Multiple Choice

1.

Frederick Griffith infected mice with a combination of dead R and live S bacterial strains. What was
the outcome, and why did it occur?
A. The mice will live. Transformation was not required.
B. The mice will die. Transformation of genetic material from R to S was required.
C. The mice will live. Transformation of genetic material from S to R was required.
D. The mice will die. Transformation was not required.
2.
Why was the alga Acetabularia a good model organism for Joachim Hämmerling to use to identify
the location of genetic material?
A. It lacks a nuclear membrane.
B. It self-fertilizes.
C. It is a large, asymmetrical, single cell easy to see with the naked eye.
D. It makes a protein capsid.
3.
Which of the following best describes the results from Hershey and Chase’s experiment using
bacterial viruses with 35S-labeled proteins or 32P-labeled DNA that are consistent with protein being
the molecule responsible for hereditary?
A. After infection with the 35S-labeled viruses and centrifugation, only the pellet would be
radioactive.
B. After infection with the 35S-labeled viruses and centrifugation, both the pellet and the
supernatant would be radioactive.
C. After infection with the 32P-labeled viruses and centrifugation, only the pellet would be
radioactive.
D. After infection with the 32P-labeled viruses and centrifugation, both the pellet and the
supernatant would be radioactive.
4.
Which method did Morgan and colleagues use to show that hereditary information was carried on
chromosomes?
A. statistical predictions of the outcomes of crosses using true-breeding parents
B. correlations between microscopic observations of chromosomal movement and the
characteristics of offspring
C. transformation of nonpathogenic bacteria to pathogenic bacteria
D. mutations resulting in distinct defects in metabolic enzymatic pathways
5.
According to Beadle and Tatum’s “one gene–one enzyme” hypothesis, which of the following
enzymes will eliminate the transformation of hereditary material from pathogenic bacteria to
nonpathogenic bacteria?
A. carbohydrate-degrading enzymes
B. proteinases
C. ribonucleases
D. deoxyribonucleases
6.
Which of the following is not found within DNA?
A. thymine
B. phosphodiester bonds
C. complementary base pairing
D. amino acids
7.
If 30% of the bases within a DNA molecule are adenine, what is the percentage of thymine?
A. 20%
B. 25%
C. 30%
D. 35%
8.
Which of the following statements about base pairing in DNA is incorrect?
A. Purines always base pairs with pyrimidines.
B. Adenine binds to guanine.
C. Base pairs are stabilized by hydrogen bonds.
D. Base pairing occurs at the interior of the double helix.
9.
If a DNA strand contains the sequence 5ʹ-ATTCCGGATCGA-3ʹ, which of the following is the
sequence of the complementary strand of DNA?
A. 5ʹ-TAAGGCCTAGCT-3ʹ
B. 5ʹ-ATTCCGGATCGA-3ʹ
C. 3ʹ-TAACCGGTACGT-5ʹ
D. 5ʹ-TCGATCCGGAAT-3ʹ
10.
During denaturation of DNA, which of the following happens?
A. Hydrogen bonds between complementary bases break.
B. Phosphodiester bonds break within the sugar-phosphate backbone.
C. Hydrogen bonds within the sugar-phosphate backbone break.
D. Phosphodiester bonds between complementary bases break.
11.
Which of the following types of RNA codes for a protein?
a. dsRNA
b. mRNA
c. rRNA
d. tRNA
12.
A nucleic acid is purified from a mixture. The molecules are relatively small, contain uracil, and most
are covalently bound to an amino acid. Which of the following was purified?
A. DNA
B. mRNA
C. rRNA
D. tRNA
13.
Which of the following types of RNA is known for its catalytic abilities?
A. dsRNA
 B. mRNA
C. rRNA
D. tRNA
14.
Ribosomes are composed of rRNA and what other component?
A. protein
B. carbohydrates
C. DNA
D. mRNA
15.
Which of the following may use RNA as its genome?
A. a bacterium
B. an archaeon
C. a virus
D. a eukaryote
16.
Which of the following correctly describes the structure of the typical eukaryotic genome?
A. diploid
B. linear
C. singular
D. double stranded
17.
Which of the following is typically found as part of the prokaryotic genome?
A. chloroplast DNA
B. linear chromosomes
C. plasmids
D. mitochondrial DNA
18.
Serratia marcescens cells produce a red pigment at room temperature. The red color of the colonies
is an example of which of the following?
A. genotype
B. phenotype
C. change in DNA base composition
D. adaptation to the environment
19.
Which of the following genes would not likely be encoded on a plasmid?
A. genes encoding toxins that damage host tissue
B. genes encoding antibacterial resistance
C. gene encoding enzymes for glycolysis
D. genes encoding enzymes for the degradation of an unusual substrate
20.
Histones are DNA binding proteins that are important for DNA packaging in which of the following?
A. double-stranded and single-stranded DNA viruses
B. archaea and bacteria
C. bacteria and eukaryotes
D. eukaryotes and archaea
True/False
21.

