Multiple Choice Questions
Biology: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Topic: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Grade: 12
Question 1:
Which of the following is not a primary role of bioinformatics in biology?
a) Analysis of biological data
b) Prediction of protein structure
c) Understanding genetic variation
d) Study of cellular respiration
Answer: d) Study of cellular respiration
Explanation: Bioinformatics primarily focuses on the analysis of biological data, prediction of protein structure, and understanding genetic variation. The study of cellular respiration falls under the field of cellular biology, not bioinformatics. For example, bioinformatics can be used to analyze DNA sequencing data to identify genetic variations associated with diseases, while the study of cellular respiration involves understanding the metabolic processes in cells.
Question 2:
Which of the following is an example of a bioinformatics tool used for sequence alignment?
a) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
b) Northern blotting
c) BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool)
d) Western blotting
Answer: c) BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool)
Explanation: BLAST is a widely used bioinformatics tool for sequence alignment. It allows researchers to compare DNA or protein sequences with a database of known sequences to identify similarities and evolutionary relationships. For example, if a researcher wants to identify the closest known relative to a newly sequenced gene, they can use BLAST to align the sequence with existing sequences in the database and determine the degree of similarity.
Question 3:
Which of the following is a common application of computational biology?
a) Designing new drugs
b) Studying animal behavior
c) Analyzing climate change
d) Investigating geological formations
Answer: a) Designing new drugs
Explanation: Computational biology involves the use of computer algorithms and modeling techniques to analyze biological data. One common application is in the field of drug discovery, where computational methods are used to predict the effectiveness and safety of potential drug candidates. For example, computational biology can be used to simulate the interaction between a drug molecule and a target protein, helping researchers identify compounds with the highest potential for therapeutic use.
Question 4:
Which of the following is an example of a bioinformatics database?
a) Google
b) PubMed
c) Facebook
d) Twitter
Answer: b) PubMed
Explanation: PubMed is a bioinformatics database that provides access to a vast collection of scientific research articles in the field of biology and medicine. It allows researchers to search for specific articles based on keywords, authors, or journal names. For example, if a researcher wants to find articles on a particular disease or gene, they can use PubMed to retrieve relevant publications.
Question 5:
Which of the following is an example of a bioinformatics algorithm used for gene prediction?
a) Smith-Waterman algorithm
b) Newton\’s method
c) PageRank algorithm
d) Euclidean algorithm
Answer: a) Smith-Waterman algorithm
Explanation: The Smith-Waterman algorithm is a bioinformatics algorithm used for gene prediction. It is a dynamic programming algorithm that compares a DNA sequence with a reference genome to identify potential coding regions and predict gene structures. For example, the Smith-Waterman algorithm can be used to identify exons and introns within a DNA sequence, providing valuable information about the organization of genes.
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