Question 1

Replication in prokaryotes differs from replication in eukaryotes for which of the following reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prokaryotic chromosomes have histones, whereas eukaryotic chromosomes do not. 
B)  Prokaryotic chromosomes have a single origin of replication, whereas eukaryotic chromosomes have many. 
C)  The rate of elongation during DNA replication is slower in prokaryotes than in eukaryotes. 
D)  Prokaryotes produce Okazaki fragments during DNA replication, but eukaryotes do not. 
E)  Prokaryotes have telomeres, and eukaryotes do not. 
A)  Prokaryotic chromosomes have histones, whereas eukaryotic chromosomes do not. 
B)  Prokaryotic chromosomes have a single origin of replication, whereas eukaryotic chromosomes have many. 
C)  The rate of elongation during DNA replication is slower in prokaryotes than in eukaryotes. 
D)  Prokaryotes produce Okazaki fragments during DNA replication, but eukaryotes do not. 
E)  Prokaryotes have telomeres, and eukaryotes do not. B

Question 2

A biochemist isolates, purifies, and combines in a test tube a variety of molecules needed for DNA replication. When she adds some DNA to the mixture, replication occurs, but each DNA molecule consists of a normal strand paired with numerous segments of DNA a few hundred nucleotides long. What has she probably left out of the mixture?

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA polymerase 
B)  DNA ligase 
C)  nucleotides 
D)  Okazaki fragments 
E)  primase 
A)  DNA polymerase 
B)  DNA ligase 
C)  nucleotides 
D)  Okazaki fragments 
E)  primase B

Question 3

How do we describe transformation in bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  the creation of a strand of DNA from an RNA molecule 
B)  the creation of a strand of RNA from a DNA molecule 
C)  the infection of cells by a phage DNA molecule 
D)  the type of semiconservative replication shown by DNA 
E)  assimilation of external DNA into a cell 
A)  the creation of a strand of DNA from an RNA molecule 
B)  the creation of a strand of RNA from a DNA molecule 
C)  the infection of cells by a phage DNA molecule 
D)  the type of semiconservative replication shown by DNA 
E)  assimilation of external DNA into a cell E

Question 4

The spontaneous loss of amino groups from adenine in DNA results in hypoxanthine, an uncommon base, opposite thymine. What combination of proteins could repair such damage?

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclease, DNA polymerase, DNA ligase 
B)  telomerase, primase, DNA polymerase 
C)  telomerase, helicase, single-strand binding protein 
D)  DNA ligase, replication fork proteins, adenylyl cyclase 
E)  nuclease, telomerase, primase 
A)  nuclease, DNA polymerase, DNA ligase 
B)  telomerase, primase, DNA polymerase 
C)  telomerase, helicase, single-strand binding protein 
D)  DNA ligase, replication fork proteins, adenylyl cyclase 
E)  nuclease, telomerase, primase

Question 5

The difference between ATP and the nucleoside triphosphates used during DNA synthesis is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the nucleoside triphosphates have the sugar deoxyribose; ATP has the sugar ribose. 
B)  the nucleoside triphosphates have two phosphate groups; ATP has three phosphate groups. 
C)  ATP contains three high-energy bonds; the nucleoside triphosphates have two. 
D)  ATP is found only in human cells; the nucleoside triphosphates are found in all animal and plant cells. 
E)  triphosphate monomers are active in the nucleoside triphosphates, but not in ATP. 
A)  the nucleoside triphosphates have the sugar deoxyribose; ATP has the sugar ribose. 
B)  the nucleoside triphosphates have two phosphate groups; ATP has three phosphate groups. 
C)  ATP contains three high-energy bonds; the nucleoside triphosphates have two. 
D)  ATP is found only in human cells; the nucleoside triphosphates are found in all animal and plant cells. 
E)  triphosphate monomers are active in the nucleoside triphosphates, but not in ATP.

Question 6

Which of the following statements describes chromatin?

Accepted Answer

A)  Heterochromatin is composed of DNA, whereas euchromatin is made of DNA and RNA. 
B)  Both heterochromatin and euchromatin are found in the cytoplasm. 
C)  Heterochromatin is highly condensed, whereas euchromatin is less compact. 
D)  Euchromatin is not transcribed, whereas heterochromatin is transcribed. 
E)  Only euchromatin is visible under the light microscope. 
A)  Heterochromatin is composed of DNA, whereas euchromatin is made of DNA and RNA. 
B)  Both heterochromatin and euchromatin are found in the cytoplasm. 
C)  Heterochromatin is highly condensed, whereas euchromatin is less compact. 
D)  Euchromatin is not transcribed, whereas heterochromatin is transcribed. 
E)  Only euchromatin is visible under the light microscope.

Question 7

Once the pattern found after one round of replication was observed, Meselson and Stahl could be confident of which of the following conclusions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Replication is semi-conservative. 
B)  Replication is not dispersive. 
C)  Replication is not semi-conservative. 
D)  Replication is not conservative. 
E)  Replication is neither dispersive nor conservative. 
A)  Replication is semi-conservative. 
B)  Replication is not dispersive. 
C)  Replication is not semi-conservative. 
D)  Replication is not conservative. 
E)  Replication is neither dispersive nor conservative.

Question 8

It became apparent to Watson and Crick after completion of their model that the DNA molecule could carry a vast amount of hereditary information in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  sequence of bases 
B)  phosphate-sugar backbones 
C)  complementary pairing of bases 
D)  side groups of nitrogenous bases 
E)  different five-carbon sugars 
A)  sequence of bases 
B)  phosphate-sugar backbones 
C)  complementary pairing of bases 
D)  side groups of nitrogenous bases 
E)  different five-carbon sugars

Question 9

In trying to determine whether DNA or protein is the genetic material, Hershey and Chase made use of which of the following facts?

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA contains sulfur, whereas protein does not. 
B)  DNA contains phosphorus, whereas protein does not. 
C)  DNA contains nitrogen, whereas protein does not. 
D)  DNA contains purines, whereas protein includes pyrimidines. 
E)  RNA includes ribose, whereas DNA includes deoxyribose sugars. 
A)  DNA contains sulfur, whereas protein does not. 
B)  DNA contains phosphorus, whereas protein does not. 
C)  DNA contains nitrogen, whereas protein does not. 
D)  DNA contains purines, whereas protein includes pyrimidines. 
E)  RNA includes ribose, whereas DNA includes deoxyribose sugars.

Question 10

An Okazaki fragment has which of the following arrangements?

Accepted Answer

A)  primase, polymerase, ligase 
B)  3' RNA nucleotides, DNA nucleotides 5' 
C)  5' RNA nucleotides, DNA nucleotides 3' 
D)  DNA polymerase I, DNA polymerase III 
E)  5' DNA to 3' 
A)  primase, polymerase, ligase 
B)  3' RNA nucleotides, DNA nucleotides 5' 
C)  5' RNA nucleotides, DNA nucleotides 3' 
D)  DNA polymerase I, DNA polymerase III 
E)  5' DNA to 3'

Question 11

What is the basis for the difference in how the leading and lagging strands of DNA molecules are synthesized?

Accepted Answer

A)  The origins of replication occur only at the 5' end. 
B)  Helicases and single-strand binding proteins work at the 5' end. 
C)  DNA polymerase can join new nucleotides only to the 3' end of a growing strand. 
D)  DNA ligase works only in the 3' → 5' direction. 
E)  Polymerase can work on only one strand at a time. 
A)  The origins of replication occur only at the 5' end. 
B)  Helicases and single-strand binding proteins work at the 5' end. 
C)  DNA polymerase can join new nucleotides only to the 3' end of a growing strand. 
D)  DNA ligase works only in the 3' → 5' direction. 
E)  Polymerase can work on only one strand at a time.

Question 12

If a cell were unable to produce histone proteins, which of the following would be a likely effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  There would be an increase in the amount of "satellite" DNA produced during centrifugation. 
B)  The cell's DNA couldn't be packed into its nucleus. 
C)  Spindle fibers would not form during prophase. 
D)  Amplification of other genes would compensate for the lack of histones. 
E)  Pseudogenes would be transcribed to compensate for the decreased protein in the cell. 
A)  There would be an increase in the amount of "satellite" DNA produced during centrifugation. 
B)  The cell's DNA couldn't be packed into its nucleus. 
C)  Spindle fibers would not form during prophase. 
D)  Amplification of other genes would compensate for the lack of histones. 
E)  Pseudogenes would be transcribed to compensate for the decreased protein in the cell.

Question 13

Which of the following statements describes the eukaryotic chromosome?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is composed of DNA alone. 
B)  The nucleosome is its most basic functional subunit. 
C)  The number of genes on each chromosome is different in different cell types of an organism. 
D)  It consists of a single linear molecule of double-stranded DNA plus proteins. 
E)  Active transcription occurs on heterochromatin but not euchromatin. 
A)  It is composed of DNA alone. 
B)  The nucleosome is its most basic functional subunit. 
C)  The number of genes on each chromosome is different in different cell types of an organism. 
D)  It consists of a single linear molecule of double-stranded DNA plus proteins. 
E)  Active transcription occurs on heterochromatin but not euchromatin.

Question 14

What is the function of DNA polymerase III?

Accepted Answer

A)  to unwind the DNA helix during replication 
B)  to seal together the broken ends of DNA strands 
C)  to add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing DNA strand 
D)  to degrade damaged DNA molecules 
E)  to rejoin the two DNA strands (one new and one old) after replication 
A)  to unwind the DNA helix during replication 
B)  to seal together the broken ends of DNA strands 
C)  to add nucleotides to the 3' end of a growing DNA strand 
D)  to degrade damaged DNA molecules 
E)  to rejoin the two DNA strands (one new and one old) after replication

Question 15

Use the following list of choices for the following questions:
I. helicase
II. DNA polymerase III
III. ligase
IV. DNA polymerase I
V. primase
-Which of the enzymes synthesizes short segments of RNA?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

In analyzing the number of different bases in a DNA sample, which result would be consistent with the base-pairing rules?

