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This section includes InterviewSolutions, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

51.

Which of the following is untrue about SAGE Genie?(a) It is an NCBI web-based program(b) It allows matching of experimentally obtained SAGE tags to known genes(c) It provides an interface for visualizing human gene expression(d) It doesn’t filter out linker sequences from experimentally obtained SAGE tagsI got this question at a job interview.Question is from Comparison of SAGE and DNA Microarrays topic in chapter Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct OPTION is (d) It doesn’t filter out linker sequences from experimentally obtained SAGE tags

Explanation: It has a filtering FUNCTION that filters out linker sequences from experimentally obtained SAGE tags and allows expression pattern comparison between normal and diseased human tissues. The data OUTPUT can be presented using subprograms such as the Anatomic Viewer, Digital Northern, and Digital Gene Expression DISPLAY.

52.

Which of the following is untrue regarding UniGene?(a) It is an NCBI EST cluster database(b) Overlapping EST sequences are computationally processed to represent a single expressed gene(c) Each cluster is a set of overlapping EST sequences(d) The overlapping EST sequences are computationally processed to represent a set of expressed genesThe question was posed to me during an interview.I'm obligated to ask this question of Sequence topic in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct choice is (d) The overlapping EST SEQUENCES are computationally PROCESSED to represent a set of expressed genes

The best I can explain: The database is constructed based on combined information from dbEST, GenBank mRNA database, and “electronically spliced” genomic DNA. Only ESTS with 3’poly-A ends are clustered to minimize the problem of chimerism. The RESULTING 3’EST sequences provide more unique representation of the transcripts.

53.

Which of the following is untrue regarding the predicting Interactions Based on Phylogenetic Information?(a) Proteins do not operate as a complex(b) This method detects the co-presence or co-absence of orthologs across a number of genomes(c) Protein interactions can be predicted using phylogenetic profiles(d) Phylogenetic profile are defined as patterns of gene pairs that are concurrently present or absent across genomesI had been asked this question in a job interview.My question is based upon Protein Interactions in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct answer is (a) PROTEINS do not operate as a complex

For explanation I WOULD SAY: The logic behind the co-occurrence approach is that proteins normally operate as a complex. If one of the COMPONENTS of the complex is lost, it results in the failure of the ENTIRE complex. Under the selective pressure, the rest of the nonfunctional interacting partners in the complex are also lost during evolution because they have become functionally unnecessary.

54.

Which of the following is incorrect about Self-Organizing Maps?(a) Clustering by SOMs is in principle similar to the k-means method(b) It doesn’t involve neural networks(c) The data points are initially assigned to the nodes at random(d) It starts by defining a number of nodesThis question was posed to me in an internship interview.Origin of the question is Microarray-Based Approaches in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct OPTION is (b) It doesn’t INVOLVE neural networks

Explanation: This pattern recognition algorithm employs neural networks. The distance between the input data POINTS and the centroids are calculated. The data points are successively adjusted among the nodes, and their distances to the centroids are recalculated. After many iterations, a stabilized CLUSTERING pattern are reached with the minimum distances of the data points to the centroids. The DIFFERENCES between SOM and k-means are that, in SOM, the nodes are not treated as isolated entities, but as connected to other nodes.

55.

DNA microarrays measure “absolute” mRNA expression levels without arbitrary reference standards, whereas SAGE indicates the relative expression levels.(a) True(b) FalseI had been asked this question in an online quiz.I would like to ask this question from Comparison of SAGE and DNA Microarrays in division Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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Correct choice is (b) False

Best explanation: SAGE measures “absolute” mRNA EXPRESSION levels without arbitrary reference standards, whereas DNA microarrays indicate the relative expression levels. THEREFORE, SAGE expression data are more comparable across experimental conditions and platforms. This makes PUBLIC SAGE databases more informative by allowing comparison of data from reference conditions with VARIOUS experimental treatments.

56.

Once the proteins are translocated within the organelles, protease cleavage takes place to remove the signal sequences and generate mature proteins.(a) True(b) FalseThe question was posed to me in semester exam.This is a very interesting question from Protein Sorting in portion Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The CORRECT option is (a) True

The EXPLANATION is: It is an example of posttranslational modification. Even in prokaryotes, PROTEINS can be targeted to the inner or outer MEMBRANES, the periplasmic space between these membranes, or the extracellular space. The sorting of these proteins is similar to that in eukaryotes and relies on the presence of signal peptides.

57.

ExPASY contains a number of programs to determine posttranslational modifications based on MS molecular mass data.(a) True(b) FalseI had been asked this question during an interview for a job.The above asked question is from Post translational Modification in chapter Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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Right option is (a) True

For explanation I would say: Find Mod is a SUBPROGRAM that USES experimentally determined PEPTIDE fingerprint information to compare the MASSES of the peptide fragments with those of theoretical peptides. If a difference is found, it predicts a particular type of modification basedona set of predefined rules. It can predict twenty-eight types of modifications, INCLUDING methylation, phosphorylation, lipidation, and sulfation.

58.

Cysteine doesn’t make predictions by building profiles.(a) True(b) FalseThis question was posed to me during an interview.The above asked question is from Post translational Modification in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct answer is (b) False

Easiest explanation: Is a web server that predicts the disulfide BONDING states of cysteine residues in a protein SEQUENCE by BUILDING profiles based on multiple sequence alignment information. A RECURSIVE neural network ranks the candidate residues for disulfide formation.

59.

Which of the following is an incorrect statement?(a) Collecting a SAGE library is very labor intensive and expensive(b) Collecting a SAGE library is quite economical(c) SAGE is not suitable for rapid screening of cells(d) Gene identification from SAGE data is also more cumbersomeI got this question in exam.Enquiry is from Comparison of SAGE and DNA Microarrays topic in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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Right option is (B) Collecting a SAGE library is quite economical

The best I can EXPLAIN: The Gene identification from SAGE data is ALSO more cumbersome because the mRNA tags have to be extracted, compiled, and identified computationally, whereas in DNA microarrays, the identities of the probes are already known. In SAGE, comparison of gene expression profiles to discover differentially expressed GENES and co-expressed genes is PERFORMED manually, whereas for microarrays, there are a large number of software algorithms to automate the process.

60.

Which of the following is incorrect about Hierarchical Clustering?(a) The tree-branching pattern illustrates a higher degree of relationship between related gene groups(b) It is not similar to the distance phylogenetic tree-building method(c) It produces a treelike structure that represents a hierarchy or relative relatedness of data groups(d) In the tree leaves, similar gene expression profiles are placed more closely together than dissimilar gene expression profilesI had been asked this question in exam.This interesting question is from Microarray-Based Approaches topic in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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Correct ANSWER is (b) It is not similar to the DISTANCE phylogenetic tree-building method

Explanation: A hierarchical clustering method is in PRINCIPLE similar to the distance phylogenetic tree-building method. When genes with similar expression profiles are grouped in such a way, functions for unknown genes can often be inferred. Hierarchical clustering uses the agglomerative approach that works in MUCH the same way as the UPGMA method, in which the most similar data pairs are joined FIRST to form a cluster.

61.

which of the following is incorrect about Oligonucleotide Design in A microarray?(a) DNA microarrays are generated by fixing oligonucleotides onto a solid support(b) The oligonucleotide array slide represents thousands of preselected genes from an organism(c) The length of oligonucleotides is typically in the range of twenty-five to seventy bases long(d) The oligonucleotides don’t react with cDNA samplesI had been asked this question in final exam.Query is from Microarray-Based Approaches in division Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct option is (d) The oligonucleotides don’t react with cDNA samples

Easy explanation: The oligonucleotides are CALLED probes that hybridize to labeled cDNA samples. Shorter oligo probes tend to be more specific in hybridization because they are better at discriminating perfect complementary sequences fromsequences containing MISMATCHES. However, longer oligos can be more sensitive in BINDING cDNAs.

62.

It is important to use bioinformatics tools to predict sites for posttranslational modifications based on specific protein sequences. However, prediction of such modifications can often be difficult because the short lengths of the sequence motifs associated with certain modifications.(a) True(b) FalseI got this question in examination.I would like to ask this question from Post translational Modification in portion Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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63.

To minimize false-positive results, a statistical learning process called support vector machine (SVM) can be used to increase the specificity of prediction.(a) True(b) FalseThis question was posed to me in class test.This question is from Post translational Modification topic in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

Answer» CORRECT answer is (a) True

To elaborate: This is a data CLASSIFICATION method SIMILAR to the LINEAR or QUADRATIC discriminant analysis. In this method, the data are projected in a three-dimensional space or even a multidimensional space.
64.

Which of the following is untrue regarding the STRING?(a) Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins(b) Functional associations include only the direct protein-protein interactions(c) It is based on combined evidence of gene linkage, gene fusion and phylogenetic profiles(d) It is a web server that predicts gene and protein functional associationsThe question was posed to me in semester exam.Origin of the question is Protein Interactions in portion Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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The correct answer is (B) Functional associations INCLUDE only the direct protein-protein interactions

For explanation: Functional associations include both direct and indirect protein-protein interactions.

Indirect interactions can MEAN enzymes in the same PATHWAY sharing a common substrate or proteins REGULATING each other in the genetic pathway.

65.

It has been estimated that up to 11% of cDNA clones may be chimeric.(a) True(b) FalseThe question was asked in homework.My doubt is from Sequence topic in section Functional Genomics & Proteomics of Bioinformatics

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