AP Biology : DNA and RNA Structure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Understanding Nucleotides And Base Pairs

Which of the following is not a component of nucleic acids?

Possible Answers:

Phosphate group

Guanine

Tyrosine

Sugar

Adenine

Correct answer:

Tyrosine

Explanation:

Nucleic acids are made up of nitrogenous bases and a sugar-phosphate backbone. The sugar will vary depending on if it is an RNA or DNA molecule that's being discussed. RNA has ribose while DNA has deoxyribose. The nitrogenous bases are guanine, adenine, thymine, cytosine and uracil. Tyrosine is an amino acid, therefore not involved in the composition of nucleic acids.

Example Question #22 : Understanding Nucleotides And Base Pairs

What are the three major components that make up a nucleotide in DNA?

Possible Answers:

Glucose, ribose, and nitrogenous base

Protein unit, deoxyribose, and nitrogenous base

Phosphate, ribose, and nitrogenous base

Phosphate, deoxyribose, and nitrogenous base

Correct answer:

Phosphate, deoxyribose, and nitrogenous base

Explanation:

The three major components of a nucleotide in DNA are phosphate, deoxyribose, and one of the four nitrogenous bases. The phosphate and deoxyribose alternate along the backbone, and the nitrogenous base codes for the type of protein made in transcription and translation.

Example Question #21 : Understanding Nucleotides And Base Pairs

What is the nitrogenous base that adenine bonds to in the DNA strand?

Possible Answers:

Thymine

Uracil

Cytosine

Guanine

Correct answer:

Thymine

Explanation:

In the DNA strand, adenine bonds to thymine. It does not bond to the other bases in DNA. In RNA, adenine bonds to uracil.

Example Question #21 : Understanding Nucleotides And Base Pairs

In the DNA strand, with which nitrogenous base does guanine pair?

Possible Answers:

Cytosine

Uracil

Adenine

Thymine

Correct answer:

Cytosine

Explanation:

In the DNA strand, guanine bonds to cytosine. It does not bond to the other nitrogenous bases. Guanine and cytosine form three hydrogen bonds to keep complementary strands of DNA together.

Example Question #51 : Dna And Rna Structure

What is one of the primary differences between the purines and pyrimidines of DNA?

Possible Answers:

The purines bond to the phosphates on the DNA backbone, whereas the pyrimidines bond to sugar

Purines consist of two rings, whereas pyrimidines consist of one ring

Purines have a lipid chain, whereas pyrimidines do not

Purines consist of a single ring, whereas pyrimidines consist of two rings

Correct answer:

Purines consist of two rings, whereas pyrimidines consist of one ring

Explanation:

One of the primary differences between purines and pyrimidines is that purines consist of two rings, whereas the pyrimidines consist of one ring. One way to help remember the differences between purines and pyrimidines is that pyrimidines are like pyramids: sharp. Sharp things CUT (Cytosine Uracil Thymine). Note that uracil is only present in RNA, while thymine is only present in DNA. All nitrogenous bases bond to the sugar in the DNA backbone. The sugar is also connected to a phosphate group via a phosphodiester bond.

Example Question #52 : Dna And Rna Structure

Which of the following nitrogenous bases are purines?

Possible Answers:

Cytosine and adenine

Guanine and adenine

Adenine and thymine

Thymine and uracil

Thymine and guanine

Correct answer:

Guanine and adenine

Explanation:

Purines are adenine and guanine, while pyrimidines are cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors