Question 1

Which property of carbon makes it uniquely suited to form the backbone of biological macromolecules?

Accepted Answer

It can form up to four covalent bonds, allowing for complex and diverse molecular structures.

Question 2

A dehydration reaction is essential in the formation of which type of biological structure?

Accepted Answer

Synthesizing a polymer from monomers by removing a water molecule

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the structure of a phospholipid in a cell membrane?

Accepted Answer

A hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails

Question 4

Which of the following statements about hydrogen bonds is correct?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bonds are weak individually but can have large effects when many are present.

Question 5

A patient is diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. Which molecular change is responsible for the altered shape of their red blood cells?

Accepted Answer

A substitution of a nonpolar amino acid (valine) for a polar one (glutamine) in the hemoglobin beta subunit

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why cellulose provides structural support in plant cell walls but cannot be digested by most animals?

Accepted Answer

Cellulose contains glycosidic bonds in a configuration that most animal enzymes cannot hydrolyze.

Question 7

Which of the following is a correct pairing of a macromolecule and its monomer?

Accepted Answer

Carbohydrate – Monosaccharide

Question 8

A scientist is studying a molecule with the formula $C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}$. Which of the following is true about this molecule?

Accepted Answer

It is a monosaccharide and can be glucose, fructose, or galactose.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the difference between DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

DNA is usually double-stranded and contains deoxyribose; RNA is usually single-stranded and contains ribose.

Question 10

Which of the following functional groups is most likely to make a region of a molecule hydrophilic?

Accepted Answer

Hydroxyl group ($-OH$)

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why phospholipids form bilayers in water?

Accepted Answer

Their hydrophilic heads interact with water, while their hydrophobic tails avoid water.

Question 12

Which of the following is a function of proteins in living organisms?

Accepted Answer

Catalyzing chemical reactions as enzymes

Question 13

A mutation changes a codon in DNA from ATG to ATA. What is the most likely effect on the resulting protein?

Accepted Answer

A different amino acid will be incorporated at that position, potentially altering protein function.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the process of hydrolysis?

Accepted Answer

Breaking a polymer into monomers by adding a water molecule

Question 15

Which of the following is true about the genetic code?

Accepted Answer

It is universal across almost all living organisms, allowing for genetic engineering.

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why lactose tolerance is more common in populations with a history of dairy farming?

Accepted Answer

These populations have a gene that remains active past infancy, allowing continued production of lactase.

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct description of a peptide bond?

Accepted Answer

A covalent bond formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the quaternary structure of a protein?

Accepted Answer

The arrangement of multiple polypeptide subunits in a functional protein complex

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-world application of nucleic acid technology?

Accepted Answer

Using DNA sequences to track viral mutations in SARS-CoV-2

Biomolecules: Structure and Function in Living Systems

Study Guide - Practice Questions