Question 1

Which of the following best describes the process of semiconservative DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

Each new DNA molecule consists of one parental strand and one newly synthesized strand.

Question 2

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing the new DNA strand by adding nucleotides to the growing chain?

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase

Question 3

A mutation in the gene encoding telomerase is most likely to affect which of the following cellular processes?

Accepted Answer

The stability of chromosome ends during cell division

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The genetic code is redundant, with some amino acids specified by more than one codon.

Question 5

A patient is diagnosed with Xeroderma pigmentosum, a disorder caused by a defect in nucleotide excision repair. Which type of DNA damage is this patient most likely unable to repair?

Accepted Answer

Thymine dimers caused by UV light

Question 6

In eukaryotic cells, which of the following occurs during post-transcriptional processing of pre-mRNA?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why Okazaki fragments are formed during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase can only synthesize DNA in the 5' to 3' direction.

Question 8

A researcher introduces a point mutation that changes a codon from UAU to UAA in a gene. What is the most likely effect of this mutation on the resulting protein?

Accepted Answer

It will introduce a premature stop codon, leading to a truncated protein.

Question 9

Which of the following equations correctly represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for a gene with two alleles, A and a, with frequencies $$p$$ and $$q$$?

Accepted Answer

$$p^2 + 2pq$$ + $$q^2 = 1$

Question 10

Which of the following is a key characteristic of cancer cells related to genetics?

Accepted Answer

They have increased telomerase activity, allowing unlimited cell division.

Question 11

A population of 1000 individuals has the following genotype frequencies for a gene with two alleles: 490 AA, 420 Aa, and 90 aa. What is the frequency of the a allele ($$q$$)?

Accepted Answer

$$q = 0.4$$

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

tRNA carries amino acids to the ribosome and matches them to the mRNA codon via its anticodon.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of epigenetic regulation of gene expression?

Accepted Answer

Methylation of cytosine bases in DNA

Question 14

A scientist observes that a certain gene is transcribed but not translated into protein. Which type of RNA is most likely being produced?

Accepted Answer

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer?

Accepted Answer

They are involved in DNA repair, and mutations reduce the cell's ability to fix DNA damage.

Question 16

Which of the following statements about the flow of genetic information in the central dogma is correct?

Accepted Answer

Information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

Question 17

A population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. If the frequency of the recessive phenotype is $$0.09$$, what is the frequency of the dominant allele ($$p$$)?

Accepted Answer

$$p = 0.7$$

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of topoisomerase during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

It relieves tension ahead of the replication fork by cutting and rejoining DNA strands.

Question 19

Which of the following is a consequence of a frameshift mutation within the coding region of a gene?

Accepted Answer

It results in the insertion or deletion of a single nucleotide, altering the reading frame and potentially changing every amino acid downstream.

Genetics Study Guide: DNA Duplication, Replication, Gene Expression, and More

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards