Biochemistry : Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

What is the difference between the nucleoside of DNA and RNA?

Possible Answers:

DNA nucleoside has a pentose sugar whereas RNA nucleoside has a hexose sugar

DNA nucleoside might have uracil whereas RNA nucleoside cannot

DNA nucleoside doesn’t have a phosphate group whereas RNA nucleoside does

None of these are true

Correct answer:

None of these are true

Explanation:

The difference between nucleotides and nucleosides is that nucleotides contain a phosphate group whereas nucleosides do not. This means that a nucleoside is made up of just a pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base. The DNA and RNA differ from each other based on their pentose sugars (DNA has deoxyribose and RNA has ribose). Another difference between RNA and DNA is that uracil nitrogenous base is only found in RNA whereas thymine nitrogenous base is only found in DNA.

Example Question #12 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

Transfer RNAs are synthesized by __________.

Possible Answers:

Primase

RNA polymerase III

DNA polymerase I

RNA polymerase II

RNA polymerase I

Correct answer:

RNA polymerase III

Explanation:

tRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase III, mRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase II, and rRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase I. DNA polymerase I is involved in DNA synthesis, and specifically, has a 5' to 3' exonuclease functionality, which removes RNA primers laid down by primase and replaces them with DNA nucleotides. 

Example Question #13 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

What type of bond connects two orthophosphates together?

Possible Answers:

A triple bond

Anhydride bond

Glycosidic linkage

Amide bond

A double bond

Correct answer:

Anhydride bond

Explanation:

Two orthophosphates are connected via anhydride linkage to form the high energy pyrophosphate.  This is the "" bond. Glycosidic linkage describes a bond between two or more sugar molecules, not between orthophosphates. This anhydride linkage is made up of single bonds, and not double or triple bonds. An amide bond is the specific chemical name for a peptide bond.

Example Question #14 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

How would the  of a strand of DNA with a greater percentage of GC base pairs than of AT base pairs compare to a similar strand of DNA with a greater percentage of AT base pairs than of GC base pairs.

Possible Answers:

It depends on the presence of DNA polymerase

Not enough information to accurately compare the  of the two DNA strands.

A higher 

A lower 

The same 

Correct answer:

A higher 

Explanation:

The  (melting temperature) of DNA is defined as the temperature at which half of the DNA strands would become denatured. It is known that GC base pairs are kept together via hydrogen bonding at three different locations, compared to hydrogen bonding at just two locations in AT base pairs. Because of this additional interaction, a DNA strand with a higher component of GC base pairs will have a higher  than one with a higher component of AT base pairs.

Example Question #14 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

What is the correct order of DNA organization from smallest to largest component in a eukaryote?

Possible Answers:

Chromatin, nucleosomes, histones, supercoils, coils

Coils, supercoils, histones, nucleosomes, chromatin

Coils, supercoils, chromatin, histones, nucleosomes

Coils, supercoils, nucleosomes, histones, chromatin

Histones, nucleosomes, coils, supercoils, chromatin

Correct answer:

Coils, supercoils, histones, nucleosomes, chromatin

Explanation:

Eukaryotes have so much DNA that it needs to be compacted to make it less bulky and more protected. The lowest level of organization is known as a coil. Predictably, multiple coils together form a super-coil. Next, the DNA is wrapped around proteins known as histones. 8 histones together form a nucleosome. Finally, fully packed and organized DNA is known as chromatin.

Example Question #15 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

What term best describes dark, dense regions of DNA that contain repeating segments?

Possible Answers:

Heterochromatin

Kinetochores

Euchromatin

Centromeres

Chromatids

Correct answer:

Heterochromatin

Explanation:

Heterochromatin is dark, dense, tightly packed, and rich in repeating segments. It is often in cells that are inactive or less active. As such, heterochromatin is sometimes referred to as "non-coding DNA". Euchromatin, on the other hand, is less tightly packed, and more readily coded. Centromeres are the part of the chromosome that attach to kinetochores during cellular division. Finally, The ends of chromosomes are known as telomeres. Of note, centromeres and telomeres are actually both composed of heterochromatin.

Example Question #16 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

Which of the following is not a pyrimidine?

Possible Answers:

Thymine

Guanine

All of these are pyrimidines

Cytosine

Uracil

Correct answer:

Guanine

Explanation:

Guanine is a purine, not a pyrimidine. The purines are guanine and adenine, while the pyrimidines are cytosine, thymine, and uracil. Uracil is present only in RNA, and thymine only in DNA. The rest of the bases are present in both DNA and RNA.

Example Question #17 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

Despite vastly similar structures, DNA and RNA have very different stabilities. Which of the following choices accurately describes the difference in stability between DNA and RNA?

Possible Answers:

DNA is more stable than RNA because DNA must maintain genetic information for a longer period of time

RNA is more stable than DNA because RNA must maintain genetic information for a longer period of time

DNA is more stable than RNA because DNA contains the base thymine, while RNA contains the base uracil

DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids, and thus have the same stability

RNA is more stable than DNA because RNA contains the base uracil, while DNA contains the base thymine

Correct answer:

DNA is more stable than RNA because DNA must maintain genetic information for a longer period of time

Explanation:

It is true that DNA is more stable than RNA. While the exact chemical reasons for this are complex, it is useful to know RNA is readily hydrolyzed in basic conditions. In order to make sense of this, remember that DNA acts as the genetic code, and must hold that genetic information for relatively long periods of time. While there are several types of RNA, it typically acts as a messenger, and is degraded after completing its task. While DNA does contain the base thymine and RNA does contain uracil, this is unrelated to the relative stabilities of the two nucleic acids. 

Example Question #18 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

Which answer choice correctly identifies the location of bases and sugar-phosphate chains in a DNA double helix?

Possible Answers:

The sugar-phosphate chains are at the core of the DNA, while the bases are on the outside.

Both the bases and the sugar-phosphate chains are located at the core of the DNA.

Both the bases and the sugar-phosphate chains are located on the outside of the DNA.

None of these

The bases are at the core of the DNA, while the sugar-phosphate chains are on the outside.

Correct answer:

The bases are at the core of the DNA, while the sugar-phosphate chains are on the outside.

Explanation:

While it could be useful to know that the bases are at the core of the DNA while the sugar-phosphate chains are on the outside, it is possible to answer the question without having memorized that fact. The bases (thymine, cytosine, guanine, adenine) are non-polar, and will cluster in the middle of the chain, away from water. They also connect to each other via hydrogen bonding. On the other hand, the sugar-phosphate groups are hydrophilic, and will cluster towards the outside of the molecule.

Example Question #19 : Nucleic Acids: Dna And Rna

If a sample of DNA contains 15% guanine, what percentage of the DNA base pairs are pyrimidines?

Possible Answers:

30%

50%

70%

60%

Correct answer:

50%

Explanation:

All DNA contains 50% purines and 50% pyrimidines due to Watson-Crick base pairing.

However, doing the calculations based on the information given can also give the correct answer. Adenine (A) and guanine (G) are purines. Cytosine (C) and thymine (T) are pyrimidines. Chargaff's rules state that in DNA, G = C and A = T. If the sample is 15% G, then it must also be 15% C. This leaves 70% for A and T, or 35% each. 15% C +  35% T = 50% pyrimidines. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors