Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

Biology 1A03 Practice Test 2

PART A: Multiple-Choice Questions (30 marks)
There are 30 multiple-choice questions in Part A of the test. Each question is worth 1 mark. Select the
option that best answers the question and record your answer on the OMR scan sheet using an HB pencil.
Please also circle your answer on this exam paper. There is no penalty for guessing. Students will not be
given additional test time to complete the OMR scan sheet. Students should ensure that all responses have
been recorded on the OMR scan sheet before the end of the 90 minutes. Please make sure that you have
also recorded your exam version number on the OMR scan sheet.

Dr. da Silva's Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is an example of a housekeeping gene?

A) histone gene
B) lactose permease gene
C) beta-galactosidase gene
D) lactase enzyme gene

2. Which of the following is an example of transcriptional regulation of gene expression?

A) mRNA splicing
B) histone methylation
C) the destruction of mRNA by siRNA
D) the translation of polycistronic mRNA

3. When considering regulation of gene expression,

A) transcriptional regulation is faster than translational regulation.
B) translational regulation is the slowest mechanism of regulation.
C) translational regulation is more efficient than transcriptional regulation.
D) post-translational regulation is faster than transcriptional regulation.

4. Enhancers are:
A) distant sites where activator proteins bind.
B) able to interact directly with RNA polymerase.
C) proteins that bind with repressors, deactivating them.
D) a bacterial form of promoters.

5. Two potential methods that eukaryotic cells use to regulate gene expression are:
A) DNA acetylation and methylation.
B) DNA methylation and histone amplification.
C) DNA amplification and histone methylation.
D) DNA methylation and histone modification.
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

6. Which of the following elements, when non-functional, would lead to a reduction in the total amount of
functional lacZ produced by a bacterial cell?
A) The repressor protein.
B) The lac I gene.
C) The lac Y gene.
D) The CRP-cAMP binding site.

7. Using the image below of the lac operon, what is the role of the CRP-cAMP binding site?

A) It is the area where RNA polymerase will begin transcription.

B) It promotes the expression of the lac operon when glucose levels are low.
C) It is involved in the negative regulation of the lac operon.
D) It binds the lac I repressor protein.

8. Given the image below, showing the growth of E. coli in an environment containing both glucose and
lactose, what is happening at time point B?

A) Bacteria are starting to die off.

B) Bacteria are starting to metabolize glucose.
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

C) Bacteria will start to increase expression of the lac operon.

D) Bacteria are metabolizing lactose at high rates.
9. Lactose is involved in ________________ of the lac operon by __________________.
A) negative regulation; increasing expression.
B) positive regulation; preventing transcription.
C) negative regulation; preventing transcription.
D) positive regulation; increasing transcription.

10. As a response to extracellular glucose levels,

A) high glucose levels will activate the adenylyl cyclase enzyme in bacteria, producing cAMP.
B) low glucose levels will inactivate the adenylyl cyclase enzyme in bacteria.
C) low glucose levels will lead to the production of low levels of cAMP in bacteria.
D) low glucose levels will lead to the greatest activation of the CRP-cAMP complex in bacteria.

11. The lactose operon is likely to be transcribed when:

A) the cyclic AMP and lactose levels are both high within the cell environment.
B) the cAMP level is high, and the lactose level is low.
C) there is more glucose in the cell environment than lactose.
D) the cyclic AMP levels are low.

12. Which of the following statements is true regarding individuals with lactase persistence after weaning?
A) These individuals have a reduced ability to digest lactose after weaning.
B) A mutation in a neighboring regulatory gene keeps the lactase gene permanently on.
C) These individuals transport the disaccharide lactose across the membranes of the absorptive
microvilli of the small intestine.
D) Lactose metabolism continues to decrease in the intestines of these individuals as they age.

13. Human fetal hemoglobin has a high oxygen binding affinity because:
A) alpha-globin gene expression is always off.
B) gamma-globin gene expression is off, and alpha-globin gene expression is on.
C) gamma-globin gene expression is on, and beta-globin gene expression is off.
D) beta-globin gene expression is on, and gamma-globin gene expression is off.

14. The tagging of ubiquitin on the human lactase enzyme:

A) is an example of post-translational regulation of the lactase enzyme gene expression.
B) enables both the lactase and the labeling ubiquitin to be unfolded and passed through the
proteasome.
C) regulates the processing of lactase mRNA.
D) promotes the binding of transcription factors to the lactase gene promoter.
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

15. Which of the following statements is true with regards to the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression?
A) Methylated promoters will be transcribed.
B) RNA polymerase binds to undermethylated promoters.
C) Epigenetic mechanisms change nucleotide sequences in a gene.
D) Histone deacetylases (HDACs) bind to undermethylated promoters.

16. In situ hybridization can be used:

A) to detect protein degradation in developing tissues.
B) in humans to measure gene expression throughout the whole body.
C) to directly determine where DNA is located in tissues.
D) to indirectly determine when DNA is being expressed in tissues.

