Question 1

During splicing, which molecular component of the spliceosome catalyzes the excision reaction?

Accepted Answer

A)  protein 
B)  DNA 
C)  RNA 
D)  lipid 
E)  sugar 
A)  protein 
B)  DNA 
C)  RNA 
D)  lipid 
E)  sugar

Question 2

Which of the following DNA mutations is the most likely to be damaging to the protein it specifies?

Accepted Answer

A)  a base-pair deletion 
B)  a codon substitution 
C)  a substitution in the last base of a codon 
D)  a codon deletion 
E)  a point mutation 
A)  a base-pair deletion 
B)  a codon substitution 
C)  a substitution in the last base of a codon 
D)  a codon deletion 
E)  a point mutation

Question 3

In the 1920s, Muller discovered that X-rays caused mutation in Drosophila. In a related series of experiments in the 1940s, Charlotte Auerbach discovered that chemicals-she used nitrogen mustards-have a similar effect. A new chemical food additive is developed by a cereal manufacturer. Why do we test for its ability to induce mutation?

Accepted Answer

A)  We worry that it might cause mutation in cereal grain plants. 
B)  We want to make sure that it does not emit radiation. 
C)  We want to be sure that it increases the rate of mutation sufficiently. 
D)  We want to prevent any increase in mutation frequency. 
E)  We worry about its ability to cause infection. 
A)  We worry that it might cause mutation in cereal grain plants. 
B)  We want to make sure that it does not emit radiation. 
C)  We want to be sure that it increases the rate of mutation sufficiently. 
D)  We want to prevent any increase in mutation frequency. 
E)  We worry about its ability to cause infection.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the significance of the TATA box in eukaryotic promoters?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the recognition site for a specific transcription factor. 
B)  It sets the reading frame of the mRNA. 
C)  It prevents supercoiling of the DNA near the start site. 
D)  It is the recognition site for ribosomal binding. 
E)  Its significance has not yet been determined. 
A)  It is the recognition site for a specific transcription factor. 
B)  It sets the reading frame of the mRNA. 
C)  It prevents supercoiling of the DNA near the start site. 
D)  It is the recognition site for ribosomal binding. 
E)  Its significance has not yet been determined.

Question 5

A part of the promoter, called the TATA box, is said to be highly conserved in evolution. Which of the following might this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sequence evolves very rapidly. 
B)  The sequence does not mutate. 
C)  Any mutation in the sequence is selected against. 
D)  The sequence is found in many but not all promoters. 
E)  The sequence is transcribed at the start of every gene. 
A)  The sequence evolves very rapidly. 
B)  The sequence does not mutate. 
C)  Any mutation in the sequence is selected against. 
D)  The sequence is found in many but not all promoters. 
E)  The sequence is transcribed at the start of every gene.

Question 6

The process of translation, whether in prokaryotes or eukaryotes, requires tRNAs, amino acids, ribosomal subunits, and which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  polypeptide factors plus ATP 
B)  polypeptide factors plus GTP 
C)  polymerases plus GTP 
D)  SRP plus chaperones 
E)  signal peptides plus release factor 
A)  polypeptide factors plus ATP 
B)  polypeptide factors plus GTP 
C)  polymerases plus GTP 
D)  SRP plus chaperones 
E)  signal peptides plus release factor

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true about protein synthesis in prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Extensive RNA processing is required before prokaryotic transcripts can be translated. 
B)  Translation can begin while transcription is still in progress. 
C)  Prokaryotic cells have complicated mechanisms for targeting proteins to the appropriate cellular organelles. 
D)  Translation requires antibiotic activity. 
E)  Unlike eukaryotes, prokaryotes require no initiation or elongation factors. 
A)  Extensive RNA processing is required before prokaryotic transcripts can be translated. 
B)  Translation can begin while transcription is still in progress. 
C)  Prokaryotic cells have complicated mechanisms for targeting proteins to the appropriate cellular organelles. 
D)  Translation requires antibiotic activity. 
E)  Unlike eukaryotes, prokaryotes require no initiation or elongation factors.

Question 8

The following questions refer to the simple metabolic pathway in Figure 14.1.
   Figure 14.1
-If A, B, and C are all required for growth, a strain that is mutant for the gene-encoding enzyme A would be able to grow on which of the following media?

Accepted Answer

A)  minimal medium 
B)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrient A only 
C)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrient B only 
D)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrient C only 
E)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrients A and C 
A)  minimal medium 
B)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrient A only 
C)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrient B only 
D)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrient C only 
E)  minimal medium supplemented with nutrients A and C

Question 9

The nitrogenous base adenine is found in all members of which group?

Accepted Answer

A)  proteins, triglycerides, and testosterone 
B)  proteins, ATP, and DNA 
C)  ATP, RNA, and DNA 
D)  α glucose, ATP, and DNA 
E)  proteins, carbohydrates, and ATP 
A)  proteins, triglycerides, and testosterone 
B)  proteins, ATP, and DNA 
C)  ATP, RNA, and DNA 
D)  α glucose, ATP, and DNA 
E)  proteins, carbohydrates, and ATP

Question 10

In order for a eukaryotic gene to be engineered into a bacterial colony to be expressed, what must be included in addition to the coding exons of the gene?

Accepted Answer

A)  the introns 
B)  eukaryotic polymerases 
C)  a bacterial promoter sequence 
D)  eukaryotic ribosomal subunits 
E)  eukaryotic tRNAs 
A)  the introns 
B)  eukaryotic polymerases 
C)  a bacterial promoter sequence 
D)  eukaryotic ribosomal subunits 
E)  eukaryotic tRNAs

Question 11

Which of the following nucleotide triplets best represents a codon?

Accepted Answer

A)  a triplet separated spatially from other triplets 
B)  a triplet that has no corresponding amino acid 
C)  a triplet at the opposite end of tRNA from the attachment site of the amino acid 
D)  a triplet in the same reading frame as an upstream AUG 
E)  a sequence in tRNA at the 3' end 
A)  a triplet separated spatially from other triplets 
B)  a triplet that has no corresponding amino acid 
C)  a triplet at the opposite end of tRNA from the attachment site of the amino acid 
D)  a triplet in the same reading frame as an upstream AUG 
E)  a sequence in tRNA at the 3' end

Question 12

When translating secretory or membrane proteins, ribosomes are directed to the ER membrane by

Accepted Answer

A)  a specific characteristic of the ribosome itself, which distinguishes free ribosomes from bound ribosomes. 
B)  a signal-recognition particle that brings ribosomes to a receptor protein in the ER membrane. 
C)  moving through a specialized channel of the nucleus. 
D)  a chemical signal given off by the ER. 
E)  a signal sequence of RNA that precedes the start codon of the message. 
A)  a specific characteristic of the ribosome itself, which distinguishes free ribosomes from bound ribosomes. 
B)  a signal-recognition particle that brings ribosomes to a receptor protein in the ER membrane. 
C)  moving through a specialized channel of the nucleus. 
D)  a chemical signal given off by the ER. 
E)  a signal sequence of RNA that precedes the start codon of the message.

Question 13

Which of the following experimental procedures is most likely to hasten mRNA degradation in a eukaryotic cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  enzymatic lengthening of the poly-A tail 
B)  removal of the 5' cap 
C)  methylation of C nucleotides 
D)  methylation of histones 
E)  removal of one or more exons 
A)  enzymatic lengthening of the poly-A tail 
B)  removal of the 5' cap 
C)  methylation of C nucleotides 
D)  methylation of histones 
E)  removal of one or more exons

Question 14

Alternative RNA splicing

Accepted Answer

A)  is a mechanism for increasing the rate of transcription. 
B)  can allow the production of proteins of different sizes and functions from a single mRNA. 
C)  can allow the production of similar proteins from different RNAs. 
D)  increases the rate of transcription. 
E)  is due to the presence or absence of particular snRNPs. 
A)  is a mechanism for increasing the rate of transcription. 
B)  can allow the production of proteins of different sizes and functions from a single mRNA. 
C)  can allow the production of similar proteins from different RNAs. 
D)  increases the rate of transcription. 
E)  is due to the presence or absence of particular snRNPs.

Question 15

Which of the following mutations is most likely to cause a phenotypic change?

Accepted Answer

A)  a duplication of all or most introns 
B)  a large inversion whose ends are each in the same region between genes 
C)  a nucleotide substitution in an exon coding for a transmembrane domain 
D)  a single nucleotide deletion in an exon coding for an active site 
E)  a frameshift mutation one codon away from the 3' end of the nontemplate strand 
A)  a duplication of all or most introns 
B)  a large inversion whose ends are each in the same region between genes 
C)  a nucleotide substitution in an exon coding for a transmembrane domain 
D)  a single nucleotide deletion in an exon coding for an active site 
E)  a frameshift mutation one codon away from the 3' end of the nontemplate strand

Question 16

The following questions refer to the simple metabolic pathway in Figure 14.1.
   Figure 14.1
-According to Beadle and Tatum's hypothesis, how many genes are necessary for this pathway?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  1 
C)  2 
D)  3 
E)  It cannot be determined from the pathway. 
A)  0 
B)  1 
C)  2 
D)  3 
E)  It cannot be determined from the pathway.

Question 17

Which small-scale mutation would be most likely to have a catastrophic effect on the functioning of a protein?

Accepted Answer

A)  a base substitution 
B)  a base deletion near the start of a gene 
C)  a base deletion near the end of the coding sequence, but not in the terminator codon 
D)  deletion of three bases near the start of the coding sequence, but not in the initiator codon 
E)  a base insertion near the end of the coding sequence, but not in the terminator codon 
A)  a base substitution 
B)  a base deletion near the start of a gene 
C)  a base deletion near the end of the coding sequence, but not in the terminator codon 
D)  deletion of three bases near the start of the coding sequence, but not in the initiator codon 
E)  a base insertion near the end of the coding sequence, but not in the terminator codon

Question 18

In eukaryotic cells, transcription cannot begin until

Accepted Answer

A)  the two DNA strands have completely separated and exposed the promoter. 
B)  several transcription factors have bound to the promoter. 
C)  the 5' caps are removed from the mRNA. 
D)  the DNA introns are removed from the template. 
E)  DNA nucleases have isolated the transcription unit. 
A)  the two DNA strands have completely separated and exposed the promoter. 
B)  several transcription factors have bound to the promoter. 
C)  the 5' caps are removed from the mRNA. 
D)  the DNA introns are removed from the template. 
E)  DNA nucleases have isolated the transcription unit.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best describes the termination of transcription in prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A)  RNA polymerase transcribes through the polyadenylation signal, causing proteins to associate with the transcript and cut it free from the polymerase. 
B)  RNA polymerase transcribes through the terminator sequence, causing the polymerase to separate from the DNA and release the transcript. 
C)  RNA polymerase transcribes through an intron, and the snRNPs cause the polymerase to let go of the transcript. 
D)  Once transcription has initiated, RNA polymerase transcribes until it reaches the end of the chromosome. 
E)  RNA polymerase transcribes through a stop codon, causing the polymerase to stop advancing through the gene and release the mRNA. 
A)  RNA polymerase transcribes through the polyadenylation signal, causing proteins to associate with the transcript and cut it free from the polymerase. 
B)  RNA polymerase transcribes through the terminator sequence, causing the polymerase to separate from the DNA and release the transcript. 
C)  RNA polymerase transcribes through an intron, and the snRNPs cause the polymerase to let go of the transcript. 
D)  Once transcription has initiated, RNA polymerase transcribes until it reaches the end of the chromosome. 
E)  RNA polymerase transcribes through a stop codon, causing the polymerase to stop advancing through the gene and release the mRNA.

Question 20

Use the following model of a eukaryotic transcript to answer the next few questions.
5' UTR E1 I1 E2 I2 E3 I3 E4 UTR 3'
-When the spliceosome binds to elements of this structure, where can it attach?

Accepted Answer

A)  to the exons 
B)  to the 5' UTR 
C)  to the 3' UTR 
D)  to an adjacent intron and exon 
E)  to the end of an intron 
A)  to the exons 
B)  to the 5' UTR 
C)  to the 3' UTR 
D)  to an adjacent intron and exon 
E)  to the end of an intron

Exam 14: Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

During splicing, which molecular component of the spliceosome catalyzes the excision reaction?

Which of the following DNA mutations is the most likely to be damaging to the protein it specifies?

Which of the following best describes the significance of the TATA box in eukaryotic promoters?

A part of the promoter, called the TATA box, is said to be highly conserved in evolution. Which of the following might this illustrate?

The process of translation, whether in prokaryotes or eukaryotes, requires tRNAs, amino acids, ribosomal subunits, and which of the following?

Which of the following statements is true about protein synthesis in prokaryotes?

The following questions refer to the simple metabolic pathway in Figure 14.1. Figure 14.1 -If A, B, and C are all required for growth, a strain that is mutant for the gene-encoding enzyme A would be able to grow on which of the following media?

The nitrogenous base adenine is found in all members of which group?

In order for a eukaryotic gene to be engineered into a bacterial colony to be expressed, what must be included in addition to the coding exons of the gene?

Which of the following nucleotide triplets best represents a codon?

When translating secretory or membrane proteins, ribosomes are directed to the ER membrane by

Which of the following experimental procedures is most likely to hasten mRNA degradation in a eukaryotic cell?

Alternative RNA splicing

Which of the following mutations is most likely to cause a phenotypic change?

The following questions refer to the simple metabolic pathway in Figure 14.1. Figure 14.1 -According to Beadle and Tatum's hypothesis, how many genes are necessary for this pathway?

Which small-scale mutation would be most likely to have a catastrophic effect on the functioning of a protein?

In eukaryotic cells, transcription cannot begin until

Which of the following statements best describes the termination of transcription in prokaryotes?

Use the following model of a eukaryotic transcript to answer the next few questions. 5' UTR E1 I1 E2 I2 E3 I3 E4 UTR 3' -When the spliceosome binds to elements of this structure, where can it attach?

Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology

The Chemical Context of Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Transport and Cell Signaling

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Regulation of Gene Expression

Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer

Viruses

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification

Phylogeny

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

Broad Patterns of Evolution

Early Life and the Diversification of Prokaryotes

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Colonization of Land by Plants and Fungi

The Rise of Animal Diversity

Plant Structure and Growth

Resource Acquisition, Nutrition, and Transport in Vascular Plants

Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Homeostasis and Endocrine Signaling

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Reproduction and Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Motor Mechanisms and Behavior

Population Ecology and the Distribution of Organisms

Species Interactions

Ecosystems and Energy

Global Ecology and Conservation Biology

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