MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION

Modern Biology (BT101)

Feb 26th 2007, Monday
PART A
0.5 x 10= 5 Marks

Section I

1. Identify the DNA variants that have a) pitch of 45 Ao

Solution:

a) Z form

b) rise per base pair 3.4 Ao

b) B form

2. How does a ribosome know when to stop making a polypeptide?

Solution:

Stop codons for which there are no corresponding tRNA molecules.

3. For a DNA sequence ATGCCAATG, write the complementary mRNA codons and
tRNA anticodon.
Solution:

mRNA codons

UACGGUUAC

tRNA anticodon

AUGCCAAUG

4. The base composition of phage M13 DNA is A 23%; T 36%, G 21% and C 20%. What
does this tell you about the DNA of phage M13?
Solution:

A T; G C
So DNA is not base paired double helix; the M13 DNA is singlestranded.

5. Calculate the possible number of amino acids that may be encoded if only two bases
defined a codon. Comment on why this is not the case.
Solution:

If two bases defined a codon, only 16 amino acids would be encoded

(42=16). Twenty naturally occurring amino acids exist so three bases
are necessary.

6. It could be said that complementary base pairing is essential to the production and
function of RNA. Explain this statement.
Solution:

i) RNA molecules are assembled on a DNA template through

complementary base pairing.
ii) The tRNA molecule carrying correct amino acid is aligned on the
mRNA molecule by complementary base pairing between tRNA
anticodon and the mRNA codon.

7. Describe two functions of RNA polymerase.

Solution:

i) Adds RNA primer to the DNA template to let DNA synthesis begins.
ii) Links nucleotides in forming RNA molecules.
1

8. Distinguish between a triplet of nucleotides on DNA and a codon. Where are codons
found?
Solution:

Each group of three nucleotides is transcribed into one codon on the

mRNA molecule.
Codons are found on mRNA and it is the mRNA code that should be
used in writing down the sequence of amino acids.

9. What components are needed to synthesize a protein?

Solution:

Amino acids, tRNA, mRNA, Ribosome components, Enzymes, ATP,

DNA are required for the initial nucleotide code for the protein.

10. How many activating enzymes are there?

Solution:

20 enzymes, one for each amino acid

Section II

2 x 3= 6Marks

11. Draw the schematic figure showing a) nicked ds circular DNA b)

single strand ends.

ds

DNA

with

Solution:
nick

a)

or

or

b)

or

or

3
3

5
5

3
5

12. Roughly sketch a molecule of tRNA, indicating the recognition site for the ribosomes
binding and the location of the anticodon.

Ribosome Binding site

Anticodon site
13. Draw the structure of G C base pair and highlight the H bonding.
Solution:

Section III

2 x 2= 4Marks

14. An E. coli chromosome contains 5,456,789 bp.

a) How many turns of the double helix must be unwound during replication of the E. coli
chromosome?
b) About how many Okazaki fragments would be formed? What factors guarantee that
the numerous Okazaki fragments are assembled in the correct order in the new DNA?
Solution:

a) 5.4 x 105 turns (10 bp every turn)

b) Roughly 3000 to 6000 Okazaki fragments. In E. coli the fragments
are 1000 to 2000 nucleotide long and are firmly attached to the
template strand by base pairing. Each fragment is quickly joined to
the lagging strand thus preserving the correct order of the fragments.
3

15. Write short notes on a) Informosomes

Solution:

b) Tm (melting temperature)

a) Informosomes are mRNA protein complex. In eukaryotes stability

of mRNA is provided by certain protein. mRNA does not enter
cytoplasm as a naked strand, instead it is ensheath by certain protein.
The protein protects the mRNA from degrading and also regulates
protein synthesis.
b) Melting temperature (Tm) is defined as the temperature at which
50% of same DNA molecules species form a stable double helix and
other 50% have been separated to single strand molecule. The Tm
depends upon pH and ionic strength and on size and base composition
of DNA.