Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

Information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

Question 2

Which enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template during transcription?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase

Question 3

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the directionality of RNA synthesis?

Accepted Answer

RNA is synthesized in the 5' → 3' direction.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for RNA polymerase activity during transcription?

Accepted Answer

A primer

Question 5

In eukaryotes, which RNA polymerase is primarily responsible for synthesizing mRNA?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase II

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the function of the -10 (Pribnow box) and -35 sequences in prokaryotic transcription?

Accepted Answer

They are consensus sequences that form the promoter region for RNA polymerase binding.

Question 7

Which strand of DNA has the same sequence as the RNA transcript (except for T/U differences)?

Accepted Answer

Coding (sense) strand

Question 8

Which of the following is a function of the 5' cap added to eukaryotic mRNA?

Accepted Answer

It protects the RNA from nucleases and forms a binding site for the ribosome.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about introns is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

Introns are removed from the RNA transcript during processing.

Question 10

Which of the following is a characteristic of group I introns?

Accepted Answer

They are self-splicing and require guanosine as a cofactor.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the process of alternative splicing?

Accepted Answer

It allows a single gene to produce multiple protein variants.

Question 12

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the role of the rho (ρ) protein in transcription termination?

Accepted Answer

Rho binds to a specific sequence on the RNA and uses ATP hydrolysis to dissociate the transcription bubble.

Question 13

Which of the following steps is NOT part of the maturation of eukaryotic mRNA?

Accepted Answer

Addition of a 3' CCA sequence

Question 14

A mutation in the gene encoding RNase P would most directly affect which process?

Accepted Answer

Cleavage of the 5' end of tRNA precursors

Question 15

Which of the following equations correctly represents the hydrolysis of ATP during rho-dependent termination?

Accepted Answer

$$\mathrm{ATP} + \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{ADP} + \mathrm{P}_i$$

Question 16

Which of the following is a direct product of RNA polymerase I activity in eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Precursor for 18S, 28S, and 5.8S rRNAs

Question 17

A researcher isolates a primary transcript from a eukaryotic cell and finds that it contains both exons and introns. Which process must occur before this transcript can be translated?

Accepted Answer

Splicing to remove introns

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why the addition of a poly(A) tail is important for eukaryotic mRNA?

Accepted Answer

It enhances the stability of the mRNA and facilitates its export from the nucleus.

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-life example of alternative splicing affecting protein function?

Accepted Answer

Production of membrane-bound versus soluble antibody molecules

RNA Synthesis and Processing: Transcription and Post-Transcriptional Modifications

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