Deck 17: Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids

Question 1

What type of permanent alteration of the chemical structure of a gene occurs after birth?

A) an inherited mutation
B) a genetic disease
C) cervical cancer
D) altered proteins
E) an acquired mutation

Answer 1

an acquired mutation

Question 2

Approximately how many people are infected with HIV in the world?

A) about one thousand
B) about ten thousand
C) about one hundred thousand
D) about one million
E) about forty million

Answer 2

about forty million

Question 3

All living organisms have the same

A) genes.
B) chromosomes.
C) proteins.
D) genetic code.
E) DNA sequence.

Answer 3

genetic code.

Question 4

The arrow labeled II in the nucleic acid below is pointing to a(n)

A) nonpolar covalent bond.
B) ionic interaction.
C) phosphate ester bond.
D) glycosidic bond.
E) hydrogen bond.

Question 5

In the diagram below, letter F is _______, letter E is__________, and letter B is____. ​

A) rRNA; mRNA; tRNA
B) rRNA; tRNA; mRNA
C) tRNA; rRNA; mRNA
D) tRNA; mRNA; rRNA
E) mRNA; rRNA; tRNA

Question 6

A normal DNA sequence is 5′-GTA GCA TCA CCA-3′.If the DNA sequence mutated to 5′-GCA GCA TCA CCA-3′, how would the peptide sequence be affected?

A) All amino acids downstream of the mutation would be changed.
B) The peptide would not be synthesized.
C) An Arg would replace a His.
D) A stop would replace a Trp.
E) No change would occur.

Question 7

What general strategies are used in packaging DNA to fit into a nucleus?

A) None, the DNA is just wadded up in the nucleus.
B) coiling only
C) coiling and charge attraction
D) Only a small part of each chromosome is in each nucleus.
E) shrinking

Question 8

What is the DNA sequence that the codon shown below was translated from?

A) 3′-CGG-5′
B) 5′-CGG-3′
C) 3′-GCC-5′
D) 5′-GCC-3′
E) It is not possible to determine.

Question 9

A normal DNA sequence is 5′-GTA GCA TCA CCA-3′.If the DNA sequence mutated to 5′-GTA GCA TTC ACC A-3′, this would be a ________ mutation.

A) substitution
B) frame-shift
C) translocation
D) viral
E) silent

Question 10

The function of DNA is to _______, whereas the function of RNA is to ___________.

A) store information about proteins; construct proteins based on the information in DNA
B) construct and store proteins; transport proteins to needed locations in the body
C) build proteins; break down proteins
D) act as a blueprint for the body; synthesize whatever biomolecules are required for the body to function
E) act as a blueprint for proteins; act as a blueprint for other biomolecules

Question 11

The DNA double helix is stabilized by ________, the interaction between delocalized electrons of aromatic rings in nitrogenous bases.

A) base-stacking
B) dipole-dipole interactions
C) salt bridges
D) hydrogen bonds
E) covalent bonds

Question 12

The following figure illustrates a(n)_______ base pair.

A) G-C
B) A-C
C) A-T
D) A-G
E) G-T

Question 13

If an organism has 22% thymine in its DNA, it will have

A) 78% adenine.
B) 22% adenine.
C) 78% uracil.
D) 22% uracil.
E) 22% guanine.

Question 14

Which part of the DNA strand is the MOST polar, and what is the significance of that polarity?

A) The nitrogen base is most polar, and so it is on the outside of the DNA, in contact with water.
B) The nitrogen base is most polar, and so it is on the inside of the DNA.
C) The sugar phosphate backbone is most polar, and so it is on the outside of the DNA, in contact with water.
D) The sugar phosphate backbone is most polar, and so it is on the inside of the DNA.
E) No part of DNA is any more polar than any other part.

Question 15

What is a gene?

A) a segment of DNA containing information for assembling the sequence of amino acids for a specific protein
B) a molecule of DNA containing thousands of nucleotides
C) a change in DNA that may cause an inherited disease
D) an alteration in the DNA that is caused by environmental factors
E) All of the above are definitions of a gene.

