place describing handling of
specimens for clinical testing. Many factors can affect testing performance before the
actual testing is conducted. Such factors or variables are collectively known as
preanalytical. All the pre-analytical variables that can have a negative impact on
clinical testing: - ANSWER Storage conditions
Patient identifiers
Anticoagulant in collection tubes
Transport procedures
Its discovery shed light on why there is simultaneous, though not continuous, synthesis
of DNA on both leading and lagging strands of DNA: - ANSWER Okazaki fragments
What is the rate of DNA translation? - ANSWER 60 nucleotides per second
Which of the following is least likely to increase the specificity of a PCR reaction? -
ANSWER Decrease the annealing temperature of primers
What assay amplifies the target using reverse transcriptase? - ANSWER TMA
Testing for HOXB13, BRCA1 and BCRA2 is usually done in patients with: - ANSWER
Prostate cancer
In what part of a qPCR Amplification Plot do you take your measurement? - ANSWER
Exponential phase
What is the name of the molecule that is added to the 5' end of eukaryotic RNA
transcripts? - ANSWER GTP
Mutations in the CFTR gene is associated with what disease? - ANSWER Cystic
Fibrosis
The phosphate group in a nucleotide is expected to be found on which position of the
sugar? - ANSWER C5'
Southern blot can be used for all of the following purposes: - ANSWER Paternity
testing
Gene discovery and mapping
,Mutation analysis and identification
Sources of DNA damage: - ANSWER Chemical damage
Attack by water
Radiation damage
Between which phosphate groups is the linkage between the GTP molecule and RNA
chain in the 5' cap? - ANSWER Alpha-beta
Characteristics of eukaryotic DNA transcription: - ANSWER Multiple RNA
polymerases
TATA-binding protein
Transcription factors
Next Generation Sequencing uses: - ANSWER Short sequence reads
Deletion in the paternal chromosome 15: del(15)(q11q13) results in Prader-willi
syndrome. However, deletion in the same region in the maternal chromosome results
in a completely different condition known as Angelman syndrome. This phenomenon is
an example of: - ANSWER Genomic imprinting
Which DNA polymerase is responsible for copying DNA by reading existing strand,
building new complementary strand and always adds to 3' end, but can't start a new
strand on its own (ORI sites)? - ANSWER DNA Polymerase III
A technologist uses the spectrophotometer to quantify the amount of DNA extracted
from a blood specimen diluted 1:30. The absorbance reading at 260 nm was found to
be 2.545. If the absorbance at 280 nm gave a reading of 1.406, and if the the DNA
extract was re-suspended in 0.800 mL of EDTA solution, the DNA yield is: - ANSWER
3054 micrograms
This highly polymorphic loci region is crucial in assessing immune system compatibility:
- ANSWER HLA
Essential steps specific to the isolation of RNA: - ANSWER Lyse the cells
Treat with protease
Treat with DNase
This polymerase acts on DNA and produces Transfer RNA: - ANSWER RNA Pol III
A parent has an autosomal dominant disorder. What percent chance does this parent
have to pass down this affected gene to his/her child? - ANSWER 50%
Which PCR method has the highest specificity? - ANSWER Nested PCR
,What is multiplex PCR? - ANSWER A PCR technique to amplify multiple targets
What signals the end of transcription? - ANSWER Terminator
What is the most common mutation in Hemochromatosis? - ANSWER C282Y
Which method would best be used to detect the Leiden mutation? - ANSWER PCR-
RFLP
Which of the following will more likely lower stringency conditions in the washing step
of a hybridization experiment? - ANSWER Increase the concentration of salt in the
wash solution buffer
A technologist uses the spectrophotometer to quantify the amount of DNA extracted
from a blood specimen diluted 1:30. The absorbance reading at 260 nm was found to
be 2.545. The concentration of DNA in this extract is: - ANSWER 3817.5
micrograms/mL
How many hydrogen bonds are formed between one A:T base pair? - ANSWER 2
Which of the following is the sequence of the -10 region of prokaryotic promoters? -
ANSWER TATAAT
What does the MSI test detect? - ANSWER Microsatellite instability
What are the phases in a qPCR Amplification Plot? - ANSWER Initiation, exponential,
plateau
Find the palindrome in this restriction enzyme site: 5'-CTGCAG-3' - ANSWER 3'-GAC
What does barcoding do in Next Generation Sequencing? - ANSWER Adds a unique
tag to all nucleic acids within one sample so that various samples can be mixed
The t(11;22) translocation is responsible for: - ANSWER Ewing sarcoma
What is the enzyme responsible for stitching together Okazaki fragments? - ANSWER
Ligase
While at the doctor's office with your father, you overheard his physician tell another
physician that test results came in, confirming the presence of the Factor V Leiden
mutation, a mutation associated with deep venous thrombosis. Which of the following
is the mutation your father has: - ANSWER 1691G>A
What type of restriction enzyme has methylation activity? - ANSWER Type I
, What assay amplifies the target using DNA polymerase? - ANSWER PCR
Testing for Aldehyde Dehydrogenase deficiency is important in patients with: -
ANSWER Alcohol dependence
The bond between a phosphate group and the ribose sugar group in RNA is called
which of the following? - ANSWER Glycosidic bond
You have sequenced a gene and observe the following:
Reference: atgctggcacgacaggtttcccgActgg
Sequenced: atgctggcacgacaggtttcccgCctgg
The mutation observed is a: - ANSWER Silent mutation
What links codons and anti-codons together during DNA translation? - ANSWER
Complementary base pairing
Sickle cell disease is an autosomal genetic disease due to a point mutation in the
betaglobin gene, where glutamic acid is substituted for valine at the sixth codon of the
gene, resulting in a faulty hemoglobin S (Hb S). Sickle cell disease is one of many
genetic diseases where a single gene controls the expression of many phenotypic
traits. The phenomenon where a single gene controls the expression of many
phenotypic traits is best referred to as: - ANSWER Pleiotrophy
RT-PCR can be used to quantify messenger RNA (mRNA) among other uses. All of the
following concerning RT-PCR are true: - ANSWER PT PCR is useful in detecting RNA-
viruses, such as HIV
RT PCR produces cDNA using RNA templates
All of the following methods of amplification are considered target amplification: -
ANSWER Quantitative PCR
Strand Displacement Amplification
Reverse Transcriptase PCR
What genes would be screened in a colorectal panel? - ANSWER KRAS, BRAF,
PIK3CA
If a woman is infected with the HPV virus, what increases her risk of developing cervical
cancer? - ANSWER Smoking
The ideal spacing between the -10 and -35 regions of a prokaryotic promoter is: -
ANSWER 17
