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EH/JUN 2012/CBE551

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE COURSE CODE EXAMINATION TIME

GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CBE551 JUNE 2012 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1. 2. 3. 4. This question paper consists of five (5) questions. Answer ALL questions in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of: i) ii) the Question Paper an Answer Booklet - provided by the Faculty

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 5 printed pages
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QUESTION 1 (P01,C01,C03, C2, C3) a) Explain and provide an example to each of the following terms. i) Euploidy (3 marks) ii) Aneuploidy (3 marks) iii) Mosaics/ Chimeras (5 marks) b) Heterozygous parents for three unlinked genes (DdEeFf) are crossed. Use the forked line method to answer the following questions. i) Give the fraction of the progeny that will be homozygous for all three recessive alleles.

ii) Give the fraction of the progeny that will be heterozygous at locus D. iii) Give the fraction of the progeny that will express at least one dominant allele of one of the three genes. (9 marks)

QUESTION 2 (P01,C01,C2, C4, C6) a) Compare and contrast between bacteria and viruses. (6 marks) b) There are three parasexual processes in bacteria which are Transformation, Conjugation and Transduction. Describe how to distinguish between these parasexual processes of gene transfer. (8 marks) c) The genetic material of a bacterium is carried in one main chromosome and from one to several extra chromosomal DNA called plasmids. The genes that protect bacteria from antibiotic often are present on R-plasmids, which can spread rapidly through bacterial populations. Given the wide spread evolution of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of pathogenic bacteria, justify whether non-therapeutic use of antibiotic should be restricted in animal feed and body shower cream. (6 marks)

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CONFIDENTIAL QUESTION 3 (P01,C01,C03,C2, C4)

EH/JUN 2012/CBE551

a) The main features of the genetic code were worked out during the 1960s. By mid 1960s, the genetic code was largely solved. Based on your understanding, explain the following phrases that describe the properties of genetic code. i) The genetic code is composed of nucleotide triplets

ii) The genetic code is non-overlapping iii) The genetic code is nearly universal (9 marks) b) Assume that a meteor falls to Earth and life forms are discovered. Several teams of molecular biologists extract proteins and nucleic acids from these organisms and find that: (1) the proteins in these outer space life forms contain only 15 different amino acids; (2) DNA and RNA in these organisms have only three different nucleotides; (3) two different nucleotides specify one codon. i) Give the length of the coding portion of a polypeptide discovered that is 78 amino acids long. Assume that transcription and translation (that also has start and stop signals) work similarly in these outer space life forms and earthlings. (3 marks)

ii) Determine the number of different amino acid sequences that is possible in a polypeptide of 28 amino acids long. (1 mark) c) In Figure 2 is shown a structure of a tRNA molecule.

Figure 2: A tRNA molecule

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i)

Give two (2) ways in which the structure of a tRNA molecule differs from that of a DNA molecule.

ii) Circle the tRNA structures that do not make bonding by sketch the shape of this tRNA molecule on your answer booklet. iii) Give mRNA codon that would correspond to this anticodon. (7 marks) QUESTION 4 (P01.C02.C03, C4, C6) a) The Western blot in Figure 2 shows Scrapie infected sheep brain Iysates (Lanes 3 and 4) compared to normal sheep brain Iysates (Lanes 1 and 2). The key to this particular Western assay is the use of Proteinase treatment on parallel sets of samples. i) Based on the information given above, explain how the normal cellular forms and abnormal prion protein can be distinguished. (3 marks)

ii) By ignoring the technical challenges, justify whether the Scrapie disease can be treated by using gene therapy. If so, describe how this disease can be cured. (8 marks)

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Figure 2: Detection of Scrapie Infected Sheep Brain

b) While Western blotting is a relatively simple and straightforward technique, it does not always yield results that meet with expectations. Listed below are some of the frequently encountered problems that arise during the course of Western blotting, suggest the possible causes to each of these unusual bands.

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EH/JUN 2012/CBE551

i)

Band(s) at lower molecular weight than expected. (3 marks)

ii) Band(s) at slightly higher molecular weight than expected, and may be blurred. (3 marks)

iii) Band(s) at significantly higher molecular weight than expected. (3 marks)

QUESTION 5 (P01, C01, C02, C03, C2, C4, C6) a) About 5 to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary caused by abnormal genes passed from parent to child. i) Name the two (2) genes that are associated with the most inherited cases of breast cancer. (2 marks)

ii) Changes or mutations in other genes such as p53 have been identified as a key step in carcinogenesis. Give the function of p53 in the body. (2 marks) iii) P53 has two response pathways that have been identified in the cellular response to DNA damage. Describe the apoptotic pathway that ultimately causes the damaged cell to die. (8 marks) b) If you know you have an abnormal gene linked to breast cancer, identify the lifestyle choices you can make to keep your risk as low as possible. (8 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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