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

A mutation in the regulatory region of a gene most likely affects which aspect of gene expression?

Accepted Answer

The ability of RNA polymerase to bind and initiate transcription.

Question 3

During transcription, which strand of DNA is used as the template for RNA synthesis?

Accepted Answer

The template strand (antisense strand).

Question 4

Given the DNA template strand sequence $3'-ATCGGCAGGACCTTAAAT-5'$, what is the corresponding mRNA sequence?

Accepted Answer

$5'-UAGCCGUCCUGGAAUUUA-3'$

Question 5

Which of the following is true about codons in the genetic code?

Accepted Answer

There are 64 possible codons, but only 20 amino acids.

Question 6

A frameshift mutation is most likely to result from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

An insertion or deletion of a single nucleotide.

Question 7

Which codon serves as the universal start codon for translation?

Accepted Answer

AUG

Question 8

In prokaryotic transcription, what is the role of the sigma ($\sigma$) factor in RNA polymerase?

Accepted Answer

It binds to the promoter region to initiate transcription.

Question 9

Which of the following best explains why eukaryotic mRNA must be processed before translation?

Accepted Answer

To add a 5' cap and a 3' poly-A tail for stability and export.

Question 10

A patient with Maple Syrup Urine Disease has a mutation in a gene encoding an enzyme. According to the one gene-one enzyme hypothesis, which statement is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The mutation affects a specific enzyme required for amino acid metabolism.

Question 11

Which of the following is a function of the spliceosome during RNA processing?

Accepted Answer

It removes introns from the primary transcript.

Question 12

What is the consequence of a mutation that changes a codon from UAU (tyrosine) to UAA in an mRNA sequence?

Accepted Answer

Translation will terminate prematurely at the UAA stop codon.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription?

Accepted Answer

In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus and translation in the cytoplasm.

Question 14

If a gene has the following structure: 5'-[Promoter]-[Exon 1]-[Intron]-[Exon 2]-3', what will be present in the mature mRNA after processing?

Accepted Answer

Exon 1 and Exon 2 only

Question 15

Which of the following is a direct result of the degeneracy of the genetic code?

Accepted Answer

Multiple codons can encode the same amino acid.

Question 16

A mutation in the -10 region of a prokaryotic promoter would most likely affect which process?

Accepted Answer

The binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of transcription.

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why RNA polymerase does not require a primer to initiate transcription?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase can add nucleotides to a free 3' hydroxyl group without a pre-existing strand.

Question 18

Which modification increases the stability of eukaryotic mRNA in the cytoplasm?

Accepted Answer

Addition of a 5' cap and a 3' poly-A tail.

Question 19

A frameshift mutation occurs in the coding region of a gene. What is the most likely outcome for the resulting protein?

Accepted Answer

The protein will have a completely altered sequence downstream of the mutation.

Question 20

Which of the following is true about the reading frame in translation?

Accepted Answer

It is set by the start codon and divides the mRNA into consecutive, non-overlapping triplets.

Transcription and RNA Processing: From Genes to Functional mRNA

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