Cytogenetics Questions and Answers Part-17

1. Consider that our codon in place of being triplet was quadruplet. How many possible combinations could be there then?
a) 64
b) 128
c) 256
d) 360

Answer: c
Explanation: There are 4 DNA bases and triplet coodon so number of possible combinations id 43=64. Now if the codon was quadruplet the combinations would be 44=256.

2. Which of the following is not a stop codon?
a) UAA
b) GUG
c) UAG
d) UGA

Answer: b
Explanation: GUG is not a stop codon, rather it is a start codon which can be used in place of AUG. On the other hand UAA, UAG and UGA are stop codons.

3. In an experiment if you add poly A oigon-dNTP in a nucleotide free cell lysate. Which of the labeled amino acid do you expect to be incorporated in the peptide so formed?
a) Lys
b) Phe
c) Pro
d) Leu

Answer: b
Explanation: While poly A oligo-rNTP would incorporate lysine, due to repeated AAA codon, oligo-dNTP actually makes poly U oligo-rNTP, having codon UUU that codes for Phenyl alanine.

4. Wooble base hypothesis is applicable to the____________
a) Mitochondrial codon
b) 1st base in codon
c) 2nd base in codon
d) 3rd base in codon

Answer: d
Explanation: Wooble hypothesis states that the 1st anticodon of the tRNA is not very specific. So it can pair with upto 3 different bases in the codons 3rd position.

5. If you consider wooble hypothesis I in 1st position of anticodon can not pair with?
a) A is 3rd position of codon
b) U is 3rd position of codon
c) G is 3rd position of codon
d) C is 3rd position of codon

Answer: c
Explanation: I is the ionosine base that can pair with A, U and C in the 3rd position of the codon. But it can’t pair with G or itself.

6. State whether it is true that degeneracy can act as a mode of control in RNA?
a) true
b) false

Answer: a
Explanation: The tRNA against all the degenerate codons for an amino acid are not present in the same concentration in the cell. Thus, it can sometimes stall the polymerase as in trp operon. Even in eukaryotes this stalling of polymerase could lead to domain formation

7. Which of these mutations will have the least harmful effect?
a) Addition of 2 bases
b) Deletion of 3 bases
c) Transition of one base
d) Deletion of a chunk

Answer: c
Explanation: In all possibilities transition of a base would have least harmful effect as there are degenerate codons for same amino acid. The new codon could thus be a silent mutation. Also if it is the 3rd base due to wooble hypothesis it will have negligible effect.

8. If you charge a lys-tRNA with an alanine, what amino acid will you expect to be incorporated against AAA?
a) Lysine
b) Alanine
c) Phenylalanine
d) f-alanine

Answer: b
Explanation: The anticodon loop plays no part in recognizing the amino acid. It can simply recognize the codon. So, it will call in the Ala charged lysine-tRNA to alysine AAA codon and add the alanine to the peptide.

9. Eukaryotic ribosomal subunits are _____________
a) 30S and 50S
b) 30S and 50S
c) 40S and 60S
d) 30S and 60S

Answer: c
Explanation: The eukaryotic ribosomal subunits are 40S and 60S and together they make 80S. On the other hand the prokaryotic ribosomal subunits are 30S and 50S making 70S.

10. Which of these is transcribed by RNA pol III?
a) 28S
b) 16S
c) 5.8S
d) 5S

Answer: d
Explanation: While most of the eukaryotic rRNAs are transcribed by the RNA pol I, the 5S rRNA is transcribed by RNA pol III. 16S rRNA is however absent in eukaryotes.