1.

During Griffith's experiments with Streptococcus pneumoniae in mice, material from _____
bacteria transformed _____ bacteria.
a)
b)
c)
d)

heat-killed nonvirulent ... living virulent

heat-killed virulent ... living nonvirulent
living nonvirulent ... heat-killed virulent
living virulent ... heat-killed nonvirulent

2. Avery and his colleagues' 1944 experiment showed that DNA _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

consists of sugars, phosphate groups, and bases

uses three bases to code for one amino acid
contains adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine
has two strands held together with hydrogen bonds
was the substance that transformed the bacteria in Griffith's experiment

3. A scientist assembles a bacteriophage with the protein coat of phage T2 and the DNA of
phage T4. If this composite phage were allowed to infect a bacterium, the phages produced in
the host cell would have _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

the protein of T4 and the DNA of T2

the protein and DNA of T2
a mixture of the DNA and proteins of both phages
the protein and DNA of T4
the protein of T2 and the DNA of T4

4. In an important experiment, a radioactively labeled bacteriophage was allowed to infect

bacteria. In a first trial, the phage contained radioactive DNA, and radioactivity was detected
inside the bacteria. Next, phage containing radioactive protein was used, and the radioactivity
was not detected inside the bacteria. These experiments led to the conclusion that _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

genes are on chromosomes

bacteriophages can infect bacteria
the genetic material of the phage is protein
the genetic material of the phage is DNA
DNA is made of nucleotides

5. Up until Hershey and Chase showed that DNA was the genetic molecule, what molecule was
considered the best candidate for carrying genetic information and why?
a) sterols because of the different variations on their ring structure
b) amino acids because of all the ways they can join together

c) carbohydrates because they are found in abundance in all organisms

d) proteins because they were thought to be the only molecule with both the variety and
specificity of function to account for the array of heritable traits observed
e) nucleoside triphosphates because of the ability to add and remove phosphate groups
6. Monomers for the synthesis of DNA are called _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

disaccharides
amino acids
monosaccharides
nucleotides
fatty acids

7. Chargaff found that for DNA _____.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

the ratio of A to G is close to 1:1 and the ratio of T to C is close to 1:1

the ratio of A to T is close to 1:1 and the ratio of G to C is close to 1:1
A+T=G+C
the ratio of A to C is close to 1:1 and the ratio of G to T is close to 1:1
A + T = 50% of the total bases

8. What technique was most helpful to Watson and Crick in developing their model for the
structure of DNA?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

transgenic animals
X-ray crystallography
electrophoresis
radioactive labeling
cloned DNA

9. In DNA, the two purines are _____, and the two pyrimidines are _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

adenine and thymine ... cytosine and guanine

cytosine and guanine ... adenine and thymine
adenine and cytosine ... guanine and thymine
adenine and guanine ... cytosine and thymine
cytosine and thymine ... adenine and guanine

10. Which of the following is correct?

a) Adenine forms two covalent bonds with thymine; guanine forms three covalent bonds
with cytosine.
b) Adenine forms two hydrogen bonds with guanine; thymine forms three hydrogen bonds
with cytosine.
c) Adenine forms two hydrogen bonds with thymine; guanine forms three hydrogen bonds
with cytosine.
d) Adenine forms three hydrogen bonds with thymine; guanine forms two hydrogen bonds
with cytosine.

e) Adenine forms three covalent bonds with thymine; guanine forms two covalent bonds
with cytosine.
11. The two sugar-phosphate strands that form the rungs of a DNA double helix are joined to
each other through _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

5' deoxyribose and phosphate bonds

covalent bonds between carbon atoms in deoxyribose molecules
covalent bonds between nitrogen atoms in adenine and in thymine
ionic bonds between guanine and cytosine
hydrogen bonds between nucleotide bases

12. The information in DNA is contained in _____.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

the variation in the structure of nucleotides that make up the DNA molecule
the sequence of nucleotides along the length of the two strands of the DNA molecule
the sequence of amino acids that makes up the DNA molecule
the types of sugars used in making the DNA molecule
All of the listed responses are correct.

13. Who is credited with explaining the structure of the DNA double helix?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Griffith
Watson and Crick
Jacob and Monod
Hershey and Chase
Avery, McCarty, and MacLeod

14. Which of the following attributes of DNA is most crucial to its accurate duplication?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

its deoxyribose sugar and phosphate groups

its specific base pairing and hydrogen bonding
its phosphodiester linkages and complementary strands
its helical nature and hydrogen bonding
its specific sequence of bases

15. During the replication of DNA, _____.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

the cell undergoes mitosis

the reaction is catalyzed by RNA polymerase
both strands of a molecule act as templates
only one strand of the molecule acts as a template
errors never occur

16. The experiments of Meselson and Stahl showed that DNA _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

is composed of nucleotides
is the genetic material
replicates in a semiconservative fashion
codes for the sequence of amino acids in proteins
contains complementary base pairing

17. The DNA structures of prokaryotes and eukaryotes are different in several ways, but one way
in which they are the same is that _____.
a) both have a single circular chromosome
b) most of the DNA is in the form of plasmids
c) the DNA is packaged into several linear chromosomes
d) both have a sugar-phosphate backbone
e) histones are present in the nucleosomes
18. Which of the following statements about replication origins is correct?
a) In bacteria, the DNA sequence at the origin is recognized by specific proteins that then
bind to the origin.
b) The two strands of DNA at the origin are separated, allowing the formation of a
replication bubble.
c) In both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, replication proceeds in both directions from each
origin.
d) Bacterial chromosomes have a single origin, but eukaryotic chromosomes have many
origins.
e) All of the listed responses are correct.
19. At each end of a DNA replication bubble is _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

a telomere
an origin of replication
a gene
a replication fork
a ribosome

20. The role of DNA polymerases in DNA replication is to _____.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

separate the two strands of DNA

attach free nucleotides to the new DNA strand
synthesize an RNA primer to initiate DNA strand synthesis
link together short strands of DNA
All of the listed responses are correct.

21. The rate of elongation in prokaryotes is _____ the rate in eukaryotes.

a) sometimes faster and sometimes slower than
b) much slower than

c) about the same speed as

d) much faster than
e) The rates are not comparable, because elongation only occurs in prokaryotes.
22. The two strands of a DNA double helix are antiparallel. This means that _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

they both run in the 3' to 5' direction

one strand is actually composed of RNA
the two strands are mirror images
one strand runs in the 5' to 3' direction, and the other runs in the 3' to 5' direction
only one of the two strands can be used as a template for replication, because DNA
polymerase only works in one direction

23. One strand of a DNA molecule has the base sequence 5-ATAGGT-3. The complementary
base sequence on the other strand of DNA will be 3-_____-5.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

ATAGGT
TGGATA
TGGAUA
UAUCCA
TATCCA

24. DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the _____ of the leading strands, and to the _____ of
the lagging strands (Okazaki fragments).
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

3 end ... 3 end

5 end ... 3 end
sugar group ... phosphate group
5 end ... 5 end
3 end ... 5 end

25. What enzyme joins Okazaki fragments?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

helicase
primase
topoisomerase
DNA ligase
DNA polymerase

26. After the formation of a replication bubble, which of the following is the correct sequence of
enzymes used for the synthesis of the lagging DNA strand?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

helicases, primase, ligase, DNA polymerases

helicases, primase, DNA polymerases, ligase
ligase, primase, DNA polymerases, helicases
helicases, DNA polymerases, primase, ligase
primase, helicases, DNA polymerases, ligase