Question 16

Which type of RNA carries the genetic information from DNA out of the nucleus?

A) ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
B) RNA polymerase
C) messenger RNA (mRNA)
D) transfer RNA (tRNA)
E) All of these carry the genetic information from DNA out of the nucleus.

Question 17

The codon is found on _____, and the anticodon is found on _____.

A) tRNA; mRNA
B) mRNA; tRNA
C) mRNA; rRNA
D) rRNA; tRNA
E) rRNA; mRNA

Question 18

A gene is a section of DNA that contains the instructions for making

A) more DNA.
B) carbohydrates.
C) proteins.
D) lipids.
E) All of the above are correct.

Question 19

Why does the HIV virus need a host cell?

A) The virus needs to feed off of the host cell.
B) The virus needs to live in the host cell.
C) The virus needs the host cell's mitochondrial DNA.
D) The virus needs the host cell's enzymes to reproduce and synthesize proteins.
E) All of the above are reasons why the HIV virus needs a host cell.

Question 20

DNA coils around ___________ to form ____________.

A) amino acids; peptides
B) monosaccharides; ribosomes
C) histone proteins; nucleosomes
D) histone proteins; ribosomes
E) amino acids; nucleosomes

Question 21

What is the general strategy used to treat HIV/AIDS?

A) inhibition of reverse transcriptase
B) inhibition of protease
C) preventing the virus from entering the host cell
D) disrupting the life cycle of the virus
E) All of the above are general strategies.

Question 22

Why is HIV called a retrovirus?

A) It is very old.
B) It makes DNA from proteins.
C) It transcribes DNA into RNA.
D) It transcribes RNA into DNA.
E) It translates proteins into RNA.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT determined by human DNA?

A) the predisposition to some diseases
B) natural hair color
C) height
D) shoe size
E) All of the above are determined by DNA.

Question 24

What is the DNA sequence that the mRNA sequence 5′-AUG CCU AGC-3′ was translated from?

A) 3′-AUG CCU AGC-5′
B) 3′-CGA UCC GUA-5′
C) 3′-UAC GGA UCG-5′
D) 3′-TAC GGA TCG-5′
E) 3′-ATG CCT TCG-5′

Question 25

Which molecule catalyzes the synthesis of a new mRNA molecule from the DNA template strand?

A) ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
B) RNA polymerase
C) messenger RNA (mRNA)
D) transfer RNA (tRNA)
E) All of these catalyze the synthesis of a new mRNA.

Question 26

The complete sequence of nucleotides in the human body is called the

A) DNA.
B) RNA.
C) nucleic acids.
D) chromosomes.
E) genome.

Question 27

Fill in the blanks with letters from the diagram below.The ________ leaves the nucleus and attaches to the _______.At _________, the first tRNA attaches to begin protein synthesis.

A) A; B; C
B) E; F; D
C) E; F; G
D) E; F; B
E) D; E; F

Question 28

When DNA replicates, an adenine forms a base pair with

A) cytosine.
B) guanine.
C) adenine.
D) thymine.
E) uracil.

Question 29

The nucleoside below is found in DNA and not RNA.Which of the following statements supports this molecule being a DNA nucleoside?

A) The molecule is the β-anomer.
B) The molecule contains a pyrimidine.
C) The molecule contains a purine.
D) The molecule contains a 2-deoxy-D-ribose.
E) The molecule contains a D-ribose.

Question 30

A _____ consists of only a nitrogenous base and a sugar.

A) nucleoside
B) nucleotide
C) pyrimidine
D) purine
E) base pair

Question 31

What does the letter D represent in the following diagram?

A) mRNA
B) the growing protein
C) tRNA
D) stop codon
E) start codon

Question 32

In the following tRNA, how are IV and III connected?

A) They are connected by covalent bonds.
B) They are connected by hydrogen bonds.
C) They are connected by ionic interactions.
D) They are connected by amide bonds.
E) They are connected by ester bonds.

Question 33

The base pair A-T forms _______ hydrogen bonds, while the base pair G-C forms _______ hydrogen bonds.

A) 3; 3
B) 2; 2
C) 3; 2
D) 2; 3
E) 1; 2

Question 34

What is the role of RNA polymerase in transcription?

A) It catalyzes the synthesis of a new mRNA molecule.
B) It copies the sequence of nucleotides on the template strand of DNA as a complementary sequence of mRNA bases.
C) It catalyzes the formation of phosphate ester bonds.
D) It is an enzyme.
E) All of the above are roles of RNA polymerase in transcription.

Question 35

The arrow labeled I in the nucleic acid below is pointing to the

A) 1′ end of the DNA.
B) 2′ end of the DNA.
C) 3′ end of the DNA.
D) 4′ end of the DNA.
E) 5′ end of the DNA.

Question 36

Which statement BEST describes why the sugar phosphate nucleic acid backbone is on the outer part of the DNA double helix while the nitrogen bases are on the inside of the double helix?

A) The sugar phosphate backbone is hydrophilic while the bases are less polar.
B) The sugar phosphate backbone is hydrophobic while the bases are hydrophilic.
C) The sugar phosphate backbones of the two strands are bonded together.
D) The nitrogen bases are covalently bonded to each other.
E) There is no reason; the structure is just that way.

Question 37

Which of the following is the protein-making factory in the cell?

A) ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
B) RNA polymerase
C) messenger RNA (mRNA)
D) transfer RNA (tRNA)
E) All of these are the protein-making factories.

Question 38

During replication, each strand of DNA serves as the template for a(n)_________ strand.

A) identical daughter
B) complementary daughter
C) identical mother
D) complementary mother
E) identical sister

Question 39

About how many base pairs are in the human genome?

A) hundreds of thousands
B) millions
C) tens of millions
D) hundreds of millions
E) billions

Question 40

Which type of RNA is the complement of the template strand of DNA in the nucleus?

A) ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
B) RNA polymerase
C) messenger RNA (mRNA)
D) transfer RNA (tRNA)
E) All of these are the complement of the DNA.

Question 41

Which statements BEST describes what occurs during translation?

A) DNA is reproduced.
B) Protein is synthesized using DNA as a template.
C) Protein is synthesized using mRNA as a template.
D) mRNA is synthesized using DNA as a template.
E) mRNA is synthesized using protein as a template.

Question 42

Refer to the genetic code to determine which of the following mRNAs could code for a protein containing the amino acid sequence Phe-Arg-Ala. I.5′-UUU CGU GCU-3′
II)5′-UUC CGG GCG-3′
III)5′-UUU AGA GCC-3′

A) All of these code for the given sequence.
B) I and II
C) I only
D) II only
E) II and III

Question 43

Each person has about ______ genes.

A) 1,000
B) 10,000
C) 30,000
D) 50,0000
E) 100,000

Question 44

How do mRNA and tRNA interact during the protein assembly process?

A) through hydrogen bonds between the codon and anticodon
B) through covalent bonds between the codon and anticodon
C) through ionic interactions between the codon and anticodon
D) through nonpolar interactions between the codon and anticodon
E) mRNA and tRNA do not interact during the protein assembly process.

Question 45

Which statement about recombinant DNA technology is FALSE?

A) There is global consensus that recombinant DNA technology is without risk.
B) The most common use of recombinant DNA crops is in herbicide and insect resistant plants.
C) The United States and other countries use recombinant DNA technology in their food and crops.
D) It is possible to produce vaccines and medicines in plants using recombinant DNA technology.
E) Recombinant DNA technology is used to produce genetically engineered products.

Question 46

Which statement BEST describes what occurs during DNA replication?

A) A complementary strand of mRNA is produced from a single DNA strand.
B) The DNA double helix unfolds, and each strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new strand of DNA.
C) A complementary strand of mRNA is produced from both DNA strands.
D) The DNA double helix unfolds, and one strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a new strand of DNA.
E) tRNA is activated.

Question 47

How is the amino acid attached to the tRNA molecule?

A) They are connected by dipole-dipole interactions.
B) They are connected by hydrogen bonds.
C) They are connected by ionic interactions.
D) They are connected by amide bonds.
E) They are connected by ester bonds.

Question 48

In recombinant DNA technology

A) genes from different organisms are combined.
B) new genes are created.
C) plants are treated with steroid so that they grow larger.
D) organisms are given drugs that damage their DNA.
E) All of the above occur.

Question 49

What type of bond joins the nucleotides in a strand of DNA?

A) hydrogen bonds
B) N-glycosidic bonds
C) phosphodiester bonds
D) peptide bonds
E) O-glycosidic bonds

Question 50

What does letter G represent in the following diagram?

A) mRNA
B) the growing protein
C) tRNA
D) rRNA
E) DNA

Question 51

What does this figure represent?

A) tRNA bound to DNA
B) tRNA bound to mRNA
C) mRNA bound to DNA
D) rRNA bound to tRNA
E) mRNA bound to rRNA

Question 52

Which of the following molecules is found in RNA but not in DNA? ​

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV
E) V

Question 53

Which of the molecules below are purines? ​

A) I and III
B) II and IV
C) I, III, and V
D) III only
E) All of these molecules are purines.

Question 54

What is labeled as II in the diagram below? ​

A) codon
B) anticodon
C) hydrogen bonds
D) covalent bonds
E) rRNA

Question 55

The two strands of DNA in the DNA double helix are held together by _____ bonds between nucleotides.

A) hydrogen
B) phosphodiester
C) amide
D) ionic
E) glycosidic

Question 56

In the following drawing of a DNA double helix, arrow II is pointing to a(n)

A) DNA base pair.
B) ionic bond.
C) sugar phosphate backbone.
D) polar covalent bond.
E) hydrophilic interaction.

Question 57

Which of the following molecules is a nucleotide?

A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I and II
E) II and III

Question 58

What happens when a particular protein is needed by a cell?

A) The cell dies.
B) The gene for that cell is expressed.
C) The gene for that cell is replicated.
D) The entire DNA strand containing the appropriate gene is expressed.
E) The entire DNA strand containing the appropriate gene is replicated.

Question 59

What is the sequence of the following nucleic acid?

A) dGCA
B) GCA
C) ACG
D) dACG
E) CGT

Question 60

Where in the cell are the instructions for making all of the proteins required by the body found?

A) on DNA in the cytoplasm
B) on RNA in the mitochondria
C) on RNA in the cell membrane
D) on DNA in the nucleus
E) on DNA in the mitochondria

Question 61

Which statement about DNA transcription is TRUE?

A) Both DNA strands can act as a template for mRNA.
B) DNA is transcribed to mRNA from the 5′ end to the 3′ end.
C) DNA transcription starts at a start codon.
D) The whole DNA strand is always transcribed when a gene on that strand is expressed.
E) DNA does not need to unfold before transcription occurs.

Question 62

What is the complement of this sequence of DNA: 5′-CCTATCGA-3′?

A) 5′-CCTATCGA-3′
B) 3′-CCTATCGA-5′
C) 3′-AGCTATCC-5′
D) 5′-GGATAGCT-3′
E) 5′-TCGATAGG-3′

Question 63

Which carbon is the anomeric carbon?

A) 1'
B) 2'
C) 3'
D) 4'
E) 5'

Question 64

Why are combinations of drug therapies used to treat HIV?

A) The virus spreads quickly.
B) The virus turns into AIDs quickly.
C) The virus can destroy immune cells efficiently.
D) The virus constantly mutates.
E) The virus is unusually small.

Question 65

During replication, the DNA is unwound by _________, copied by _________, and proofread by _________.

A) a helicase; DNA replicase; DNA polymerase
B) an isomerase; DNA polymerase; DNA polymerase
C) an isomerase; DNA replicase; DNA polymerase
D) a helicase; DNA polymerase; DNA polymerase
E) DNA replicase does all of these tasks.

