Mitochondrial DNA Quiz

What is differential centrifugation?

• A technique for separating subcellular organelles based on their densities

• A technique for separating molecules based on their buoyant densities

• A technique for separating subcellular organelles based on their sizes

• A technique for separating molecules based on their base composition

What is equilibrium density centrifugation used for?

• Separating molecules based on their base composition

• Separating subcellular organelles based on their sizes

• Separating subcellular organelles based on their densities

• Separating molecules based on their buoyant densities

What does the term 'heterodisperse' mean?

• Of varying size

• Of uniform density

• Of uniform size

• Of varying density

What is kinetoplast DNA?

• A technique for separating molecules based on their buoyant densities

• Inheritance of genetic characteristics strictly from one parental line

• A circular genetic map that describes the mitochondrial genome in a plant species

• A complex structure of interconnected DNA molecules in the mitochondrion of kinetoplastid protozoa

What is a master circle?

• The largest circular genetic map that describes the mitochondrial genome in a plant species

• A complex structure of interconnected DNA molecules in the mitochondrion of kinetoplastid protozoa

• A technique for separating molecules based on their buoyant densities

• Inheritance of genetic characteristics strictly from one parental line

What is uniparental inheritance?

• A complex structure of interconnected DNA molecules in the mitochondrion of kinetoplastid protozoa

• A technique for separating subcellular organelles based on their sizes

• A technique for separating molecules based on their buoyant densities

• Inheritance of genetic characteristics strictly from one parental line

How can mitochondrial DNA be isolated?

• From a mitochondrial subcellular fraction prepared by cell disruption and differential centrifugation

• From a gradient containing the salt of a heavy metal and an ultraviolet fluorescent dye

• From a mitochondrial fraction prepared by equilibrium density centrifugation

• From a nuclear DNA fraction prepared by differential centrifugation

What is the physical form of mtDNA?

• Both linear and circular DNA molecules

• Linear DNA molecules

• Covalently closed, circular DNA molecules of uniform size

• Extraordinarily variable

What is the smallest known mtDNA?

• Found in Reclinomonas americana, a protist

• Found in Trypanosoma brucei, a kinetoplastid protozoa

• Found in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green alga

• Found in Plasmodium falciparum, the human malaria parasite

What is the gene organization like in animal mtDNAs?

• Compact structure with coding sequences directly abutting one another or even overlapping

• Mostly noncoding DNA

• Extremely variable

• Fragmented into separate modules interspersed with other genes