GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : Molecular Biology and Genetics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Help With Rna Structure And Modification

Which of the following is not a type of RNA?

Possible Answers:

mRNA

rRNA

cRNA

tRNA

Correct answer:

cRNA

Explanation:

mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA are the most commonly recognized types of RNA, though there are several more divisions. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the product of gene transcription and is used to carry genetic information to ribosomes for translation. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is used to transport amino acid residues to active ribosomes during translation and contains anticodon sequences to bind to mRNA. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) forms part of the ribosomes structure.

Though cRNA is not a class of RNA molecule, complementary DNA (cDNA) is used to store and analyze genomes. cDNA is the non-coding complement to the template strand used for transcription, and can be used to analyze genetic sequences.

Example Question #11 : Transcription And Rna

All of the follwing are types of alternative RNA splicing except __________.

Possible Answers:

dual splice site

skipped exon

alternative 3' splicing

exon reversal

Correct answer:

exon reversal

Explanation:

Skipped exon, dual splice site, and alternative 3' splicing are all types of alternative RNA splicing. Exon reversal is a nonsense term, and does not represent an actual biochemical process.

Example Question #21 : Rna, Transcription, And Translation

Which of the following is not a category of RNA?

Possible Answers:

Short interfering RNAs

Major RNAs

MicroRNAs

Piwi-interacting RNAs

Long non-coding RNA

Correct answer:

Major RNAs

Explanation:

Major RNAs are not a category of RNAs. Long non-coding RNAs are non-protein coding transcripts typically longer than 200 base pairs (bp) and play a role in regulating gene expression and epigenetic regulation. MicroRNAs are small RNAs (~20 bp) and play a role in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Short interfering RNAs are double-stranded (20-25 bp) and play a role in post-transcriptional gene silencing. Piwi-interacting RNAs are small non-coding RNAs that interact with piwi proteins in epigenetic and post-transcriptional silencing of genetic elements such as retroposons. 

Example Question #22 : Rna, Transcription, And Translation

What approximate percentage of total RNA content in a cell is messenger RNA (mRNA)?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Only 2-5% of the total RNA content in a cell is mRNA. Approximately 10% is transfer RNA (tRNA), and approximately 85% is ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Example Question #23 : Rna, Transcription, And Translation

Why is the post-transcriptional poly-A tail an important addition to a mRNA molecule?

Possible Answers:

The poly-A tail is a part of the protein translated from the mRNA.

The tail adds stability to the transcript, controlling the time of degradation.

The poly-A tail facilitates the binding of ribosomes.

The poly-A tail facilitates the splicing of introns.

The 3' tail signals the end of transcription by the RNA polymerase.

Correct answer:

The tail adds stability to the transcript, controlling the time of degradation.

Explanation:

The poly-A tail adds to the stability of the mRNA transcript. The tail becomes shorter and shorter over time due to exonucleases, eventually signaling an enzyme to break down the mRNA to stop further translation. The 5' methylated guanosine cap facilitates binding of ribosomes, and specific splicing sequences signal removal of introns, not the poly-A tail. The tail cannot signal the end of transcription by the RNA polymerase because the poly-A tail is a post-transcriptional change, meaning it is not present during transcription. Lastly, the poly-A tail lies at the end of the 3' UTR (untranslated region), and is not included in the protein product of the mRNA.

Example Question #24 : Rna, Transcription, And Translation

Researchers first identified parts of genes that are spliced out of mRNA and not included in the final protein product by observing that not all of the original gene hybridizes to the cognate mRNA. What are these regions called?

Possible Answers:

Internal transcribed spacers

Introns

Exons

Inter genic regions

Micro RNAs

Correct answer:

Introns

Explanation:

Introns are regions included in genes that are not actually part of the final protein generated. Scientists first observed that some areas of genes are removed before mRNA translation by visualizing that not all of a gene hybridizes with its cognate mRNA, and hence there are pieces that are spliced out and not used. Note that splicing of introns, like all other post-transational modifications, only occurs in eukaryotes. The function of intron regions is thought to be mostly regulatory.

Example Question #25 : Transcription And Rna

How is splicing regulated at the level of cis-acting RNA sequence elements? 

Possible Answers:

Insulators bind splicing silencers and decrease nearby splice junction activity. Splicing activators bind splicing enhancers and increase likelihood of proximal sites as splice junction. 

Splicing repressors bind splicing silencers and decrease nearby splice junction activity. Splicing activators bind splicing enhancers and increase likelihood of proximal sites as splice junction. 

Heterochromatin prevents alternative splicing whereas euchromatin promotes alternative splicing

Splicing repressors bind splicing silencers and increase nearby splice junction activity. Splicing activators bind splicing enhancers and decrease likelihood of proximal sites as splice junction. 

Splicing repressors bind splicing silencers and decrease nearby splice junction activity. Splicing activators bind splicing promoters and increase likelihood of proximal sites as splice junction. 

Correct answer:

Splicing repressors bind splicing silencers and decrease nearby splice junction activity. Splicing activators bind splicing enhancers and increase likelihood of proximal sites as splice junction. 

Explanation:

The correct answer is repressors bind splicing silencers and increase nearby splice junction activity. Activators bind splicing enhancers and decrease likelihood of proximal sites as splice junction. These enhancer sites can be in the intron or exon of the nascent RNA molecule and are most commonly bound by serine and arginine (SR) proteins. Moreover, the relative abundance of these bound RNA regulatory elements in proximity to a splice junction confers differential splicing activity. 

Example Question #11 : Help With Rna Structure And Modification

Which of the following is a recognized mode of alternative splicing?

Possible Answers:

All of these

Alternative donor site

Mutually exclusive exons 

Alternative acceptor site

Exon skipping 

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

The correct answer is all of the other answers. Exon skipping is the most common mode in mammals and occurs when an exon is spliced out of the primary transcript. Mutually exclusive exon splicing occurs when one of two exons is retained, but not both. Alternative donor site occurs when an alternative 5' splice junction is used which will change the 3' end of the upstream exon. Alternative acceptor site occurs when there is an alternative 3' split junction and the 5' end of the downstream exon is changed. 

Example Question #1 : Translation And Proteins

To which of the following structures in a typical molecule of tRNA is an amino acid attached?

Possible Answers:

Anticodon loop

CCA tail

Variable loop

D loop

Correct answer:

CCA tail

Explanation:

Amino acids are attached to the CCA tail of a tRNA. These are found at the 3' end of tRNA molecules and are important for recognition by aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (enzymes that actually attach the amino acids to the tRNA). The anticodon loop, as the name suggests, contains the anticodon, which will be important during translation for recognizing mRNA sequences. The D-loop and the variable loop are other portions of the tRNA that are important for maintaining structure and recognition.

Example Question #2 : Translation And Proteins

Chloramphenicol prevents protein translation by which of the following mechanisms?

Possible Answers:

It blocks the binding of aminoacyl tRNA to the A site of the ribosome

It blocks initiation of RNA chains by binding to RNA polymerase

It blocks the peptidyl transferase reaction on ribosomes

It blocks the translocation reaction on ribosomes

Correct answer:

It blocks the peptidyl transferase reaction on ribosomes

Explanation:

Tetracycline blocks the binding of aminoacyl tRNA to the A site of the ribosome.

Cyclohexamide blocks the translocation reaction on ribosomes.

Rifamycin blocks the initiation of RNA chains by binding to RNA polymerase.

Chloramphenicol blocks the pepidyl transferase reaction on the ribosome.

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