27. Which of the following components is required for DNA replication?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

transfer RNA
sucrases
proteases
ribosomes
RNA primer

28. The removal of the RNA primer and addition of DNA nucleotides to the 3' end of Okazaki
fragments in its place is carried out by _____.
a) nuclease
b) primase
c) DNA polymerase III
d) DNA polymerase I
e) ligase
29. The unwinding of DNA at the replication fork causes twisting and strain in the DNA ahead of
the fork, which is relieved by an enzyme called _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

primase
topoisomerase
ligase
relievase
ribosomes

30. Once the DNA at the replication fork is unwound by helicases, what prevents the two strands
from coming back together to re-form a double helix?
a) DNA polymerase follows the helicase so closely that there is no chance for the strands to
come back together.
b) Single-strand binding proteins bind the unwound DNA and prevent the double helix from
re-forming.
c) The helicase modifies the DNA in such a way as to eliminate the affinity between the two
strands.
d) One of the strands is rapidly degraded, preventing the double helix from re-forming.
e) The helicase pushes the two strands so far apart that they have no chance of finding each
other.
31. Which description of DNA replication is correct?
a) Ligase assembles single-stranded codons, then polymerase knits these codons together
into a DNA strand.
b) The two strands separate, and each one receives a complementary strand of RNA. Then
this RNA serves as a template for the assembly of many new strands of DNA.
c) Ligase separates the two strands of the DNA double helix. Then, DNA polymerase
synthesizes the leading strand and primase synthesizes the lagging strand.
d) The two strands of DNA separate, and restriction enzymes cut up one strand. Then, the
DNA polymerase synthesizes two new strands out of the old ones.

e) Helicases separate the two strands of the double helix, and DNA polymerases then
construct two new strands using each of the original strands as templates.

32. In what way(s) is our traditional representation of DNA polymerase molecules moving like
locomotives along a track inaccurate?
a) The proteins involved in replication do not move; instead, DNA is drawn through the
complex.
b) DNA polymerase acts as part of a large complex of proteins, not like a single locomotive.
c) Like a train on a track, DNA polymerase must add nucleotides sequentially. It cannot
jump around.
d) Both the first and second answers are correct.
e) DNA polymerase completes replication of one strand and then begins the other.
33. The incorporation of an incorrect base into the DNA during replication _____.
a) is virtually impossible, as the accuracy of DNA polymerase is such that errors almost
never occur
b) cannot be repaired, and a new mutation will invariably result
c) will almost certainly lead to the death of the cell
d) will trigger the cell to destroy the new strand, and replication will begin again
e) can be repaired by the mismatch repair system
34. Which set of enzymes is involved in nucleotide excision repair?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

hydrolase, nuclease, and ligase

DNA polymerase, helicase, primase
nuclease, DNA polymerase, primase
nuclease, DNA polymerase, and ligase
ligase, nuclease, and primase

35. Individuals with the disorder xeroderma pigmentosum _____.

a) have difficulty repairing thymine dimers
b) often have inherited defects in the nucleotide excision repair system
c) are hypersensitive to sunlight
d) have high rates of skin cancer
e) All of the listed responses are correct.
36. Unlike prokaryotic DNA replication, replication of eukaryotic chromosomes _____.

a) cannot be completed by DNA polymerase

b) has a single origin
c) is error free
d) is semiconservative
e) involves two leading strands and no lagging strands
37. Telomeres _____.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

get longer with continued cell division

are found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
remain the same regardless of the frequency of cell division
are shorter for younger individuals
get shorter with continued cell division

38. Telomerase _____.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

prevents the loss of centromeric DNA

slows the rate of cancer cell growth
is an enzyme that lengthens telomeres
splits telomeres
speeds cell aging

