FREE ASCP Technologist in Molecular Biology Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following would best identify the presence of metabolites in bodily fluids? Mitochondrial abnormalities can be identified by the presence of metabolites in the bloodstream, urine, or cerebral spinal fluid.

Accepted Answer

Mass spectrometry

Answer

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique used to identify and quantify metabolites in complex biological samples such as blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid. For mitochondrial abnormalities, which often involve defects in metabolic pathways, mass spectrometry can detect abnormal levels or patterns of specific metabolites. Its high sensitivity and specificity make it an ideal tool for diagnosing metabolic disorders.

Question 2

Which technique can assist in identifying a poisonous drug present in a person's bloodstream?

Accepted Answer

Mass spectrometry

Answer

Mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive and specific analytical technique widely employed in toxicology for identifying and quantifying drugs and their metabolites in biological samples, such as blood. It works by ionizing molecules and separating them based on their mass-to-charge ratio, creating a unique 'fingerprint' that allows for the precise identification of unknown substances, including poisonous drugs, in a person's bloodstream.

Question 3

A collection of cells absorbs DNA that is floating freely in their surroundings. Here's an illustration of:

Accepted Answer

Horizontal gene transfer

Answer

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the process by which genetic material is transferred between unrelated organisms, rather than from parent to offspring (vertical gene transfer). The absorption of free DNA from the surroundings by a cell is a specific type of HGT known as transformation. This mechanism allows bacteria to acquire new genetic traits, such as antibiotic resistance, from their environment.

Question 4

What kind of horizontal gene transfer is the foundation for the process known as electroporation, which enables cells to absorb large molecules like DNA?

Accepted Answer

Transformation

Answer

Electroporation is a laboratory technique that uses an electrical pulse to create temporary pores in cell membranes, allowing large molecules like DNA to enter the cell. This process is a form of artificial transformation, which is a type of horizontal gene transfer where a cell takes up naked DNA from its environment. Therefore, electroporation fundamentally relies on the principle of transformation to introduce foreign DNA into cells.

Question 5

What kind of sequencing of DNA use dideoxynucleotides as sequence terminators?

Accepted Answer

Sanger sequencing

Answer

Sanger sequencing, also known as chain-termination sequencing, utilizes dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs) as chain terminators. These ddNTPs lack a 3'-hydroxyl group, preventing the addition of further nucleotides once incorporated into a growing DNA strand. This causes termination of DNA synthesis at specific bases, allowing for the determination of the DNA sequence by separating fragments of different lengths.

ASCP Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test

ASCP Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test

FREE ASCP Technologist in Molecular Biology Questions and Answers