Discuss which type of DNA mutation in the coding region of an essential human gene (for example, insulin) would be
the most harmful to a phenotype. Consider missense, nonsense, frameshifts, and transposons. What will be an ideal response?
Answers can vary, but missense mutations may have the least effect on phenotype, unless
they occur in an amino acid critical for protein functioning. A nonsense mutation would
eliminate the protein’s function, unless it occurred far downstream. Frameshifts, if they occur
early in the gene sequence, will change the entire amino acid sequence of the resulting
protein, thereby abolishing protein activity. Transposons would be most harmful if they insert
in the midst of the coding sequence of a gene.
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All of the following traits are true of fibrous root systems except that they are not ________
a. adapted to take advantage of light rains b. typical of eudicots c. made up of both lateral and adventitious roots d. produced by grasses
Which statement is true?
(a) Roots gain length primarily through cell division (b) Roots gain length primarily through elongation growth
What is the advantage to spirochetes of the corkscrew movement provided by axial filaments?
a. It provides faster movement, allowing the spirochete to escape the cells of the immune system. b. It hides the flagella, so they are not as easily detected by the immune system. c. It allows the cells to move more easily through viscous human tissues and fluids, such as mucus. d. It makes spirochete cells more flexible, and prevents them from breaking as easily as bacillus-shaped bacteria.
Small single strand DNA molecules with a fluorescent molecule attached that are used to identify a clone containing a specific gene fragment is called a
A) primer. B) probe. C) plasmid. D) promoter. E) peptide.