Microbiology Principles and Explorations 9th Edition Black Test Bank

Microbiology Principles and Explorations 9th Edition

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Chapter 7: Microbial Genetics

Question Type: Multiple Choice

1) A linear sequence of DNA nucleotides which provides the genetic information for a single
characteristic is a _____.

a) chromosome
b) plasmid
c) gene
d) base pair

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

2) Genes with different information at the same locus are called _____.

a) chromosomes
b) homologs
c) plasmids
d) alleles

Answer: d

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

3) A plasmid is a/an _____.

a) extrachromosomal piece of DNA

b) chromosomal site to which genetic activity can be traced
c) body found in the cytoplasm that directs protein synthesis
d) molecule that carries the genetic message of the chromosomal DNA

Answer: a
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

4) A permanent alteration in the DNA of an organism is called a/n:

a) mutation
b) hereditary marker
c) replicon
d) allele

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

5) Which nitrogenous base is not normally found in DNA?

a) Guanine
b) Thymine
c) Uracil
d) Adenine

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

6) In DNA, the base adenine always pairs with what other base?

a) guanine
b) adenine
c) uracil
d) thymine

Answer: d

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

7) Replication results in the formation of what type of new molecule?

a) DNA
b) RNA
c) Protein
d) Lipid

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

8) Transcription results in the formation of what type of new molecule?

a) DNA
b) RNA
c) Protein
d) lipid

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

9) The process of ________ results in the synthesis of a new protein.

a) replication
b) transcription
c) translation
d) transversion

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

10) Reverse transcription occurs when:

a) RNA is used as a template to produce DNA

b) DNA is used as a template to produce RNA
c) Protein is used as a template to produce RNA
d) RNA is used as a template to produce protein

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

11) Reverse transcription takes place:

a) only in fungi
b) in some viruses
c) in all bacteria
d) in some bacteria

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

12) Which statement is true?

a) Proofreading that occurs during transcription changes the RNA into DNA.
b) Translation is a less accurate process than transcription.
c) Reverse transcription is a less accurate process than regular transcription.
d) Errors in replication can be proofread during transcription.

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

13) Mutations:
a) when occurring on a particular Okazaki fragment can lead to different loci
b) often change a person’s blood from type A to type AB
c) are responsible for heritable variations seen in progeny
d) occur only when the DNA is transmitted to a daughter cell

Answer: c

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

14) Bacterial genomes:

a) have rarely been sequenced as it takes a very long time.

b) only contain adenine, uracil, cytosine and guanine.
c) contain all the information for the structure and functioning of a cell.
d) when sequenced 100% of the genes are with known cellular function.

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section7.2 DNA Replication

15) Bacterial chromosomes:

a) must be present for a bacteria to stay alive and reproduce

b) are small segments of DNA that have the ability to move from one position to another
c) contain genetic information that is helpful but not necessary for survival
d) are always circular and only one is present in each bacteria

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.1 Explain the relationship between DNA, genes, and proteins whose
structures are created from genetic instructions.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.1 An Overview of Genetic Processes

16) During replication DNA is synthesized by _____.

a) DNA polymerase
b) RNA polymerase
c) ribosomes
d) ribozymes

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

17) During DNA replication:

a) the leading strand is synthesized in the 3’ to 5’ direction

b) the leading strand is synthesized discontinuously
c) the lagging strand is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction
d) both strands are synthesized discontinuously

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

18) Okazaki fragments make up part of the _____.

a) small ribosomal subunit

b) tRNA
c) lagging strand of newly synthesized DNA
d) mRNA

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication
19) After DNA replication of a bacterial chromosome, the new DNA contains:

a) 2 newly synthesized strands of DNA copied from the original parent strands
b) one strand of parent DNA along with one newly synthesized strand
c) small segments of parent DNA interspersed with newly synthesized segments of DNA
d) two of the above

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

20) Which of the following statements is true?

a) During DNA replication the leading strand serves as template for replication of lagging strand.
b) Fragments on the lagging strand are joined together by DNA ligase.
c) A bacterial chromosome is made up of individual units called Okazaki fragments.
d) Two strands of double helix combine by base pairing in a parallel fashion.

