A 35-year-old patient is diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Researchers are exploring a novel therapy using ribozymes to target and cleave the viral RNA, preventing replication. The medical team explains this approach to you during rounds. What is the primary mechanism by which ribozymes could therapeutically target HIV RNA?

A medical student is reviewing the function of ribozymes and comes across the fact that the ribosome’s core enzymatic activity is carried out by RNA rather than protein. Which of the following best describes the function of this ribozyme?

A scientist is studying an RNA molecule that catalyzes its own splicing by removing itself from a precursor RNA transcript without the help of protein enzymes. This RNA is most likely classified as:

A research team is designing a novel therapy to target HIV RNA using a catalytic RNA molecule that can specifically bind and cleave viral RNA, preventing replication. This strategy is most likely based on the action of which of the following?

A 40-year-old male presents with progressive neurological symptoms, including chorea and cognitive decline. His family history reveals that his father had similar symptoms. Genetic testing is ordered to confirm Huntington disease. Which of the following enzymes is essential for amplifying DNA segments in the molecular technique used to diagnose Huntington disease?

A forensic scientist is analyzing a DNA sample from a crime scene to determine if it matches the suspect’s DNA. The technique used involves amplifying specific DNA regions from very small amounts of DNA. Which of the following methods is best suited for this purpose?

A 25-year-old female of African descent presents with fatigue, joint pain, and anemia. Her family history reveals that her father has sickle cell trait. Genetic testing is ordered to confirm the diagnosis. Which of the following techniques was historically used for prenatal detection of sickle cell trait but has been largely replaced by more sensitive methods?

A 40-year-old couple seeks genetic counseling due to a family history of phenylketonuria (PKU). The laboratory offers prenatal testing but notes that older techniques have been replaced by more sensitive methods to detect the underlying mutation. Why has Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) largely replaced Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) for diagnosing phenylketonuria (PKU) in this scenario?

A 25-year-old male presents with fever, neck stiffness, and a rash, raising suspicion of bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample is analyzed using a rapid molecular technique to confirm the pathogen’s presence. How does Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assist in diagnosing this patient’s Neisseria meningitidis infection?

A 35-year-old woman presents with fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis shows elevated white blood cells, low glucose, and high protein, suggestive of bacterial meningitis. The physician wants to rapidly identify the causative bacterial pathogen from the CSF sample using a highly sensitive molecular technique that amplifies bacterial DNA. Which of the following techniques is the most appropriate for this purpose?