17. Researchers are trying to localize this target mRNA sequence 5’ CCCAUUCA 3’, using in situ hybridization.
Which of the following fluorescent DNA probes should researchers use to detect this mRNA sequence?
A) 3’ GGGTAAGT 5’
B) 5’ GGGTAAGT 3’
C) 3’ GGGUAAGU 5’
D) 5’ GGGUAAGU 3’

18. siRNAs are able to regulate gene expression by:

A) tagging proteins that are meant for destruction with ubiquitin.
B) degrading target mRNA.
C) escorting mRNA to the proteasome for destruction.
D) blocking the ability of a ribosome to slide along mRNA and carry out translation.

19. Previous epigenetics research on identical twins has shown that:

A) younger twin pairs have many differences in DNA methylation patterns when compared to older
twin pairs.
B) older twins have very similar DNA methylation patterns.
C) younger twin pairs have very large differences in gene expression when compared to older twin
pairs.
D) there are epigenetic differences in gene expression in identical twins with increasing age.

20. The image below is a representation of the structure of the lactase gene. The final mature and
functional lactase protein will be made up of which regions from this sequence?

A) The SS, LCT α profragment, LCT β final, MA and CT regions.

B) The SS, LCT α profragment, MA and CT regions.
C) The LCT β final, MA and CT regions.
D) The SS, LCT β final, and MA regions.
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

Dr. Kajiura's Multiple-Choice Questions

21. Suppose the terminal adenine of CCA at the 3’ end of the tRNA was missing. Which of the following
would be impacted?
A) The amino acid would be easily able to attach to the tRNA, since there would be a stable
attachment point during tRNA inactivation.
B) The holoenzyme would not bind to the tRNA and rRNA components correctly.
C) The tRNA molecule would be able to undergo post-transcriptional modifications involving the
addition of a signal sequence at the 5’ end.
D) The tRNA codon region would be free to form a three-dimensional, J-structured anticodon region.
E) The amino acid would not be able to attach to the tRNA, since there would not be an attachment
point during tRNA activation.

22. During the process of translation, which of the following describes what occurs once the ribosomal
translation complex is completely assembled?
A) The initiation factors join onto the P site of the ribosome.
B) The initiation factors convert the consensus sequences into termination STOP codons.
C) The initiation factors bind directly to the E site of the ribosome complex.
D) The initiation factors are then released.
E) The initiation factors link onto elongation factors of the exons.

23. Consider the biochemical pathway of the synthesis of arginine. If similar protocols were implemented to
that of researchers Beadle & Tatum and Srb & Horowitz, which used Neurospora crassa, what would be
observed for the arg 2 mutant that is placed solely on minimal medium?
A) Growth would occur on minimal medium.
B) Growth would be observed at a very slow rate and then growth would increase rapidly at an
indefinite rate.
C) Growth would occur on the minimal medium depending upon the quantity of arg 2 mutants used
for the experiment.
D) Growth would occur on the minimal medium depending upon the quantity of tyrosine supplement
provided in the experiment.
E) No growth would be observed on the minimal medium alone.

24. Which of the following structural components are not present in insulin?
A) Chain C
B) 4 disulphide bridges and the signal sequence
C) Chain A
D) Chain B
E) Both A & B
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

25. Imagine that a eukaryotic organism failed to carry out the process of alternative splicing. Which of the
following would be observed in that situation?
A) The resulting polypeptide products would display different structural conformations (shapes).
B) The resulting polypeptide products would not be different in their structural conformations
(shapes).
C) The genes would be spliced in several different ways, so that resulting polypeptides could be
synthesized in much larger quantities.
D) The eukaryotic organism would immediately detect the failure of the process and undergo
additional spliceosome synthesis.
E) The resulting polypeptide products would have several amino acids duplicated.

26. Suppose there is a defect in either the insulin protein or the receptor for insulin. Which of the following
would be a possible consequence of these defects?
A) These defects could lead to the inability to take up glucose, thus resulting in hyperglycemia, and
consequently, diabetes.
B) These defects could lead to an increase in efficiency of synthesizing glucose and converting it into
adenosine triphosphate or guanosine triphosphate.
C) These defects could lead to the direct conversion of glucose into glycogen.
D) These defects could lead to the breakdown of the small and large subunits of the ribosomes.
E) These defects could lead to the immediate initiation of the processing of glycolipids in the cells.

27. Advocate Eden Atwood is living with the condition known as androgen insensitivity. Which of the
following statements is correct regarding Eden’s condition?
A) Eden Atwood’s condition is related to the inability to synthesize dopamine hormones in the brain
in large quantities.
B) Eden Atwood’s condition is a result of a mutation that is inherited from the maternal side of her
family.
C) Eden Atwood’s condition is related to the inability of receptors to detect and respond to androgen
hormones, such as testosterone.
D) Eden Atwood’s condition will be directly inherited by all of her biological children.
E) Eden Atwood’s condition is still considered a mystery, with researchers attempting to provide an
explanation for her phenotype and genotype characteristics at a cellular and molecular level.

28. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding Mytilus mussels?

A) The Mytilus mussels serve as ecological indicators of their habitat, and unfortunately, are having
difficulty keeping their grip on rockfaces due to the negative impacts of increased global warming
and climate change.
B) The Mytilus mussels will experience extreme population increases due to the production of
byssus, which serves as an attractant for other mussels that they mate with.
C) The Mytilus mussels will, unfortunately, be outcompeted by other species in their habitats due to
the bivalves vulnerability caused by the lack of pH changes in the ocean waters.
D) Both A & B
E) Both B & C
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

29. During the initiation of translation in eukaryotes, in what direction does the partially assembled
initiation complex move along the mRNA until it encounters the AUG start codon?
A) The partially assembled initiation complex moves along the mRNA in a 3’ to 5’ direction until it
meets an AUG start codon.
B) The partially assembled initiation complex moves along the mRNA in a 5’ to 3’ direction until it
meets the AUG start codon.
C) The partially assembled initiation complex moves along the mRNA in a 3’ to 4’ to 5’ direction until
it meets an AUG start codon.
D) The partially assembled initiation complex pauses and then completely stops when it binds onto
the initiation Rho protein before it meets with the AUG start codon.
E) Both A & C

30. What contributes to the extensive complexity of our proteome relative to our genome?
A) The extensive complexity of our proteome relative to our genome is mainly attributed to
ribosomal RNA mutations caused by X-rays and the process of aging.
B) The large complexity of our proteome relative to our genome is primarily attributed to RNA
processing, alternative splicing, and post-translational modifications.
C) The great complexity of our proteome relative to our genome is mainly due to errors in RNA
transcriptional factors.
D) The great complexity of our proteome compared to our genome is directly correlated with the
rates of DNA degradation.
E) Both A & D
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

PART B: Written Answer Questions (10 marks)

There are 4 written answer questions in Part B of the test (questions 31-34). The number of marks
associated with each question is provided. Please write your answer in the space provided using a blue or
black ink pen. Answers written in pencil will not be regraded. Please print neatly and do not use correction
tape. Please write your name, student number, and lab section at the top of each page of Part B.

Dr. da Silva's Written Answer Questions

31. The figure below shows the effect of pH on the activity of the isolated β-galactosidase enzyme that is
found in yogurt.

Considering that the pH of the stomach can be as low as pH 2, provide two reasons why the microbial
β-galactosidase enzyme that is present in yogurt is not denatured as it passes through the stomach.
(0.5 + 0.5 = 1 mark)
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

32. The microarray below shows the relative expression of different globin genes (Genes 1-3) between an
adult and a fetus. (Total = 3 marks)

Note: For the colours in this microarray above, black represents green colour,
white represents red colour and grey represents yellow colour in a microarray.

a) Based on the microarray data, what is the likely gene that is being screened in the Gene 1 well? Why?
(0.5 + 0.5 = 1 mark)

b) Which gene is represented in the Gene 2 well? Why? (0.5 + 0.5 = 1 mark)

c) What is the likely gene that is represented in the Gene 3 well? Why? (0.5 + 0.5 = 1 mark)
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

33. The Agouti gene experiments were the pioneering research that first showed strong evidence for
epigenetic regulation of gene expression. (Total = 3 marks)

a) Based on your knowledge of Agouti gene expression in Agouti mice, answer the following questions
in the table below when comparing between a brown mouse and its genetically identical yellow
sibling. (0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 = 2 marks)

Characteristic Brown mouse Yellow mouse

Is the Agouti gene methylated?

Is the Agouti gene expression

level high or low?

b) A researcher is able to experimentally make most of the offspring of a pregnant yellow female
Agouti mouse be born brown, by supplementing the mother’s diet with vitamin B12. Explain how
the vitamin B12 supplement is able to lead to mostly brown offspring for this female yellow mouse.
(0.5 + 0.5 = 1 mark)
Name: ________________________________ Student #: ____________________ Lab Section #: _________

Dr. Kajiura's Written Answer Questions

34. a) By describing the phenotypic evidence (physical appearance), genetic evidence, and the specific
impacted receptor, explain why Kermode Spirit Bears are not considered by scientists to be albino
bears or polar bears. (0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 = 2 marks)

b) Explain why the Kermode Spirit Bear’s phenotype is significant and how its phenotype might assist in
the bear’s survival when interacting with organisms in its environment. (0.5 + 0.5 = 1 mark)

THE END

Copyright © 2022 Winter, Biology 1A03, Dr. L. Kajiura and Dr. R. da Silva, Department of Biology, McMaster University