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.2 Describe the way in which an antiparallel, double-stranded DNA
molecule undergoes replication and the role of each enzyme involved in this process.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.2 DNA Replication

21) Messenger RNA:

a) is formed in the 3’ to 5’ direction

b) is found only in prokaryotes
c) contains uracil instead of thymine
d) is synthesized using the enzyme ligase

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis
22) RNA polymerase uses ________ as a template to synthesize ________ .

a) RNA, proteins
b) RNA, DNA
c) DNA, RNA
d) DNA, proteins

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

23) Segments of eukaryotic DNA that do not code for proteins:

a) are called introns

b) are found in all bacterial genes
c) can be considered by your immune system as enemy DNA
d) binds to proteins to form ribosomes

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

24) The information for a gene on a chromosome is used to create ____ which then moves to the
ribosome to serve as a template for protein synthesis.

a) tRNA
b) rRNA
c) siRNA
d) mRNA

Answer: d

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis
25) An mRNA molecule contains three nucleotide (triplet) units called _____.

a) amino acids
b) bases
c) codons
d) anticodons

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

26) Amino acids move from the cytoplasm to the ribosome with the help of _____.

a) mRNAs
b) tRNAs
c) siRNAs
d) rRNAs

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

27) An anticodon would be found in/on a ________ molecule.

a) mRNA
b) tRNA
c) the lagging strand
d) rRNA

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis
28) tRNA anticodons serve as a link between ______.

a) DNA and mRNA

b) codons and anticodons
c) codons and amino acids
d) mRNA and rRNA

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

29) Which of the following statements about the genetic code is true?

a) The first position of a codon determines the amino acid.

b) An amino acid can often be specified for by more than one codon.
c) Nonsense codons contain no information.
d) Because DNA only contains four letters there are very few possible genes that can exist.

Answer: b

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

30) Protein synthesis in bacteria:

a) can occur with several ribosomes attached to the same mRNA molecule
b) uses very little of a bacterial cell’s energy
c) can occur at the same time as an mRNA is being transcribed
d) two of the above

Answer: d

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis
31) In eukaryotes, transcription takes place in the ________ while translation takes place in the
________.

a) nucleus, nucleus
b) nucleus, cytoplasm
c) cytoplasm, nucleus
d) cytoplasm, cytoplasm

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

32) Which of the following properties are exclusive to mRNA?

a) Combines with specific proteins to form ribosomes

b) Carries information from DNA for synthesis of a protein
c) Molecules contain an anticodon
d) Contains the nucleotide thymine

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

33) Which of the following properties are exclusive to tRNA?

a) Combines with specific proteins to form ribosomes

b) Carries information from DNA for synthesis of a protein
c) Molecules contain an anticodon
d) Contains the nucleotide thymine

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis
34) Which of the following properties are exclusive to rRNA?

a) Combines with specific proteins to form ribosomes

b) Carries information from DNA for synthesis of a protein
c) Molecules contain an anticodon
d) Contains the nucleotide thymine

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

35) In an enzyme-catalyzed reaction that displays feedback inhibition, _____

a) excess substrate will inhibit the reaction

b) excess product will inhibit the reaction
c) the reaction continues at the same pace regardless of conditions in the cell
d) excess product is broken down to create new substrate

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

36) Inducible enzymes:

a) are synthesized continuously by the cell

b) are produced by genes that are always active
c) are synthesized by genes that are sometimes active and sometimes inactive
d) only exist in prokaryotic organisms

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

37) When an E. coli cell contains high levels of lactose, the lactose will bind with the _____.
a) repressor
b) operator
c) promoter
d) RNA polymerase

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

38) In the lactose operon, which of the following is a protein?

