$$\text{DNA} \rightarrow \text{RNA} \rightarrow \text{Protein}$$

Question 1

Which of the following best explains why new influenza vaccines must be developed each year?

Accepted Answer

The influenza virus mutates rapidly, altering its genetic information.

Question 2

In the Hershey-Chase experiment, what was the key evidence that DNA, and not protein, is the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive DNA was found inside the bacterial cells after infection.

Question 3

Which of the following is the correct complementary base pairing in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G).

Question 4

If an organism’s DNA contains 35% adenine, what percentage of its DNA is cytosine?

Accepted Answer

$$15\%$$

Question 5

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for joining Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand?

Accepted Answer

DNA ligase

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the flow of genetic information in a cell according to the central dogma?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{DNA} ightarrow 	ext{RNA} ightarrow 	ext{Protein}$$

Question 7

A mutation that changes a single nucleotide in a gene from GAA to GUA results in which type of mutation?

Accepted Answer

Base substitution

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the genetic code is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

It is nearly universal and shared by all organisms.

Question 9

What is the role of tRNA during translation?

Accepted Answer

It brings amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the mRNA codon using its anticodon.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes a frameshift mutation?

Accepted Answer

A mutation caused by the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide, altering the reading frame.

Question 11

Which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template during transcription?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase

Question 12

Which of the following is a function of the cap and tail added to eukaryotic mRNA?

Accepted Answer

They protect the mRNA from degradation in the cytoplasm.

Question 13

Which of the following is TRUE about viruses?

Accepted Answer

They possess genetic material but cannot reproduce on their own.

Question 14

What is the main difference between the lytic and lysogenic cycles of bacteriophages?

Accepted Answer

The lytic cycle results in the destruction of the host cell, while the lysogenic cycle allows the host cell to survive and replicate the viral DNA.

Question 15

Which of the following is a retrovirus and what enzyme does it use to replicate?

Accepted Answer

HIV; it uses reverse transcriptase.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes a prion?

Accepted Answer

A misfolded protein that can induce other proteins to misfold, causing neurodegenerative diseases.

Question 17

Which major biological theme is illustrated by the fact that nearly every organism shares the same genetic code?

Accepted Answer

Evolution

Question 18

A mutation in a gene results in a change from the codon UUU to UUA. What is the likely effect on the protein product?

Accepted Answer

A single amino acid change from phenylalanine to leucine.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a component of a DNA nucleotide?

Accepted Answer

Ribose sugar

Question 20

Which process involves the removal of introns and the joining of exons in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

RNA processing

Chapter 10: The Structure and Function of DNA – Mini-Textbook Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions