Free BACE Genetics Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

DNA to RNA to Protein describes the flow of genetic information from storage to functional form

Answer

The central dogma states that genetic information flows from DNA (storage) to RNA (transcription) to protein (translation), with replication maintaining the DNA blueprint.

Question 2

What is the difference between a gene and an allele?

Accepted Answer

A gene is a hereditary unit encoding a trait; an allele is one of the alternative forms of that gene at a specific chromosomal locus

Answer

A gene is a specific DNA sequence that encodes a functional product; alleles are the different sequence variants of that gene that can exist at the same chromosomal locus.

Question 3

What is the result of a frameshift mutation in a protein-coding gene?

Accepted Answer

A shift in the reading frame that alters all downstream codons usually producing a truncated or non-functional protein

Answer

A frameshift mutation (insertion or deletion of non-multiple-of-3 nucleotides) shifts the triplet codon reading frame, causing all downstream amino acids to change and often introducing premature stop codons.

Question 4

What is a promoter in the context of gene expression?

Accepted Answer

A DNA sequence upstream of a gene where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription

Answer

A promoter is a regulatory DNA sequence upstream (5') of a gene that RNA polymerase recognizes and binds to, initiating transcription of the gene.

Question 5

What is the purpose of gel electrophoresis in genetic analysis?

Accepted Answer

To separate DNA fragments by size in an electric field for visualization and analysis

Answer

Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size as they migrate through agarose under an electric field — smaller fragments move faster, allowing size-based analysis of DNA samples.

BACE - Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam Practice Test

BACE - Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam Practice Test

Free BACE Genetics Questions and Answers 2