a) Repressor
b) Operator
c) Regulator
d) Promoter

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

39) With regard to the lac operon, which of the following is false under conditions of low (or no)
lactose?

a) The RNA polymerase cannot transcribe structural genes

b) The repressor is bound to the operator
c) Lactose is not bound to the repressor
d) RNA polymerase can bind to the promoter

Answer: d

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

40) In the lac operon RNA polymerase first binds to the:

a) promoter
b) operator
c) repressor
d) regulator

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

41) The tryptophan (trp) operon is turned on (i.e. gene expression occurs) when:

a) there is a great deal of tryptophan in the cell

b) there is a lack of tryptophan in the cell
c) the trp operon is always turned on
d) the trp operon is always turned off

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO
Section Reference 1: Section

42) ________ refers to the specific characteristics displayed by an organism.

a) Genotype
b) Mutation
c) Phenotype
d) Genes

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

43) Catabolite repression:

a) cells save energy by not making uneeded enzymes

b) doesn’t allow for cells to prioritize consumption of multiple substrates
c) allows cell growth to continue even after the preferred nutrient is used up
d) two of the above

Answer: d

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

44) A frameshift mutation occurs when:

a) an adenine is inserted into the DNA sequence of an organism

b) a thymine replaces a guanine in the DNA sequence of an organism
c) three new bases are inserted into the DNA strand
d) three bases are deleted from the DNA strand

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

45) A DNA mutation that results in no change in protein product produced is termed a:

a) missense mutation
b) nonsense mutation
c) silent mutation
d) frameshift mutation

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

46) Organisms that have lost the ability to synthesize a particular enzyme and which require
certain nutrients to be added to their medium to maintain growth are termed:

a) phototrophs
b) auxotrophs
c) prototrophs
d) autotrophs

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

47) Spontaneous mutations are:

a) caused by chemicals such as acridine and caffeine.

b) caused by physical agents such as ultraviolet light or x-rays.
c) the result of errors in the base pairing of nucleotides during replication.
d) occur at a rate higher than the rate of induced mutations.

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

48) Mutagens such as 5-bromouracil cause mutations by:

a) substituting for one of the bases normally found in DNA

b) adding an alkyl group to a nucleotide
c) removing an amino group from a nucleotide
d) causing breaks in chromosomes

Answer: a

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

49) Pyrimidine dimers are a type of mutation most commonly caused by:

a) alkylating agents
b) deaminating agents
c) ultraviolet light
d) acridine

Answer: c

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

50) Photoreactivation:

a) repairs dimers in DNA using an endonuclease

b) uses light to activate repair enzymes
c) removes alkylating agents from bases
d) occurs when UV light causes mutations in DNA

Answer: b

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

51) The fluctuation tests done by Luria and Delbruck showed that:

a) antibiotics induce the development of resistance in bacteria

b) the growth of bacteria fluctuates based on the concentration of antibiotics in the media
c) the concentration of antibiotics fluctuates in response to the number of bacteria in a sample
d) resistance to antibiotics occurs spontaneously in bacteria

Answer: d

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

52) The Ames test is used to determine if a chemical:

a) increases the rate at which a bacterial cell divides

b) decreases the number of cells in a culture
c) induces mutations in a cell’s DNA
d) decreases the ability of a cell to photosynthesize

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

53) Which statement about mutations is false?

a) A mutation can alter the genotype of an organism without altering the phenotype.
b) Frameshift mutations are typically more serious than point mutations.
c) Spontaneous mutations are the result of exposure to mutagens.
d) Photoreactivation can take place in non-photosynthetic bacteria.