Question 66

The molecule below is found in

A) DNA.
B) protein.
C) steroids.
D) RNA.
E) starch.

Question 67

Which statement does NOT describe a chromosome?

A) A chromosome is made out of highly coiled DNA and proteins.
B) A chromosome contains one double-stranded DNA helix.
C) Stretched out, the DNA in one chromosome is about 1 mm long.
D) A chromosome can have an X shape.
E) A chromosome is visible under a microscope.

Question 68

DNA is negatively charged.What part of a DNA molecule actually holds the charge?

A) the sugar
B) the pyrimidines
C) the phosphates
D) the purines
E) the glycosidic bond

Question 69

Which of the following statements about DNA in the human body is TRUE?

A) The DNA in every cell of the body is the same, except in the case of some acquired mutations.
B) Altered genes guarantee that a person will develop a genetic disease.
C) DNA differs from cell to cell in humans.
D) One person's DNA is more than 50% different than another person's DNA.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 70

How many nucleotides are in one DNA molecule?

A) tens
B) hundreds
C) thousands
D) hundreds of thousands
E) millions

Question 71

Which statement BEST describes how a mutation can lead to cancer?

A) A mutation by itself is defined as cancer.
B) Mutations in genes that produce proteins involved in construction in the cell membrane result in cells that look abnormal.
C) Mutations in genes that produce proteins involved in cell replication can lead to unrestrained growth of cells.
D) Mutation in any gene produces cancer-causing proteins.
E) Mutations in genes have nothing to do with cancer.

Question 72

The boxed portion of the following structure represents a

A) salt bridge.
B) hydrogen bond.
C) disulfide bridge.
D) hydrophobic interaction.
E) hydrophilic interaction.

Question 73

In a nucleoside and a nucleotide, a bond forms between a nitrogenous base and a sugar.An arrow points to the nitrogen on the base that bonds to the sugar.Which carbon on the sugar bonds to the indicated nitrogen on the base?

A) 1'
B) 2'
C) 3'
D) 4'
E) 5'

Question 74

Which of the following is required by the reaction that joins a nucleotide to a growing polynucleotide chain?

A) nucleotide triphosphates
B) energy
C) a 3′ alcohol
D) a 5′ phosphate group
E) All of the above are required.

Question 75

If the DNA sequence 5′-CCTATCGA-3′ was the template for transcription into mRNA, the sequence of the resulting RNA would be

A) 5′-GGATAGCT-3′.
B) 5′-GGAUAGCU-3′.
C) 3′-GGAUAGCU-5′.
D) 3′-GGATAGCT-5′.
E) 5′-AGCUAUCC-3′.

Question 76

Which statement BEST describes what occurs during transcription?

A) DNA is reproduced.
B) Protein is synthesized using DNA as a template.
C) Protein is synthesized using mRNA as a template.
D) mRNA is synthesized using DNA as a template.
E) mRNA is synthesized using protein as a template.

Question 77

Which of the molecules below are pyrimidines? ​

A) I and III
B) II and IV
C) I, III, and V
D) III only
E) All of these molecules are pyrimidines.

Question 78

Which statement BEST describes why a nucleic acid is an "acid"?

A) Nucleic acids contain many carboxylic acid functional groups.
B) Nucleic acids are unusually reactive with acids.
C) Nucleic acids contain many hydroxyl groups.
D) Nucleic acids contain nitrogen.
E) Nucleic acids are organic derivatives of phosphoric acid.

Question 79

A normal DNA sequence is 5′-GTA GCA TCA CCA-5′.If the DNA sequence mutated to 5′-GTA GCA TTC ACC A-3′, how would the peptide sequence be affected?

A) All amino acids downstream of the mutation would be changed.
B) The peptide would not be synthesized.
C) An Arg would replace an His.
D) A stop would replace a Trp.
E) No change would occur.

Question 80

What sort of nucleic acid does the HIV virus contain?

A) Viruses do not have nucleic acids.
B) double-stranded DNA
C) single-stranded DNA
D) single-stranded RNA
E) two single-stranded RNA