The work of Rosalind Franklin and R.G. Gosling was important in demonstrating the helical
nature of DNA.
22.

The A-T base pair has more hydrogen bonding than the C-G base pair.
23.

Ribosomes are composed mostly of RNA.

Double-stranded RNA is commonly found inside cells.

Within an organism, phenotypes may change while genotypes remain constant.

Noncoding DNA has no biological purpose

Match the correct molecule with its description:

___tRNA A. is a major component

Fill in the Blank

The element ____________ is unique to nucleic acids compared with other macromolecules.
29.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the macromolecule thought to be responsible for heredity was
______________.
30.

The end of a nucleic acid strand with a free phosphate group is called the ________.
31.

Plasmids are typically transferred among members of a bacterial community by ________ gene
transfer.
Short Answer

Short Answer
32.

Why do bacteria and viruses make good model systems for various genetic studies?
33.

Why was nucleic acid disregarded for so long as the molecule responsible for the transmission of
hereditary information?
34.

Bacteriophages inject their genetic material into host cells, whereas animal viruses enter host cells
completely. Why was it important to use a bacteriophage in the Hershey–Chase experiment rather
than an animal virus?
35.

What is the role of phosphodiester bonds within the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA?
36.

What is meant by the term “antiparallel?”

Why is DNA with a high GC content more difficult to denature than that with a low GC content?
38.

What are the differences between DNA nucleotides and RNA nucleotides?
39.

How is the information stored within the base sequence of DNA used to determine a cell’s
properties?
40.

How do complementary base pairs contribute to intramolecular base pairing within an RNA
molecule?
41.

If an antisense RNA has the sequence 5ʹAUUCGAAUGC3ʹ, what is the sequence of the mRNA to
which it will bind? Be sure to label the 5ʹ and 3ʹ ends of the molecule you draw.
42.

Why does double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) stimulate RNA interference?

What are some differences in chromosomal structures between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
44.
How do prokaryotes and eukaryotes manage to fit their lengthy DNA inside of cells? Why is this
necessary?
45.

What are some functions of noncoding DNA?

In the chromatin of eukaryotic cells, which regions of the chromosome would you expect to be more
compact: the regions that contain genes being actively copied into RNA or those that contain
inactive genes?

Critical Thinking
47.

In the figure shown, if the nuclei were contained within the stalks of Acetabularia, what types of
caps would you expect from the pictured grafts?

48.

Why are Hershey and Chase credited with identifying DNA as the carrier of heredity even
though DNA had been discovered many years before?
49.
A certain DNA sample is found to have a makeup consisting of 22% thymine. Use Chargaff’s
rules to fill in the percentages for the other three nitrogenous bases.

50.

In considering the structure of the DNA double helix, how would you expect the structure to
differ if there was base pairing between two purines? Between two pyrimidines?
51.

Identify the location of mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA in the figure.

52.

Why does it make sense that tRNA and rRNA molecules are more stable than mRNA molecules?
53.

A new type of bacteriophage has been isolated and you are in charge of characterizing its
genome. The base composition of the bacteriophage is A (15%), C (20%), T (35%), and G
(30%). What can you conclude about the genome of the virus?
1. D

2. C

3. A

4. B

5. D

6. D

7. C

8. B

9. D

10. A.

11. B

12. D

13. C

14. A

15. C

16. A

17. C

18. B

19. C

20. D

21. True

22. False

23. True
24. False

25. True

26. False

27. C, A, B

28. phosphorus

29. protein

30. 5ʹ end

31. horizontal