AP Biology : DNA, RNA, and Proteins

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which of the following molecules is not present in DNA?

Possible Answers:

Thymine

Phosphate

Deoxyribose sugar

All of these

Uracil

Correct answer:

Uracil

Explanation:

Uracil is a nitrogenous base that is only found in single-stranded RNA—it is not found in DNA. Thymine pairs with adenine in DNA, whereas in RNA, uracil pairs with adenine.

Example Question #22 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which of the following base pairs is found only in RNA?

Possible Answers:

Uracil

Guanine

Cytosine

Thymine

Adenine

Correct answer:

Uracil

Explanation:

Uracil is the base pair that is used in ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the place of thymine. The other three bases adenine, guanine and cytosine are found in both DNA and RNA.

Example Question #21 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

All of the following bases are found in RNA except __________.

Possible Answers:

thymine

guanine

adenine

cytosine

uracil

Correct answer:

thymine

Explanation:

Uracil is only found in RNA under normal conditions. It replaces thymine, which is only found in DNA. Therefore, thymine, adenine, cytosine, and guanine are the bases found in DNA, and uracil, adenine, cytosine, and guanine are the bases found in RNA.

Example Question #21 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Who were the two scientists who developed the model of DNA as a double helix in 1953?

Possible Answers:

Pauling and Corey

Gilbert and Maxam

Pasteur and Mitterand

Watson and Crick

Correct answer:

Watson and Crick

Explanation:

Watson and Crick were the two scientists who developed the model of DNA as a double helix in 1953.

Example Question #25 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

In the messenger RNA, with which base on DNA does uracil pair?

Possible Answers:

Guanine

Adenine

Thymine

Cytosine

Correct answer:

Adenine

Explanation:

Uracil in RNA bonds to adenine on the DNA template during transcription. These two nitrogenous bases form two hydrogen bonds.

Example Question #21 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

What would be the sequence of mRNA translated from the DNA segment 5' - ACGTCA - 3' ?

Possible Answers:

5' TACTTU 3'

5' UGCAGU 3'

5' UCGAGU 3'

5' UGACGU 3'

5' TGCAGT 3'

Correct answer:

5' UGACGU 3'

Explanation:

mRNA contains uracil instead of thymine, therefore your answer should not contain the base thymine. Remember, DNA is read in the 3' to 5' direction and the corresponding strand is created in the 5' to 3' direction. It is important to pay attention to polarity of the strands. Adenine pairs with thymine, and/or uracil. Guanine pairs with cytosine.

Example Question #22 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which of the following RNA molecules transports amino acids to ribosomes to be used to assemble the protein molecule?

Possible Answers:

snRNA

rRNA

pre-mRNA

mRNA

tRNA

Correct answer:

tRNA

Explanation:

mRNA is messenger RNA, it carries the genetic code that determines the protein. snRNA directs splicing of pre-mRNA. tRNA transports the amino acids used for assembling proteins. rRNA is a component of ribosomes (the other component is protein). pre-mRNA- single strand of RNA processed to form mRNA.

Example Question #21 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

The most prevalent negative charge on DNA can be found on which of the following molecular components?

Possible Answers:

Phosphate backbone

Ribose sugar ring

Phosphodiester linkage

Hydrogen bonds between base pairs

Hydroxyl residues

Correct answer:

Phosphate backbone

Explanation:

The phosphate backbone of DNA is negatively charged due to the bonds created between the phosphorous atoms and the oxygen atoms. Each phosphate group contains one negatively charged oxygen atom, therefore the entire strand of DNA is negatively charged due to repeated phosphate groups. 

Example Question #21 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Please complete the analogy.

Nitrogen : Nucleic Acids :: Phosphorous : ______________.

Possible Answers:

DNA

ATP

ADP

Phospholipids

All answer choices

Correct answer:

All answer choices

Explanation:

Nitrogen is essential to create all the nucleic acids, and phosphorous is essential to create phospholipids (an obvious choice), ATP and ADP (they are the same class of molecule, and the P stands for phosphate), and DNA (for the phosphate-sugar backbone).

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Sugar Phosphate Backbone

Which of the following is not true of a DNA molecule?

Possible Answers:

A purine or pyrimidine is bound to each sugar-phosphate group

Adenine and thymine are held together by phosphodiester bonds

Complementary strands are held together by hydrogen bonds

Uracil is not a component of the molecule

Correct answer:

Adenine and thymine are held together by phosphodiester bonds

Explanation:

DNA is a polymer composed of nucleotide monomers. Each nucleotide is formed from a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base. There are two types of nitrogenous bases: purines and pyrimidines. The purines are adenine and guanine, while the pyrimidines are thymine and cytosine (and uracil). Adenine will always bind thymine and cytosine will always bind guanine. Uracil is only found in RNA, and is absent from DNA.

During DNA replication and synthesis, nucleotides align so that the nitrogenous bases are correctly paired. The bases bind to one other via hydrogen bonding to secure the nucleotide to the template strand. The protein DNA ligase then fuses the sugar-phosphate groups of adjacent nucleotides to create the DNA backbone. These bonds are known as phosphodiester bonds.

The only false statement concerns the identity of bonding between nitrogenous bases. Bases are held together by hydrogen bonds, and the DNA backbone is held together by phosphodiester bonds.

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