Question 1

Which of the following best describes the Central Dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

Which of the following is a property of DNA that allows it to serve as the genetic material?

Accepted Answer

It is double-stranded, antiparallel, and complementary.

Question 3

A mutation changes the DNA sequence from ATGTTGATTTGA to ATGTAGATTTGA. What type of mutation is this?

Accepted Answer

Substitution

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why heat can denature proteins?

Accepted Answer

Heat disrupts hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions in secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.

Question 5

Which of the following is true about the structure of an amino acid?

Accepted Answer

It contains a central carbon, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and a variable R group.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

They can confer antibiotic resistance or virulence traits.

Question 7

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the double helix?

Accepted Answer

DNA helicase

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the lac operon in E. coli is correct?

Accepted Answer

It is induced when lactose is present and glucose is absent.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes a silent mutation?

Accepted Answer

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Question 10

Which of the following is a difference between DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

DNA is usually double-stranded, while RNA is usually single-stranded.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

It brings the correct amino acid to the ribosome based on the mRNA codon.

Question 12

Which of the following is a property of the genetic code that allows for silent mutations?

Accepted Answer

The code is redundant (degenerate).

Question 13

Which of the following is a real-world example of protein denaturation?

Accepted Answer

Cooking an egg until it solidifies

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a missense mutation?

Accepted Answer

A mutation that changes one amino acid to another in the protein sequence.

Question 15

Which of the following is a function of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?

Accepted Answer

It forms the structural and catalytic core of the ribosome.

Question 16

Which of the following is a property of prokaryotic chromosomes?

Accepted Answer

They are circular and found in the nucleoid region.

Question 17

Which of the following enzymes is responsible for synthesizing the RNA primer during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

RNA primase

Question 18

Which of the following is a consequence of a frameshift mutation?

Accepted Answer

The reading frame of the gene is altered, potentially changing all downstream amino acids.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the process of conjugation in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

Transfer of genetic material via a pilus from one living cell to another

Question 20

Which of the following is a function of DNA methylation in prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

It can regulate replication, transcription, and serve as a marker for the immune system.

The Central Dogma and Protein Structure: Foundations of Microbial Genetics

Study Guide - Practice Questions