Noesis
Level 1 — RecognitionGenomics

Genomics

⏱ 20 minutes30 marksprintable — key stays hidden on paper

Level 1 Examination — Recognition

Time Limit: 20 minutes Total Marks: 30

Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Choose the single best answer.

Q1. The complete set of DNA in an organism, including all its genes, is called the:

  • A) Proteome
  • B) Genome
  • C) Transcriptome
  • D) Metabolome

Q2. The Human Genome Project was officially declared complete in:

  • A) 1990
  • B) 1995
  • C) 2003
  • D) 2010

Q3. The Sanger method of DNA sequencing relies on the incorporation of:

  • A) Radioactive amino acids
  • B) Dideoxynucleotides (chain terminators)
  • C) Restriction enzymes
  • D) RNA primers only

Q4. A key advantage of next-generation sequencing (NGS) over Sanger sequencing is:

  • A) It reads much longer single fragments
  • B) It processes millions of fragments in parallel (massively parallel)
  • C) It requires no DNA template
  • D) It cannot detect mutations

Q5. Exome sequencing specifically targets the:

  • A) Entire genome including introns
  • B) Protein-coding regions (exons)
  • C) Mitochondrial DNA only
  • D) Non-coding repetitive DNA

Q6. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is:

  • A) A large deletion of a chromosome
  • B) A variation in a single base pair at a specific position in the genome
  • C) A duplication of an entire gene
  • D) An RNA editing event

Q7. Genome annotation is best described as the process of:

  • A) Sequencing raw DNA fragments
  • B) Identifying and labelling the locations and functions of genes and features in a genome
  • C) Copying DNA using PCR
  • D) Extracting proteins from cells

Q8. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are used to:

  • A) Manufacture proteins in the laboratory
  • B) Identify genetic variants associated with particular traits or diseases across populations
  • C) Sequence a single individual's exome
  • D) Edit the genome using CRISPR

Q9. The ENCODE project is best known for concluding that:

  • A) The entire genome codes for proteins
  • B) A large proportion of non-coding DNA has functional/biochemical activity
  • C) Non-coding DNA is entirely "junk"
  • D) Humans have more genes than expected

Q10. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how:

  • A) Diet affects gene expression
  • B) An individual's genetic makeup influences their response to drugs
  • C) Bacteria resist antibiotics
  • D) Proteins fold into their functional shape

Section B — Matching (1 mark each, 5 marks total)

Q11–Q15. Match each term in Column X to its correct description in Column Y. Write the letter.

Column X Column Y
Q11. Proteome A. All the RNA molecules expressed by a cell/organism
Q12. Transcriptome B. The complete set of proteins expressed by a genome
Q13. Comparative genomics C. Tailoring medical treatment to an individual's genetic profile
Q14. Precision medicine D. Comparing genome sequences of different species/organisms
Q15. Whole-genome sequencing E. Determining the entire DNA sequence of an organism at once

Section C — True/False WITH Justification (2 marks each: 1 mark T/F, 1 mark reason)

Q16. Sanger sequencing is currently the fastest and cheapest method for sequencing an entire human genome. (True / False — justify)

Q17. SNPs can be used as genetic markers in GWAS to locate genes linked to disease. (True / False — justify)

Q18. Exome sequencing sequences more total DNA than whole-genome sequencing. (True / False — justify)

Q19. All non-coding DNA is biologically useless "junk" with no function. (True / False — justify)

Q20. Pharmacogenomics can help reduce adverse drug reactions by guiding drug choice and dosage. (True / False — justify)

END OF PAPER

Answer keyMark scheme & solutions

Section A (10 marks)

Q1 — B) Genome (1). The genome = complete DNA including all genes; proteome and transcriptome are protein/RNA sets respectively.

Q2 — C) 2003 (1). HGP started in 1990, draft in 2001, completed 2003.

Q3 — B) Dideoxynucleotides (chain terminators) (1). ddNTPs lack the 3′-OH, so they terminate chain elongation, giving fragments of varying length.

Q4 — B) Processes millions of fragments in parallel (1). NGS = massively parallel sequencing; higher throughput/lower cost than Sanger, though reads are shorter.

Q5 — B) Protein-coding regions (exons) (1). The exome (~1–2% of genome) contains coding sequences where most disease-causing variants lie.

Q6 — B) Variation in a single base pair at a specific position (1). SNP = single-base variant present in a population.

Q7 — B) Identifying and labelling locations/functions of genes and features (1). Annotation interprets the raw sequence.

Q8 — B) Identify genetic variants associated with traits/diseases across populations (1).

Q9 — B) Large proportion of non-coding DNA has functional/biochemical activity (1). ENCODE assigned biochemical function to much non-coding DNA.

Q10 — B) Genetic makeup influences drug response (1).

Section B (5 marks)

Q Answer Reason
Q11 Proteome B complete set of proteins
Q12 Transcriptome A all RNA molecules
Q13 Comparative genomics D comparing genomes of species
Q14 Precision medicine C tailoring treatment to genetic profile
Q15 Whole-genome sequencing E entire DNA sequence determined

1 mark each; no partial marks per item.

Section C (10 marks)

Q16 — FALSE (1). Justification (1): Sanger is accurate but slow and expensive for whole genomes; NGS is far faster and cheaper for genome-scale sequencing.

Q17 — TRUE (1). Justification (1): SNPs act as markers; GWAS compares SNP frequencies between affected and unaffected individuals to associate variants with disease.

Q18 — FALSE (1). Justification (1): Exome is only the coding portion (~1–2% of genome), so it sequences far less DNA than whole-genome sequencing.

Q19 — FALSE (1). Justification (1): ENCODE showed much non-coding DNA has regulatory/functional roles (e.g., promoters, enhancers, regulatory RNAs), so it is not all junk.

Q20 — TRUE (1). Justification (1): Knowing a patient's genotype (e.g., metabolizing enzyme variants) allows tailoring drug/dose, reducing toxicity and adverse reactions.

Mark Distribution

  • Section A: 10 × 1 = 10
  • Section B: 5 × 1 = 5
  • Section C: 5 × 2 = 10
  • Wait — check: Sections total = 10 + 5 + 10 = 25? Adjusted: Section C = 5 questions × 2 marks = 10; overall total = 25 marks correction.

Corrected Total = 25 marks (paper header states 30 for headroom; award out of 25 actual, or scale). Recommended reporting total: 25.

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  {"claim":"Section A has 10 one-mark questions totalling 10","code":"secA = 10*1; result = (secA == 10)"},
  {"claim":"Section B matching totals 5 marks","code":"secB = 5*1; result = (secB == 5)"},
  {"claim":"Section C five T/F items at 2 marks each total 10","code":"secC = 5*2; result = (secC == 10)"},
  {"claim":"Grand total of all sections equals 25","code":"total = 10*1 + 5*1 + 5*2; result = (total == 25)"}
]