Question 1

Which experiment provided the strongest evidence that DNA is the genetic material of cells?

Accepted Answer

The Hershey-Chase experiment using bacteriophages and radioactive labeling

Question 2

What is the significance of DNA replication being semiconservative?

Accepted Answer

Each daughter DNA molecule contains one original strand and one newly synthesized strand

Question 3

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing the new DNA strand by adding nucleotides to the 3' end?

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase

Question 4

A mutation changes a codon from $	ext{UAC}$ to $	ext{UAA}$. What type of mutation is this?

Accepted Answer

Nonsense mutation

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the function of tRNA during translation?

Accepted Answer

It brings specific amino acids to the ribosome according to the codon sequence on mRNA

Question 6

What is the role of the promoter region in transcription?

Accepted Answer

It is the DNA sequence where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription

Question 7

Which statement about the genetic code is correct?

Accepted Answer

It is redundant, meaning multiple codons can code for the same amino acid

Question 8

In eukaryotic cells, what is the function of the 5' cap added to mRNA?

Accepted Answer

It protects mRNA from degradation and assists in ribosome binding during translation

Question 9

Which process ensures that errors made during DNA replication are corrected?

Accepted Answer

Proofreading by DNA polymerase

Question 10

A bacteriophage infects a bacterial cell and integrates its DNA into the host genome. What is this process called?

Accepted Answer

Lysogenic cycle

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why viruses can only reproduce inside host cells?

Accepted Answer

They lack the cellular machinery necessary for replication and protein synthesis

Question 12

What is the main difference between a silent mutation and a missense mutation?

Accepted Answer

A silent mutation does not change the amino acid sequence, while a missense mutation does

Question 13

Which of the following is a function of plasmids in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

They carry genes that can provide antibiotic resistance

Question 14

If a DNA strand has the sequence $5'	ext{-ATCGGTA-}3'$, what is the complementary RNA sequence produced during transcription?

Accepted Answer

$3'	ext{-UAGCCAU-}5'$

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the structure of a nucleotide in DNA?

Accepted Answer

A phosphate group, a deoxyribose sugar, and a nitrogenous base

Question 16

Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the DNA double helix during replication?

Accepted Answer

Helicase

Question 17

What is the function of ribosomes during translation?

Accepted Answer

They catalyze the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the central dogma of molecular biology is correct?

Accepted Answer

It describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein

Question 19

Which of the following is a reason why eukaryotic transcription is more complex than prokaryotic transcription?

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic genes contain introns that must be spliced out of the pre-mRNA

Question 20

Which of the following best describes a retrovirus?

Accepted Answer

A virus that uses reverse transcriptase to make DNA from its RNA genome

General Biology Study Guide: DNA, Central Dogma, Viruses, and Bacteria

Study Guide - Practice Questions