Vector Biology Questions & Answers for Exams focuses on “Vectors for Mammals – 5”.
1. What is reporter genes used for?
A. To confirm transformation
B. To confirm transfection
A. To induce expression
D. To cease expression
Answer: A
Clarification: When controlled by a strong promoter, reporter genes are often used as markers to confirm stable or transient transformation.
2. What is “CAT”?
A. Repressor gene
B. Promoter
A. Reporter gene
D. Hybrid vector
Answer: C
Clarification: The first reporter gene to be used in animal cells, derived from E.coli transposons Tn9; it has also been used to a certain extent in plants.
3. The CAT gene confers antibiotic resistance.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Clarification: CAT gene encodes the enzyme chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, which confers resistance to antibiotic chloramphenicol.
4. Simian Virus 40 (SV40) is an example of ____________
A. Caulimovirus
B. Polyomavirus
A. Plant virus
D. Retrovirus
Answer: B
Clarification: Transient transformation can be achieved using replicon vectors that contain origins of replication derived from certain viruses of the polyomavirus family such as SV40.
5. Polyomavirus vectors such as SV40 are used especially for ____________
A. Gene expression
B. Gene manipulation
A. Recombinant proteins
D. Hybrid vector production
Answer: C
Clarification: These viruses cause lytic infections, during the infection cycle viral gene products accumulate at high levels. Hence this strategy is used to produce recombinant proteins.
6. Which is the first virus to be developed as an animal vector?
A. Papillomavirus
B. SV40
A. Adenovirus
D. HIV
Answer: B
Clarification: SV40 was the first animal virus to be characterized in detail at the molecular level and for this reason, it was also the first to be developed as a vector.
7. What is the approximate size of the SV40 vector?
A. 1 kb
B. 3 kb
A. 5 kb
D. 7 kb
Answer: C
Clarification: Simian Virus 40 (SV40) has a small icosahedral capsid and a circular double-stranded DNA genome of approximately 5 kb. It contains the early genes and the late genes.
8. Transcription in SV40 is controlled by ___________
A. Regulatory element
B. Late genes
A. Early genes
D. Promoter
Answer: A
Clarification: Transcription in SV40 is controlled by a complex regulatory element located between the early and late regions, and this includes early and late promoters, an enhancer and the origin of replication.
9. How many proteins are produced during the first stage of SV40 infection cycle?
A. 1
B. 2
A. 3
D. 4
Answer: B
Clarification: During the first stage of SV40 infection cycle, the early transcript produces two proteins, known as large T and small t tumor antigens.
10. What is the function of the T-antigen of SV40 viral vectors?
A. Genome replication
B. Translation
A. Transcription
D. Conjugation
Answer: A
Clarification: The function of T-antigen is particularly important as this protein binds to the viral origin of replication and is absolutely required for genome replication.
11. What function does an “oncoprotein” serve?
A. Controlled cell proliferation
B. Ceased cell proliferation
A. Uncontrolled cell proliferation
D. Initiates cell proliferation