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

54) Polymerase chain reaction:

a) allows for the rapid amplification of a billion copies of DNA without needing a living cell
b) can be applied to historic samples and to criminal investigations
c) requires oligonucleotides to cut DNA into smaller pieces
d) two of the above are true

Answer: d

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

55) This molecule is used in the process of _____.

a) DNA replication
b) mitosis
c) meiosis
d) protein synthesis

Answer: d

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

56) Which of the following is the anti-codon corresponding to methionine?

a) AUG
b) GAC
c) CUG
d) UAC

Answer: d

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

57) In order for beta-galactosidase, permease and transacetylase to be produced, _____ can
perform transcription.
a) mRNA
b) lac operon
c) repressor proteins
d) RNA polymerase

Answer: d

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

Question Type: Essay

58) RNA plays several important roles in the processes that express genetic information from
DNA into protein products. Illustrate the events of transcription in a bacterial cell and indicate
where RNA plays a role. Also indicate what role RNA plays in translation in bacterial cells.

Answer: The following should be illustrated: Transcription transfers the genetic information
from DNA to mRNA. It occurs with RNA polymerase (protein) binding to a DNA strand and
base-pairing RNA nucleotides with the DNA template. The binding RNA nucleotides are
transcribed into a chain termed mRNA and synthesized in the5’ to 3’ direction as RNA
polymerase moves down the DNA strand. RNA plays a role in transcription as the end product
is mRNA whose information will encode protein sequences. Transcription is also the process
used to create rRNA and tRNA molecules whose roles are vital in translation.
During translation RNA acts as the source of genetic information to construct the proteins in the
form of mRNA. In addition rRNA forms vital portions of ribosomes, which are the protein
synthesis complexes and tRNA brings the needed amino acids to the ribosomes and matches the
codons to amino acids through codon-anticodon recognition and base pairing.

Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.3 Describe the transcription and translation processes and the roles
of the three types of RNA molecules needed for protein synthesis.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.3 Protein Synthesis

59) Using the lac and trp operons as examples, describe the two control mechanisms for protein
synthesis: one based on enzyme induction and the other based on enzyme repression.

Answer: In the case of the lac operon, when the inducer substance (lactose) is absent, a repressor
protein binds to the operator preventing transcription of the genes coding for enzymes used to
metabolize lactose by blocking RNA polymerase binding to the promoter. When the inducer
substance is present, it binds to the repressor and inactivates its binding to repressor protein,
allowing for the transcription of the genes responsible for metabolizing lactose (structural genes).
Enzyme repression occurs when an adequate supply of the products of enzyme activity leads to
repressing the transcription of the operon. In the trp operon, when tryptophan is available it
binds to an inactive repressor thereby allowing binding to the operator by repressor which will
inhibit transcription by blocking RNA polymerase binding to the promoter.

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.4 Evaluate the roles of feedback inhibition, enzyme induction, and
enzyme repression in regulating cellular metabolism.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.4 The Regulation of Metabolism

60) Microbial evolutionary biologists have provided evidence against Lamarkian evolution by
demonstrating that genetic mutations arise in the absence of selection, rather than being a
response to selection. Describe one method for distinguishing between spontaneous and induced
mutations (be sure to include the expected results)

Answer: Spontaneous and induced mutations can be distinguished by either the fluctuation test
or replica plating. The fluctuation test involves inoculating a small number of bacteria into
separate cultures. If the mutation to acquire antibiotic resistance is spontaneous, than the
replicate culture will have a highly variable number of mutants. If however the resistance is
induced by the presence of the antibiotic, all of the replicate cultures experiencing the antibiotic
should have the same number of mutants induced by the antibiotic. Replica plating occurs when
cultures are transferred from a master dish to a selective plate while maintaining the original
spatial pattern of colonies. Any colonies observed on a penicillin plate (selective) came from
Microbiology Principles and Explorations 9th Edition Black Test Bank

bacteria that would have had resistance to penicillin without ever having been exposed to it
(spontaneous). If penicillin was inducing mutations than a constant fraction of bacteria
transferred should grow on the penicillin plate and a constant fraction of the colonies would be
present.

Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective 1: LO 7.5 Identify types of point and frameshift mutations, discussing their
impact on cellular processes.
Section Reference 1: Section 7.5 Mutations

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