Deck 13: Gene Expression and Regulation

Question 1

The genetic code is

A) different in different organisms.
B) used during the translation of DNA to mRNA.
C) a set of two base sequences coding for each amino acid.
D) read in sets of three bases called codons.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is found in RNA but NOT in DNA?

A) Uracil
B) Deoxyribose
C) Phosphate groups
D) Adenine
E) Thymine

Answer 2

A

Question 3

If the sequence of bases in a section of DNA is TAGGCTAA, what is the corresponding sequence of bases in mRNA?

A) AUCCGAUU
B) TAGGCTAA
C) ATCCGATT
D) CGAAUCGG
E) AATCGGAT

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following has the fewest nucleotides in its strand?

A) mRNA, having 100 bases
B) Protein, with 2 polypeptides, each having 35 amino acids
C) mRNA, having 50 codons
D) Protein, having 40 amino acids
E) mRNA, having 75 nucleotides

Question 5

How many bases are in a codon?

A) 3
B) 64
C) 4
D) 20

Question 6

If a bacterial protein is made from 30 amino acids, how many nucleotides are needed to code for its production?

A) 120
B) 30
C) 600
D) 60
E) 90

Question 7

The sequence of nitrogen-containing bases on one strand of DNA most directly determines the sequence of

A) sugars in a polysaccharide molecule.
B) amino acids in a protein molecule.
C) bases in a protein molecule.
D) fatty acids in a fat molecule.

Question 8

The ʺone-gene, one-enzymeʺ hypothesis concluded that

A) each allele codes for a single type of protein.
B) only certain genes function in cells.
C) specific enzymes give rise to specific genes.
D) enzymes regulate gene activity.
E) DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein.

Question 9

Which of the following molecules function to transfer genetic information from one generation to the next?

A) mRNA
B) Protein molecules
C) DNA
D) Lipid molecules
E) tRNA

Question 10

The process of copying genetic information from DNA to RNA is called

A) replication.
B) transcription.
C) translation.
D) transformation.

Question 11

The genetic material of some viruses, such as HIV, is not DNA but is instead

A) lipid.
B) RNA.
C) protein.
D) carbohydrate.

Question 12

How can RNA be distinguished from DNA?

A) RNA does not contain a sugar.
B) RNA is single-stranded.
C) RNA is never found in the nucleus.
D) RNA lacks the base uracil.

Question 13

Which of the following is noted when comparing DNA and RNA?

A) Adenine pairs with different bases in DNA and RNA.
B) No sugar is present in either molecule.
C) Only DNA has a backbone made up of sugars and phosphates.
D) Hydrogen bonding is important only in DNA.
E) Thymine pairs with different bases in DNA and RNA.

Question 14

The nitrogenous base uracil pairs with

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

Question 15

Both DNA and RNA

A) contain the same four types of nitrogen-containing bases.
B) cannot be present in a cell simultaneously.
C) contain phosphate groups.
D) have the same five-carbon sugars.
E) are single-stranded molecules.

Question 16

How many consecutive mRNA bases are needed to specify an amino acid?

A) 4
B) 3
C) 20
D) 64

Question 17

If a tRNA molecule that is specialized for the transfer of the amino acid valine has the anticodon CAG, it will couple with the codon

A) GTC.
B) CAG.
C) TUG.
D) GAC.
E) GUC.

Question 18

The sequence of nitrogen-containing bases on one strand of DNA could determine all of the following EXCEPT the sequence of

A) nitrogen-containing bases in mRNA.
B) nitrogen-containing bases in the other DNA strand.
C) ribose and phosphate molecules in tRNA.
D) amino acids in a protein molecule.

Question 19

Which of the following molecules transfers information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm?

A) Proteins
B) mRNA
C) tRNA
D) Lipids
E) DNA

Question 20

What is the total number of different possible combinations of bases in a codon?

A) 64
B) 3
C) 4
D) 20

Question 21

Which of the following contains deoxyribose?

A) Ribosomal RNA
B) DNA
C) Messenger RNA
D) Transfer RNA
E) RNA polymerase

Question 22

Which of the following contains four types of nucleotides but no uracil?

A) Ribosomal RNA
B) DNA
C) Messenger RNA
D) Transfer RNA
E) RNA polymerase

Question 23

Suppose one strand of a ʺmini-geneʺ has the base sequence TACCCGGATTCA. If we assume no introns are involved, how many amino acids does the polypeptide encoded by this gene have?

A) 6
B) 12
C) 4
D) 2

Question 24

The type of RNA that binds to a specific amino acid is

A) nuclear RNA.
B) messenger RNA.
C) transfer RNA.
D) ribosomal RNA.

Question 25

Suppose one strand of a ʺmini-geneʺ has the base sequence TACCCGGATTCA. The last codon in the mRNA sequence will be

A) AGU.
B) TCA.
C) AGT.
D) UGA.

Question 26

What is an anticodon?

A) The beginning of a DNA molecule
B) Three consecutive amino acids in a protein
C) Three consecutive bases in mRNA
D) Four consecutive bases in tRNA
E) Three consecutive bases in tRNA

Question 27

The function of the promoter is to signal the RNA polymerase

A) which strand of the DNA to read.
B) where to start transcribing the DNA.
C) where to add the first amino acid to the protein.
D) where to start translating the DNA.

Question 28

Ribosomes are a collection of

A) proteins and small RNAs that function in translation.
B) small proteins that function in translation.
C) proteins and mRNAs that function in translation.
D) proteins and tRNAs that function in transcription.
E) mRNAs and tRNAs that function in translation.

Question 29

All of the following are directly involved in translation EXCEPT

A) tRNA.
B) DNA.
C) mRNA.
D) ribosomes.
E) amino acids.

Question 30

The process of converting the ʺmessageʺ of mRNA into a sequence of amino acids is called

A) translation.
B) transcription.
C) replication.
D) repression.
E) activation.

Question 31

Which of the following occurs in the nucleus?

A) Both translation and replication of genetic material
B) Translation only
C) Both transcription and replication of genetic material
D) Transcription only
E) Replication of genetic material only

Question 32

Transcription is the process of

A) synthesizing a DNA molecule from an RNA template.
B) synthesizing a protein using information from mRNA.
C) assembling an RNA molecule without a template.
D) replicating a single-stranded DNA molecule.
E) synthesizing an RNA molecule using a DNA template.

Question 33

What is the site of protein synthesis in the cell?

A) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
B) Nucleus
C) Ribosome
D) Nucleolus
E) Eukaryotic chromosome

Question 34

Which statement correctly describes transcription?

A) RNA chains of all genes are synthesized from the same DNA strand, with the growing RNA strand always starting at the 5ʹ end and moving toward the 3ʹ end.
B) RNA chains of different genes can be transcribed from either DNA strand, with RNA polymerase traveling from the 3ʹ end and moving toward the 5ʹ end.
C) RNA chains of different genes can be transcribed from either DNA strand, with RNA polymerase traveling from the 5ʹ end and moving toward the 3ʹ end.
D) RNA chains of all genes are synthesized from the same DNA strand, with the growing RNA strand always starting at the 3ʹ end and moving toward the 5ʹ end.

Question 35

A transcription start signal is called a(n)

A) start site.
B) promoter.
C) initiation codon.
D) nonsense codon.
E) origin.

Question 36

Transfer RNA

A) is a subunit of ribosomes.
B) brings amino acids to the ribosome.
C) is a nucleic acid that carries the code for the primary structure of a protein.
D) transfers proteins into the nucleus.

Question 37

In eukaryotes, a promoter that signals the beginning of the gene and binds with the promoter typically consists of

A) rRNA and tRNA.
B) the bases TATAAA and response elements.
C) both DNA and RNA.
D) the base sequence AUG and transcription factor binding sites.

Question 38

What does mRNA carry away from the nucleus?

A) Information
B) Enzymes
C) tRNA
D) Ribosomes
E) Amino acids

Question 39

What is the anticodon for AUC?

A) TAG
B) UAG
C) CUA
D) AUC
E) GAU

Question 40

Which of the following has two polynucleotide strands?

A) Ribosomal RNA
B) DNA
C) Messenger RNA
D) Transfer RNA
E) RNA polymerase

Question 41

The manufacture of proteins from RNA and amino acids is referred to as

A) transcription.
B) translation.
C) transformation.
D) activation.
E) replication.

Question 42

A sequence of three RNA bases can function as a(n)

A) gene only.
B) codon only.
C) codon or anticodon.
D) anticodon only.

Question 43

What molecule is responsible for translation of the four-letter ʺnucleic acid languageʺ (A, T, G, and C nucleotides) into the 20 ʺamino acid languageʺ of proteins by bringing in amino acids to the ribosome?

A) Transfer RNA
B) Ribosomal RNA
C) DNA
D) Messenger RNA

Question 44

Which point mutation would be most likely to have a catastrophic effect?

A) A base insertion near the end of the coding sequence
B) The deletion of three bases near the start of the coding sequence
C) A base deletion near the end of the coding sequence
D) A base deletion near the start of the coding sequence
E) A base substitution

Question 45

Which of the following has anticodons?

A) DNA
B) Messenger RNA
C) RNA polymerase
D) Transfer RNA
E) Ribosomal RNA

Question 46

Which of the following is a protein made up of amino acids?

A) Uracil
B) Messenger RNA
C) RNA polymerase
D) Transfer RNA
E) DNA

Question 47

A gene can be mutated with no resulting functional change in the protein that is produced from that gene if

A) an entire codon has been removed.
B) RNA polymerase can edit the mutation from the mRNA produced during translation.
C) a codon has changed, but it codes for the same amino acid as the original codon.
D) the mutation alters the active site of an enzyme.

Question 48

What kind of mutation occurs when one base is changed to another at a single location in the DNA?

A) Deletion
B) Substitution
C) Neutral
D) Insertion

Question 49

Suppose the template DNA strand of a ʺmini-geneʺ has the base sequence TACCCGGATTCA. The anticodon of the tRNA that carries the first amino acid to the ribosome will be

A) AGU.
B) UAG.
C) UCA.
D) AUG.
E) UAC.

Question 50

For a mutation to affect the evolution of an animal species, it must occur within

A) somatic cells.
B) gametes.
C) prokaryotic cells.
D) diploid cells.

Question 51

A gene mutation is defined as change in the

A) structure of ribosomes.
B) nucleotide sequence of DNA.
C) activation of a gene.
D) nucleotide sequence of RNA.

Question 52

Which of the following contains codons?

A) Messenger RNA
B) Transfer RNA
C) DNA
D) Ribosomal RNA
E) RNA polymerase

Question 53

Which of the following attaches to specific amino acids?

A) DNA
B) Messenger RNA
C) Ribosomal RNA
D) RNA polymerase
E) Transfer RNA

Question 54

A mutation that results in a change in the codon-reading pattern could result from

A) a base substitution only.
B) either an insertion or a deletion of a base.
C) a base insertion only.
D) a base deletion only.

Question 55

A tRNA that carries a specific amino acid enters the protein -synthesizing machinery at the ribosomes and pairs with the appropriate

A) codon.
B) amino acid.
C) charge.
D) anticodon.

Question 56

A tRNA molecule brings_________ to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

A) an amino acid
B) a polypeptide
C) RNA polymerase
D) mRNA

Question 57

In a wild-type strain of fruit flies, the length of a gene from the start to the stop codon is 2,000 DNA bases. Suppose an experiment indicated that the mRNA molecule transcribed from this gene is much shorter (only 1,200 bases). What is the most likely explanation for this?

A) The first 800 bases of DNA are always cut out as it is transcribed into mRNA.
B) A mutation caused the formation of an extra stop codon in the gene.
C) There are introns in the DNA that were cut out of the mRNA.
D) The mRNA was prematurely degraded.

Question 58

Which of the following synthesizes RNA molecules in the nucleus?

