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Foundations in Microbiology, 4/e
Kathleen Park Talaro, Pasadena City College
Arthur Talaro

Microbial Genetics

Concept Questions

Take some time to write answers to these questions. If you can answer them, you have a good grasp of the material!

1. Compare the genetic material of eucaryotes, bacteria, and viruses in terms of general structure, size, and mode of replication.

2. Briefly describe how DNA is packaged to fit inside a cell.

3. Give the base sequence of the complementary strand of the following strand of DNA: 5-((ATCGGCTACGTTCAC-3))

4. Describe what is meant by the antiparallel arrangement of DNA.

5. Name several characteristics of DNA structure that enable it to be replicated with such great fidelity generation after generation.

6. Explain the following relationship: DNA formats RNA, which makes protein.

7. What message does a gene provide? How is the language of the gene expressed?

8. If a protein is 3,300 amino acids long, how many nucleotide pairs long is the gene sequence that codes for it?

9. What about a palindrome makes it recognizable by a restriction endonuclease? Draw a short sequence of a palindrome.

10. Compare the structure and functions of DNA and RNA.

11. Where does transcription begin? What are the sense and antisense strands of DNA? Is the same strand of DNA always transcribed?

12. Compare and contrast the actions of DNA and RNA polymerase.

13. What are the functions of start and nonsense codons?

14. The following sequence represents triplets on DNA:

TAC CAG ATA CAC TCC CCT GCG ACT

Give the mRNA codons and tRNA anticodons that correspond with this sequence, and then give the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide. Provide another mRNA strand that can be used to synthesize this same protein.

15. Summarize how bacterial and eucaryotic cells differ in gene structure, transcription, and translation. Discuss the roles of exons and introns.

16. Compare DNA viruses with RNA viruses in their general methods of nucleic acid synthesis and viral replication.

17. Compare and contrast the lac operon with a repressible operon system. How is the lac system related to the feedback control of enzymes mentioned in chapter 8?

18. What is the premise of the Ames test?

19. Describe the principal types of mutations. Give an example of a mutation that is beneficial and one that is lethal or harmful.

20. Compare conjugation, transformation, and transduction on the basis of general method, nature of donor, and nature of recipient. List some examples of genes that can be transferred by intermicrobial transfer.

21. By means of a flowchart, show the possible jumps that a transposon can make. Show the involvement of viruses in its movement.