ASCP MB Review (2025-2026) Test
Exam with Correct Verified and Well
Analyzed Answers Graded A+
primary structure
sequence of amino acids
secondary structure
side chain interactions (ie, alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets)
tertiary structure
configuration of folded proteins; if denatured, loses function
quaternary structure
functional association of separate proteins
UAA, UAG, UGA
nonsense/termination codons
amino acid charging
catalyzed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetase; Mg++ dependent
AUG
start codon (methionine)
size exclusion columns
porous beads that exclude larger molecules and retain smaller
molecules
single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)
short ds PCR products denatured then rapidly cooled; fold into
conformers; resolve on gel; mutations cause different conformation &
migration pattern
denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)
dsDNA fragments separated on PAGE with gradient conc. of urea &
formamide
,sequence specific primer pcr (SSP-PCR)
primer 3' end falls on nucleotide to be analyzed; 3' end must match
template to extend by Taq; presence/absence of product =
presence/absence of mutation
2.9 billion bp
size of human genome
polymorphism
change in dna sequence present in at least 1 - 2% of population
alpha satellite
highly repetitive sequences at centromere, interfere with chromosome
compaction, causes constriction at centromere
metacentric
chromosomal arms equal in length
sub-metacentric
one chromosome arm longer than other
acrocentric
one chromosome arm extremely small
telocentric
only 1 chromosome arm
robertsonian translocation
movement of most of one entire chromosome to centromere of
another
94 - 96°C
denaturation temp.
50 - 70°C
annealing temp.
68 - 75°C
elongation temp.
20 - 30bp
length of pcr primers
, primer dimers
result from binding of primers onto each other through short (2-3
base) homologies at 3' ends & copying of each primer sequence
0.1 - 0.5mM
dNTP concentration for PCR
1 - 4mM
MgCl2 concentration for PCR
positive control
ensures enzyme is active, buffer is optimal, primers are priming right
sequences, thermocycler is cycling properly
negative control (contamination control, reagent blank)
ensures reaction mix isn't contaminated with template DNA or
amplicons
negative template control
lacks target sequence, ensures primers not annealing to nontarget
sequence
amplification control
2nd set of primers and unrelated target, demonstrates that reaction is
working even if test sample not amplified
nested pcr
2 sets of primers used to amplify single target in 2 separate pcr runs
semi-nested pcr
one of 2nd round primers is same as 1st round
taqman probes
probe with dye at 5' end and quencher at 3' end; exonuclease activity
of taq degrades probe, separating dye and quencher allowing
fluorescence
molecular beacons
measures product at annealing step; stem and loop probe with dye at
5' end and quencher at 3' end; probe binds to template during
annealing and fluoresces
scorpion-type primers
Exam with Correct Verified and Well
Analyzed Answers Graded A+
primary structure
sequence of amino acids
secondary structure
side chain interactions (ie, alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets)
tertiary structure
configuration of folded proteins; if denatured, loses function
quaternary structure
functional association of separate proteins
UAA, UAG, UGA
nonsense/termination codons
amino acid charging
catalyzed by aminoacyl tRNA synthetase; Mg++ dependent
AUG
start codon (methionine)
size exclusion columns
porous beads that exclude larger molecules and retain smaller
molecules
single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)
short ds PCR products denatured then rapidly cooled; fold into
conformers; resolve on gel; mutations cause different conformation &
migration pattern
denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)
dsDNA fragments separated on PAGE with gradient conc. of urea &
formamide
,sequence specific primer pcr (SSP-PCR)
primer 3' end falls on nucleotide to be analyzed; 3' end must match
template to extend by Taq; presence/absence of product =
presence/absence of mutation
2.9 billion bp
size of human genome
polymorphism
change in dna sequence present in at least 1 - 2% of population
alpha satellite
highly repetitive sequences at centromere, interfere with chromosome
compaction, causes constriction at centromere
metacentric
chromosomal arms equal in length
sub-metacentric
one chromosome arm longer than other
acrocentric
one chromosome arm extremely small
telocentric
only 1 chromosome arm
robertsonian translocation
movement of most of one entire chromosome to centromere of
another
94 - 96°C
denaturation temp.
50 - 70°C
annealing temp.
68 - 75°C
elongation temp.
20 - 30bp
length of pcr primers
, primer dimers
result from binding of primers onto each other through short (2-3
base) homologies at 3' ends & copying of each primer sequence
0.1 - 0.5mM
dNTP concentration for PCR
1 - 4mM
MgCl2 concentration for PCR
positive control
ensures enzyme is active, buffer is optimal, primers are priming right
sequences, thermocycler is cycling properly
negative control (contamination control, reagent blank)
ensures reaction mix isn't contaminated with template DNA or
amplicons
negative template control
lacks target sequence, ensures primers not annealing to nontarget
sequence
amplification control
2nd set of primers and unrelated target, demonstrates that reaction is
working even if test sample not amplified
nested pcr
2 sets of primers used to amplify single target in 2 separate pcr runs
semi-nested pcr
one of 2nd round primers is same as 1st round
taqman probes
probe with dye at 5' end and quencher at 3' end; exonuclease activity
of taq degrades probe, separating dye and quencher allowing
fluorescence
molecular beacons
measures product at annealing step; stem and loop probe with dye at
5' end and quencher at 3' end; probe binds to template during
annealing and fluoresces
scorpion-type primers
