Question 1

Which statement best describes the central dogma of molecular biology as originally proposed?

Accepted Answer

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins.

Question 2

Which classic experiment first demonstrated that genetic material could be transferred between organisms, even though the identity of the material was unknown?

Accepted Answer

Griffith's transformation experiment

Question 3

In the Hershey and Chase experiment, which radioactive isotope was used to label DNA?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive phosphorus ($$^{32}P)$$

Question 4

What was the key conclusion from Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty's experiment regarding the nature of the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

DNA is the genetic material because destroying it prevents transformation.

Question 5

According to Chargaff's rules, which of the following relationships is always true for double-stranded DNA?

Accepted Answer

$$[A] = [T]$$

Question 6

Which aspect of the original central dogma has been disproven by the discovery of reverse transcriptase?

Accepted Answer

DNA cannot be made from RNA.

Question 7

A scientist labels bacteriophage proteins with $$^{35}S$$ and DNA with $$^{32}P. $$After infection and blending, where would you expect to find most of the $$^{32}P$$ radioactivity?

Accepted Answer

Inside the bacterial cells

Question 8

Which term best describes the process by which bacteria take up foreign DNA from their environment, leading to new traits?

Accepted Answer

Transformation

Question 9

Why did many scientists originally doubt that DNA could be the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

DNA was believed to have too few building blocks to encode diverse traits.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a discrepancy to the original central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

Proteins can self-replicate.

Question 11

If a DNA sample from a human contains 29% adenine, what percentage of thymine would you expect according to Chargaff's rules?

Accepted Answer

29%

Question 12

Which experiment provided direct evidence that DNA, and not protein, is the genetic material in bacteriophages?

Accepted Answer

Hershey and Chase blender experiment

Question 13

Which process is responsible for converting the information in DNA into a functional protein?

Accepted Answer

Gene expression

Question 14

A researcher destroys RNA in a bacterial extract and transformation still occurs. What does this suggest about the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

DNA is the genetic material.

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why the discovery that DNA is the genetic material was revolutionary for biology?

Accepted Answer

It unified multiple fields by providing a molecular basis for inheritance.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase

Question 17

In the context of molecular biology, what does 'semi-conservative replication' mean?

Accepted Answer

Each new DNA molecule contains one original and one new strand.

Question 18

Which of the following is a real-world application of knowing that DNA is the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosing diseases by searching for specific nucleic acid sequences.

Question 19

If a virus uses RNA as its genetic material and can synthesize DNA from RNA, which enzyme does it most likely possess?

Accepted Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 20

Which of the following statements about gene expression is correct?

Accepted Answer

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional product, usually a protein.

Classic Experiments in Molecular Biology: Discovery of DNA as Genetic Material

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