AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #2301 : Ap Biology

Where does transcription occur in a cell?

Possible Answers:

Mitochondria

Nucleus

Lysosome

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

Nucleolus

Correct answer:

Nucleus

Explanation:

The DNA gets transcribed into RNA inside the nucleus. This is where DNA is housed; DNA never leaves the nucleus (except during mitosis, during which the nuclear envelope will briefly disappear so that two cells can be formed). After DNA gets transcribed into RNA, the RNA is modified and eventually transported out of the nucleus as mRNA, which is now ready for translation.

Translation occurs on ribosomes, which can either be bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum or free-floating in the cytoplasm. The nucleolus is a structure within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is produced and ribosomal subunits are assembled. Mitochondria are essential for cellular respiration and ATP synthesis. Lysosomes are responsible for digesting wastes and defective proteins.

Example Question #2302 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is directly produced during gene transcription by RNA polymerase?

Possible Answers:

miRNA

rRNA

htRNA

mRNA

Correct answer:

htRNA

Explanation:

When RNA polymerase binds to a template strand of DNA, it recruits complementary ribonucleotides to form a strand of RNA. This strand of RNA, however, is incomplete and must undergo post-transcriptional modification to become a mature mRNA product. The initial RNA transcript is known as heteronuclear RNA, or htRNA.

Introns are removed for the htRNA and a 5'cap and poly-A tail are added to convert it to mRNA.

Example Question #2303 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is not an example of post-transcriptional modification of a primary strand of mRNA?

Possible Answers:

All of these are post-transcriptional modifications of mRNA

Removal of introns

Addition of the 5' cap

Insertion of exons

Addition of the poly-A tail

Correct answer:

Insertion of exons

Explanation:

Following DNA transcription, the resulting RNA molecule must be modified before leaving the nucleus. Proteins in the nucleus add a 5' cap to the 5' end of the RNA strand, and a poly-A tail to the 3' end. These additions help prevent degradation of the transcript by any hydrolytic enzymes in the cytosol. Protein complexes called spliceosomes interact with the transcript to remove segments of non-coding RNA called introns. The remaining transcript following the excision of introns is composed only of coding segments of RNA, known as exons.

Though introns are removed during post-transcriptional modification, exons are not inserted. Rather, they are simply the remaining RNA sequences after the introns have been spliced out.

Example Question #2304 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is the term that best describes a DNA strand that is used as a template for transcription? 

Possible Answers:

Non-template strand

Sense strand

Non-coding strand

Coding strand

Correct answer:

Non-coding strand

Explanation:

RNA polymerase binds and transcribes the “non-coding strand." It acts as a template that is used to generate a RNA transcript that is complementary to the DNA strand that was transcribed. The term “coding strand” refers to the DNA strand with the identical sequence to the newly synthesized RNA. The coding strand can also be called the “non-template strand” or the “sense strand.” 

Example Question #2305 : Ap Biology

Which of the following choices describes coding sequences?

Possible Answers:

They have an upstream 3' UTR 

They are the sequence of DNA that will be translated into a protein

They describe only the promoter

They are the sequenes that do not code for proteins

Correct answer:

They are the sequence of DNA that will be translated into a protein

Explanation:

A coding sequence is the sequence of DNA that will code for a particular protein. In this process an messenger or mRNA molecule is transcribed from DNA and later translated into a protein by ribosomes. Messenger or mRNA is flanked by an upstream 5’ UTR untranslated leader sequence and a downstream 3’ UTR untranslated region that follows the termination codon of the synthesized protein.

 

Example Question #2306 : Ap Biology

What directionality does the transcribed RNA strand have after transcription?

Possible Answers:

3' to 7'

7' to 3'

3' to 5'

5' to 3'

Correct answer:

5' to 3'

Explanation:

The term “directionality” refers to the chemical orientation of a molecule. In DNA and RNA, directionality is described as 3’ (three prime) or 5’ (five prime). 3’ refers to the third carbon group in a sugar ring, which terminates in a hydroxyl group, and 5’ refers to the fifth carbon in the sugar ring. In transcription, RNA polymerase reads the template DNA strand in a 3’ to 5’ direction. Reading the template DNA strand in this direction allows transcription to proceed without primers and Okazaki fragments. This yields an RNA molecule that is formed in a mirrored 5’ to 3’ direction.

Example Question #2307 : Ap Biology

Which of the following does not happen during the termination phase of transcription?

Possible Answers:

Final proofreading by RNA polymerase 

The addition of adenine nucleotides to the 3' end of the new transcript

The new transcript is cleaved 

RNA polymerase reaches a terminator signal in the DNA template strand

Correct answer:

Final proofreading by RNA polymerase 

Explanation:

Termination is the final stage of transcription. During this stage, RNA polymerase reaches a terminator signal in the template DNA strand. This triggers the release of the transcriptional complex and the cleavage or release of the RNA transcript. Post cleavage, a sequence of adenines is added to the 3’ end of the new transcript through a process called polyadenylation. The resulting poly-A tail is important in translation, stability, and export of the transcript.

Example Question #2308 : Ap Biology

Which of the following choices is not a true characteristic of the promoter sequence?

Possible Answers:

A well-characterized example of a promoter is the TATA box

It binds to transcription factors 

It is the start of transcription 

It is a part of the pre-initiation complex

Correct answer:

It is the start of transcription 

Explanation:

Promoter sequences are regions of DNA located upstream of transcription start sites. Transcription factors bind to the promoter sequence, which promotes the binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of transcription. Together, along with activators and repressors, these make up the pre-initiation complex. A well-characterized promoter sequence is called the TATA box, which is present within promoters of  of human genes.

Example Question #2309 : Ap Biology

Which of the following is a correct example of post-transcriptional modification of eukaryotic RNA?

Possible Answers:

Addition of a 5' Cap

Splicing out of exons from the primary transcript

Transport of the transcript into the nucleus from the cytoplasm

Acetylation at the N-terminus

Addition of a 3' Poly-G tail

Correct answer:

Addition of a 5' Cap

Explanation:

The only correct post-transcriptional modification from the answer choices is the addition of a 5' (methyl guanosine) cap. The remaining answer choices are either false, or examples of post-translational modifications.

Example Question #2310 : Ap Biology

RNA polymerase transcribes the following sequence of DNA:

5'-ATGCCCAT-3'

What is the resulting RNA sequence from 5' to 3'?

Possible Answers:

5'-ATGGGCAT-3'

None of these

5'-UACGGGUA-3'

5'-TACGGGTA-3'

5'-AUGGGCAU-3'

Correct answer:

5'-AUGGGCAU-3'

Explanation:

RNA polymerase transcribes a DNA template in the 3' to 5' direction, creating an RNA molecule 5' to 3'. The DNA sequence given in the question therefore needs to be flipped around and read in the 3' to 5' direction in order to determine the resulting what the RNA sequence will be 5' to 3'. Additionally, the nitrogenous base thymine (T) is replaced by uracil (U) in RNA, so every location where a T would go in the RNA sequence needs to be replaced by a U.

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