What is the primary purpose of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)?
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Cover key laboratory methods like PCR, gel electrophoresis, cloning, and sequencing used to study DNA and genes.
Mastering these molecular techniques equips students with essential laboratory skills for genetic analysis, research, and biotechnology applications, enabling accurate DNA manipulation, identification, and sequencing in various scientific contexts.
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| # | Front | Back | Hint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is the primary purpose of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)? | PCR amplifies specific DNA sequences exponentially, enabling detailed study and analysis of small DNA samples. | Think 'copy' for PCR. |
| 2 | Which enzyme is used in PCR to synthesize new DNA strands? | DNA polymerase, specifically thermostable variants like Taq polymerase. | Polymerase—think 'polymer' building DNA. |
| 3 | Describe the three main steps of a PCR cycle. | Denaturation (separating DNA strands), Annealing (binding primers to target sequences), Extension (DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase). | Think: heat, bind, extend. |
| 4 | What is gel electrophoresis used for in molecular biology? | To separate DNA fragments based on size by applying an electric current through a gel matrix, typically agarose or polyacrylamide. | Electrical sorting of molecules. |
| 5 | How does DNA migrate during gel electrophoresis? | DNA fragments migrate towards the positive electrode, with smaller fragments moving faster through the gel matrix. | Size matters—smaller moves faster. |
| 6 | What type of dye is commonly used to stain DNA in gel electrophoresis? | Ethidium bromide or SYBR Green, which intercalate between DNA bases and fluoresce under UV light. | Think 'intercalate'—insert between bases. |
| 7 | What is cloning in molecular biology? | Cloning is the process of creating identical copies of a DNA fragment or an entire organism, often via insertion into a host cell like bacteria. | Making a 'copy' clone. |
| 8 | Which vector is commonly used to clone DNA fragments in bacterial cells? | Plasmids, which are small, circular DNA molecules capable of autonomous replication in bacteria. | Circular DNA vehicles. |
| 9 | What is the purpose of restriction enzymes in cloning? | Restriction enzymes cut DNA at specific sequences, creating sticky or blunt ends for ligation into vectors. | Molecular scissors. |
| 10 | What is ligation in cloning procedures? | Ligation is the process of joining DNA fragments, such as inserting a DNA fragment into a vector using DNA ligase. | Joining pieces together. |
| 11 | What is the main method used for sequencing DNA? | Sanger sequencing, which uses chain-terminating nucleotides to determine the DNA sequence. | Old reliable sequencing method. |
| 12 | How does Sanger sequencing differ from next-generation sequencing? | Sanger sequencing sequences one DNA fragment at a time with high accuracy, while next-generation sequencing allows rapid, massive parallel sequencing of entire genomes. | Think 'one' vs. 'many'. |
| 13 | What is the purpose of a DNA ladder in gel electrophoresis? | A DNA ladder provides known fragment sizes to estimate the size of sample DNA fragments during electrophoresis. | Size reference marker. |
| 14 | What is a cDNA library and how is it generated? | A cDNA library is a collection of cloned DNA sequences reverse-transcribed from mRNA, representing expressed genes. | Complementary DNA from mRNA. |
| 15 | Why is reverse transcription used in molecular biology? | To convert mRNA into cDNA, enabling analysis of gene expression and cloning of expressed genes. | Reverse of normal transcription. |
| 16 | What role does DNA ligase play in cloning? | DNA ligase seals nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone, joining DNA fragments together during cloning. | The 'glue' enzyme. |
| 17 | What is the purpose of a selectable marker gene in cloning vectors? | To identify and select successfully transformed host cells, often conferring antibiotic resistance. | Selection tool. |
| 18 | What is a genomic library? | A collection of DNA fragments that collectively represent the entire genome, cloned into vectors. | Whole genome store. |
| 19 | What is next-generation sequencing (NGS)? | A high-throughput method that allows rapid sequencing of entire genomes or transcriptomes simultaneously. | Massive parallel sequencing. |
| 20 | What is the purpose of hybridization in molecular techniques? | To detect specific DNA or RNA sequences by binding complementary probes to target sequences. | Complementary pairing. |
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