Protein Discovery – 20 MCQs for Future Scientists

Protein Discovery Quiz– 20 MCQs for Future Scientists

ByDr. Niamat Khan July 11, 2025July 11, 2025

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Ready to challenge your protein knowledge? Click the link below to take our interactive Protein Discovery Quiz and explore more eye-opening biology quizzes!

Protein Discovery Quiz – 20 MCQs for Future Scientists

Click Here for Quiz Instructions

Quiz Score Guide

Score	Feedback	Try Again?
16–20 correct	Excellent understanding	Optional
11–15 correct	Good, needs slight review	Recommended
6–10 correct	Fair, review needed	Strongly recommended
Below 6	Poor, revisit the topic	Must retake

1 / 20

Edman degradation is used to determine:

A) Molecular weight

B) N-terminal amino acid sequence

C) Protein 3D structure

D) Disulfide bond locations

2 / 20

Which technique can detect protein interactions in living cells?

A) Southern blot

B) Gram staining

C) FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer)

D) Western blot

3 / 20

Which technique revolutionized protein structure determination in the 1950s?

A) PCR

B) ELISA

C) X-ray crystallography

D) Western blot

4 / 20

GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) was discovered in:

A) Drosophila melanogaster

B) Escherichia coli

C) Arabidopsis thaliana

D) Aequorea victoria jellyfish

5 / 20

AlphaFold by DeepMind predicts protein:

A) Enzymatic activity

B) 3D structure from amino acid sequence

C) Evolutionary history

D) Cellular localization

6 / 20

Mass spectrometry identifies proteins based on:

A) Fluorescence

B) pH sensitivity

C) Optical density

D) Mass-to-charge ratio

7 / 20

The first 3D protein structure solved was:

A) Myoglobin

B) Hemoglobin

C) DNA polymerase

D) Collagen

8 / 20

Cryo-EM visualizes proteins by:

A) Staining with heavy metals

B) UV light absorption

C) Radioactive labeling

D) Flash-freezing in solution and electron imaging

9 / 20

Which database is used to compare protein sequences globally?

A) GenBank

B) BLAST

C) PubMed

D) UniProt

10 / 20

10)

Rosalind Franklin’s work was critical for:

A) PCR invention

B) DNA structure, not protein

C) CRISPR technology

D) Protein sequencing

11 / 20

11)

What does SDS-PAGE separate proteins by?

A) Molecular weight

B) Function

C) Hydrophobicity

D) Charge

12 / 20

12)

Which Nobel Prize was NOT awarded for protein-related work?

A) 2017 (Cryo-EM)

B) 2008 (GFP discovery)

C) 1962 (DNA structure)

D) 1972 (Anfinsen’s protein folding)

13 / 20

13)

A lab discovers a new protein in mitochondria. How to confirm its function?

A) Gene knockout + phenotypic analysis

B) Gram staining

C) ELISA

D) Blood typing

14 / 20

14)

A student says, “All proteins are enzymes.” How to correct them?

A) Agree

B) "Proteins are only structural"

C) "Enzymes are lipids"

D) "Only some proteins catalyze reactions"

15 / 20

15)

The first protein sequenced (insulin) was determined by:

A) Frederick Sanger’s chemical degradation

B) SDS-PAGE electrophoresis

C) X-ray crystallography

D) CRISPR-Cas9

16 / 20

16)

A paper claims a protein causes cancer. What’s the first step to verify?

A) Reproduce results independently

B) Ignore conflicting data

C) Publish immediately

D) Patent the protein

17 / 20

17)

The term “protein” was coined by:

A) Jöns Jacob Berzelius

B) Robert Hooke

C) Louis Pasteur

D) Gregor Mendel

18 / 20

18)

Who first crystallized an enzyme (urease), proving proteins can act as enzymes?

A) Linus Pauling

B) Rosalind Franklin

C) James Sumner

D) Frederick Sanger

19 / 20

19)

Who discovered the alpha-helix and beta-sheet motifs?

A) Watson and Crick

B) Kary Mullis

C) Barbara McClintock

D) Linus Pauling

20 / 20

20)

A scientist wants to express human insulin in bacteria. Which tool is essential?

A) Recombinant DNA technology

B) Microtome

C) Flow cytometer

D) PCR machine

Your score is

The average score is 55%

Proteins Discovery: Top FAQs About Protein History, Structure & Scientific Techniques

What marked the beginning of protein discovery in science?

The journey began when Jöns Jacob Berzelius coined the term “protein” in 1838. However, James Sumner’s crystallization of urease in 1926 proved proteins could act as enzymes, transforming biochemical research.

Who discovered the first protein structure and how?

John Kendrew revealed the 3D structure of myoglobin using X-ray crystallography in the 1950s. This achievement opened new frontiers in structural biology and earned a Nobel Prize.

How was the first protein sequence determined?

Frederick Sanger sequenced insulin in 1955 using chemical degradation techniques. His work demonstrated that proteins have unique amino acid sequences and earned him a Nobel Prize.

What techniques are used today in protein discovery?

Modern methods include Cryo-EM, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. These tools help identify protein structure, function, and interactions with high precision.

Why is protein discovery important in biotechnology and medicine?

Protein discovery drives innovations in drug design, enzyme therapy, and diagnostics. For example, monoclonal antibodies target cancer cells, and recombinant insulin treats diabetes effectively.

What role did Linus Pauling play in protein discovery?

Linus Pauling discovered the alpha-helix and beta-sheet structures in proteins. He explained how hydrogen bonds stabilize secondary structures, which deepened our understanding of protein folding.

What is Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM)?

Cryo-EM is a powerful technique that visualizes proteins by flash-freezing them and capturing high-resolution images using electron beams. It has revolutionized structural biology.

What was the first protein used therapeutically?

Scientists used insulin as the first protein-based drug in 1922. Its discovery and later recombinant production transformed diabetes treatment and highlighted protein therapy’s potential.