39. What is the major difference between bacterial chromosomes and eukaryotic chromosomes?
a) There is no difference between bacterial and eukaryotic chromosomes.
b) Bacterial chromosomes have much more protein associated with the DNA than
eukaryotes.
c) Eukaryotes have a single circular chromosome whereas bacteria have several linear
chromosomes.
d) Bacteria have a single circular chromosome whereas eukaryotes have several linear
chromosomes.
e) The DNA of bacterial chromosomes has a slightly different structure.
40. Put the following DNA-containing entities in order according to the amount of DNA found in
their genomes.
a) virus, bacteria, eukaryote
b) eukaryote, virus, bacteria
c) bacteria, eukaryote, virus
d) bacteria, virus, eukaryote
e) They all have about the same amount of DNA.
41. Why were many of the early experiments on DNA carried out on viruses and bacteria?
a) Their chromosomes have a simpler structure.
b) They can interact with each other.
c) They have relatively small genomes.
d) They have short generation times.
e) All of the responses are true.
42. The "beads on a string" seen in interphase chromatin are _____.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

histone tails
nucleoids
nucleosomes
looped domains
heterochromatin

43. Cul de estas figuras representa el modelo semiconservativo del ADN?

a)

b)

c)

44. Cul de los siguientes representa la enzima DNA polymerase III?

a) A
b) C
c) E

d) A y E
e) A y C

45. Cul de los siguientes es responsable por la catalizacin de la formacin del RNA
primer?
f)
g)
h)
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

A
B
C
D
E

i)
j)
k)
l)

m) Pareo
n)

o) ___1. semiconservative
model
p)
q) ___2. Chromatin
r)
s) ___3. Antiparallel
t)
u) ___4. double helix
v)
w) ___5. Nucleoid
x)
y) ___6. origin of
replication
z)
aa) ___7. Bacteriophages
ab)
ac) ___8. mismatch repair
ad)

a) A virus that infects bacteria; also called a

phage.
b) The complex of DNA and proteins that makes
up eukaryotic chromosomes. When the cell is
not dividing, chromatin exists in its dispersed
form, as a mass of very long, thin fibers that are
not visible with a light microscope.
c) Type of DNA replication in which the
replicated double helix consists of one old
strand, derived from the parental molecule, and
one newly made strand.
d) Referring to the arrangement of the sugarphosphate backbones in a DNA double helix
(they run in opposite 5 3 directions).
e) Site where the replication of a DNA molecule
begins, consisting of a specific sequence of
nucleotides.
f) The cellular process that uses specific enzymes
to remove and replace incorrectly paired
nucleotides.
g) The form of native DNA, referring to its two
adjacent antiparallel polynucleotide strands
wound around an imaginary axis into a spiral
shape.
h) A non-membrane-bounded region in a
prokaryotic cell where the DNA is

concentrated.
ae)
af) Contesta
1. If a single copy of double stranded DNA molecule was to undergo replication, how many
copies of double stranded DNA will be present after
a. 2 rounds of replication
ag)
b. 3 rounds of replication
ah)
c. 4 rounds of replication
ai)
2. PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) is a technique routinely used in research laboratories to
amplify specific regions within DNA. The idea behind the technique is to enable artificial
DNA replication targeted to regions of interest within the DNA.
aj)
a. Which of the following PCR reactions will work and why?

ak)
ap) DNA
au) DNA
polymerase

al) React
ion A
aq) YES
av) NO

az) Primers

ba) YES

be) dNTPs

bf) YES

bj) PCR reaction

Buffer

bk) YES

am)
Reacti
on
B
ar) NO
aw)
YES
bb) YE
S
bg) YE
S
bl) YE
S

an) Rea
ctio
nC

ao) Rea
ctio
nD

as) YES

at) YES

ax) YES

ay) YES

bc) YES

bd) YES

bh) YES

bi) NO

bm)
YES

bn) YES

bo)
b. If we start with 25 copies of double stranded DNA molecule, after three rounds of
PCR how many molecules of DNA will be present?
bp)
bq)
br)
bs)
bt)
bu)
c. If the DNA polymerase used in the PCR reaction adds 900 nucleotides in one minute

how many seconds will it take for the enzyme to complete replication of DNA that is
4600 nucleotides long?
bv)
bw)
bx)