A) Messenger RNA
B) DNA
C) Ribosomal RNA
D) Transfer RNA
E) RNA polymerase

Question 59

A random change in a DNA nucleotide base sequence

A) is never apparent in the organism.
B) always kills the cell.
C) represents a mutation.
D) cannot have an influence on genetic variation.
E) is never beneficial to the organism.

Question 60

Which of the following binds to codons?

A) Messenger RNA
B) DNA
C) RNA polymerase
D) Transfer RNA

Question 61

A ʺmini-geneʺ has the base sequence TACCCGTGCACG. If the T at the beginning of the sequence is deleted, what will be the consequence?

A) RNA polymerase will correct the deletion, and a normal protein will be produced.
B) The first nucleotide is always replaced anyway, so there will be no change.
C) RNA polymerase will skip that codon, but all the others will be read normally.
D) Only the amino acid coded for in that codon will be changed.
E) All of the codons after that point will be changed.

Question 62

Messenger RNA is single-stranded.

Question 63

Which of the following is NOT a theory of epigenetics explaining how cells can change gene function without changing the DNA base sequence?

A) Modification of chromosomal proteins
B) Altering transcription and translation with noncoding RNA
C) Mutations causing new beneficial alleles
D) Modification of DNA

Question 64

Your tongue does NOT grow hair because

A) skin cells have extra DNA that codes for hair proteins.
B) the genes for hair proteins have been deleted from the cells of your tongue.
C) saliva prevents hair from growing.
D) different genes are expressed in different tissues.

Question 65

In general, each gene codes for a specific protein.

Question 66

What is an advantage to an organism producing microRNA?

A) microRNA can protect against heart disease and cancer.
B) microRNA can protect against viral infections.
C) microRNA causes mutations in unused genes.
D) microRNA allows for the inactivation of Barr bodies.

Question 67

In eukaryotic cells, _________occurs in the nucleus, resulting in the production of mRNA, which then travels to the ribosome for_________ into an amino acid chain.

Question 68

A codon of mRNA consists of three bases that code for an amino acid.

Question 69

Each ribosome is specific for a particular type of protein.

Question 70

The Barr body is the X chromosome in the cell that is expressed, whereas the other X chromosome is inactivated.

Question 71

The site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm is the ribosome.

Question 72

Gene expression is a term that relates to

A) the karyotype of a chromosome set.
B) the unique set of genes in an individual.
C) the flow of genetic information from DNA to proteins.
D) how genes are passed from parent to offspring.
E) DNA replication.

Question 73

How can a single gene code for more than one protein?

A) Different types of ribosomes translate the resulting mRNA, producing different proteins.
B) The exons within an mRNA can be spliced together in different ways.
C) Different RNA polymerases transcribe it and produce different proteins.
D) Different amino acid chains can be coded by the same mRNA.

Question 74

Which of the following is TRUE regarding gene expression?

A) Different tissues within an organism express different genes.
B) Gene expression remains constant throughout an organismʹs life span.
C) Different individuals of the same species express all of the same genes.
D) Gene expression is not influenced by the environment.

Question 75

The strand of the DNA molecule that is transcribed is called the _________strand.)

Question 76

Steroid hormones have the ability to regulate transcription.

Question 77

Which of the following is NOT a means of regulating gene expression?

A) Regulating how long a protein lasts in a cell
B) Varying the rate at which messenger RNAs are translated
C) Varying the rate at which messenger RNAs are transcribed
D) Deleting genes from cells in which they are not needed
E) Modifying proteins after they are synthesized

Question 78

The fact that calico cats are only female supports the theory of

A) testosterone inactivation of Y-chromosome genes.
B) mutations in all genes on one X chromosome.
C) X-chromosome inactivation and Barr bodies in females.
D) two X chromosomes being required for coat color in cats.

Question 79

A ʺmini-geneʺ has the base sequence TACCCGTGCACG. Which of the following sequences represents a single base substitution?

A) TACCGTGCTACG
B) TACCCGTGCACG
C) TACCCGGCACG
D) TACCCGAGCACG
E) TACCCGTGTCACG

Question 80

tRNA is necessary for transcription to occur.