Accepted Answer

A)  A = G 
B)  A + G = C + T 
C)  A + T = G + T 
D)  A = C 
E)  G = T 
A)  A = G 
B)  A + G = C + T 
C)  A + T = G + T 
D)  A = C 
E)  G = T

Question 17

The leading and the lagging strands differ in that

Accepted Answer

A)  the leading strand is synthesized in the same direction as the movement of the replication fork, and the lagging strand is synthesized in the opposite direction. 
B)  the leading strand is synthesized by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing strand, and the lagging strand is synthesized by adding nucleotides to the 5' end. 
C)  the lagging strand is synthesized continuously, whereas the leading strand is synthesized in short fragments that are ultimately stitched together. 
D)  the leading strand is synthesized at twice the rate of the lagging strand. 
A)  the leading strand is synthesized in the same direction as the movement of the replication fork, and the lagging strand is synthesized in the opposite direction. 
B)  the leading strand is synthesized by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing strand, and the lagging strand is synthesized by adding nucleotides to the 5' end. 
C)  the lagging strand is synthesized continuously, whereas the leading strand is synthesized in short fragments that are ultimately stitched together. 
D)  the leading strand is synthesized at twice the rate of the lagging strand.

Question 18

The elongation of the leading strand during DNA synthesis

Accepted Answer

A)  progresses away from the replication fork. 
B)  occurs in the 3' → 5' direction. 
C)  produces Okazaki fragments. 
D)  depends on the action of DNA polymerase. 
E)  does not require a template strand. 
A)  progresses away from the replication fork. 
B)  occurs in the 3' → 5' direction. 
C)  produces Okazaki fragments. 
D)  depends on the action of DNA polymerase. 
E)  does not require a template strand.

Question 19

After mixing a heat-killed, phosphorescent strain of bacteria with a living nonphosphorescent strain, you discover that some of the living cells are now phosphorescent. Which observations would provide the best evidence that the ability to fluoresce is a heritable trait?

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain. 
B)  Protein passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain. 
C)  The phosphorescence in the living strain is especially bright. 
D)  Descendants of the living cells are also phosphorescent. 
E)  Both DNA and protein passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain. 
A)  DNA passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain. 
B)  Protein passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain. 
C)  The phosphorescence in the living strain is especially bright. 
D)  Descendants of the living cells are also phosphorescent. 
E)  Both DNA and protein passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain.

Question 20

Which enzyme catalyzes the elongation of a DNA strand in the 5' → 3' direction?

Accepted Answer

A)  primase 
B)  DNA ligase 
C)  DNA polymerase III 
D)  topoisomerase 
E)  helicase 
A)  primase 
B)  DNA ligase 
C)  DNA polymerase III 
D)  topoisomerase 
E)  helicase

Exam 16: The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Replication in prokaryotes differs from replication in eukaryotes for which of the following reasons?

How do we describe transformation in bacteria?

The spontaneous loss of amino groups from adenine in DNA results in hypoxanthine, an uncommon base, opposite thymine. What combination of proteins could repair such damage?

The difference between ATP and the nucleoside triphosphates used during DNA synthesis is that

Which of the following statements describes chromatin?

Once the pattern found after one round of replication was observed, Meselson and Stahl could be confident of which of the following conclusions?

It became apparent to Watson and Crick after completion of their model that the DNA molecule could carry a vast amount of hereditary information in which of the following?

In trying to determine whether DNA or protein is the genetic material, Hershey and Chase made use of which of the following facts?

An Okazaki fragment has which of the following arrangements?

What is the basis for the difference in how the leading and lagging strands of DNA molecules are synthesized?

If a cell were unable to produce histone proteins, which of the following would be a likely effect?

Which of the following statements describes the eukaryotic chromosome?

What is the function of DNA polymerase III?

Use the following list of choices for the following questions: I. helicase II. DNA polymerase III III. ligase IV. DNA polymerase I V. primase -Which of the enzymes synthesizes short segments of RNA?

In analyzing the number of different bases in a DNA sample, which result would be consistent with the base-pairing rules?

The leading and the lagging strands differ in that

The elongation of the leading strand during DNA synthesis

After mixing a heat-killed, phosphorescent strain of bacteria with a living nonphosphorescent strain, you discover that some of the living cells are now phosphorescent. Which observations would provide the best evidence that the ability to fluoresce is a heritable trait?

Which enzyme catalyzes the elongation of a DNA strand in the 5' → 3' direction?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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