High School Biology : High School Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Rna Structure

Which DNA base is replaced by uracil in RNA? 

Possible Answers:

Thymine 

Adenine 

Guanine 

Cytosine 

Correct answer:

Thymine 

Explanation:

DNA is made up of Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine. RNA has these same bases, except in RNA, there is no Thymine. Instead, Uracil is found.  

Example Question #12 : Rna Structure

DNA contains the following nitrogenous bases: adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. RNA contains which of the following sets of nitrogenous bases?

Possible Answers:

Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil

Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil

Adenine, guanine, cystine, and thymine 

Adenosine, guanine, cystine, and uracil

Correct answer:

Adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil

Explanation:

Thymine is exclusively present in DNA. Uracil replaces thymine in RNA; thus, RNA contains the following four nitrogenous bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.

Example Question #12 : Rna Structure

Which of the following is not a component of RNA?

Possible Answers:

Ribose

Thymine

Cytosine

Adenine

Correct answer:

Thymine

Explanation:

RNA’s nucleotide components consist of a phosphate group, ribose, and nitrogenous bases. RNA’s nitrogenous bases include the purines adenine and guanine, and the pyrimidines cytosine and uracil. Thymine is a pyrimidine found exclusively in DNA. 

Example Question #111 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which of the following statements about the genetic code is true?

Possible Answers:

The genetic code has different rules between different species

An amino acid can only have one codon that codes for it

A codon will only code for one amino acid

The codon found on mRNA is an exact match for the anticodon found on the tRNA

Correct answer:

A codon will only code for one amino acid

Explanation:

The genetic code is considered both degenerative and unambiguous. A codon will only code for one amino acid, making the code unambiguous. In contrast, multiple codons can code for the same amino acid, making it degenerative. For example, UGU will always code for cysteine, but UGC also codes for cysteine.

Nearly every living organism uses the same genetic code. tRNA anticodons are complementary to mRNA codons; they are not the same code.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Translation Processes

During protein elongation, what site in the ribosome do tRNA molecules enter?

Possible Answers:

The A site

The E site

The R site

The P site

Correct answer:

The A site

Explanation:

As amino acids are added to a polypeptide during translation, tRNA molecules will enter the A site of the ribosome. The tRNA is then transferred to the P site, where a peptide bond is formed between the amino acid residue and the amino acid chain. Finally, the tRNA moves to the E site to release its tRNA and exit the ribosome.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Translation Processes

How many sites are there on the ribosome to house tRNA?

Possible Answers:

Four

Five

Two

Three

One

Correct answer:

Three

Explanation:

The ribosome contains three sites: the A, P, and E sites.

The A site is where activation occurs, starting translation. This is where a tRNA molecule enters the ribosome and matches its anticodon to the mRNA codon.

The tRNA then shifts over to the P site to attach the amino acid. The ribosome facilitates the formation of a peptide bond, adding the amino acid to the chain.

At the E site, the empty tRNA exits the ribosome and dissociates from mRNA.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Translation Processes

Which of the following accurately illustrates the central dogma of biochemistry?

Possible Answers:

RNA is translated into DNA, which is transcribed into protein

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein 

Protein is translated into RNA, which is transcribed into DNA

Protein is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into DNA

DNA is translated into RNA, which is transcribed into protein

Correct answer:

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein 

Explanation:

DNA contains genetic information that is transcribed into mRNA. This process is known as transcription, and occurs in the nucleus. After modification in the nucleus, mRNA exits the nucleus and enters the cell cytoplasm. In a process called translation, mRNA (in conjuction with tRNA and a ribosome) is used as a template to join amino acids to form specific polypeptides.

In summary, DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein.

Example Question #2 : Translation

What ribosomal site does the first amino acid occupy during the initiation of translation?

Possible Answers:

P site

B site

E site

A site

Correct answer:

P site

Explanation:

During initiation, the first tRNA molecule will bring the first amino acid to the ribosome. Although the following amino acids will enter at the A site, the first amino acid is positioned in the middle P site. The large ribosomal subunit will then attach, and translation can begin.

During the subsequent elongation phase of translation, tRNA/amino acid complexes will enter the ribosome at the A site, transfer to the P site, and then exit through the E site. Only the first complex will begin in the P site, during initiation.

Example Question #1 : Translation

If a mature mRNA strand consists of 90 nucleotides, how many amino acids does the newly-translated the protein contain?

Possible Answers:

None of these answers

Correct answer:

Explanation:

While one might quickly calculate that 90 nucleotides/3 would yield a 30 amino acid sequence, it is important to remember that while the first 3 nucleotides will encode for an amino acid to start translation (methionine), the last 3 nucleotides do not. They simply stop translation and signal for the growing polypeptide chain to be released from the ribosome-tRNA translation complex without actually adding another amino acid to the end of the chain.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Translation Processes

The start codon is the first codon of a messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript translated by a ribosome.  

Which of the following represents the start codon.  

Possible Answers:

5' UAA 3'

5' AUG 3' 

5' UGA 3'

5' UAG 3'

5' CAU 3'

Correct answer:

5' AUG 3' 

Explanation:

The start codon is the first codon of a messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript translated by a ribosome. The start codon always codes for methionine in eukaryotes, and a modified methionine (f-Met) in prokaryotes. The most common start codon is 5' AUG 3'. The start codon is preceded by a untranslated region which includes the ribosome binding site in prokaryotes. 

5' UAA 3', 5' UGA 3', 5' UAG 3' are all stop codons.  

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