SAT II Biology M : SAT Subject Test in Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Biology M

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Molecular Biology

Given the partial sequence of a single DNA strand shown below, what will be the sequence of the complementary strand that is produced during DNA replication? 

3' - ATCGAAGTGC - 5'

Possible Answers:

3' - UAGCUUCACG - 5'

5' - UAGCUUCACG - 3'

3' - TAGCTTCACG - 5'

5' - TAGCTTCACG - 3'

5' - ATCGAAGTGC - 3'

Correct answer:

5' - TAGCTTCACG - 3'

Explanation:

The question specifies that this is DNA replication. U (uracil) is found only in RNA and T (thymine) is found only in DNA.  In DNA, A (adenine) pairs with T (thymine) and G (guanine) pairs with C (cytosine) so the complementary strand will have "A" where the original has "T," "G" where the original has "C," "C" where the original has "G" and "T" where the original has "A."  

DNA strands run antiparallel, so the 3' end on the new strand will go opposite the 5' end on the original and vice versa. In this case, that means the complementary strand will run from 5' to 3' to read 5' - TAGCTTCACG - 3'. This sequence is shown in bold below:

 

5' - TAGCTTCACG - 3'

3' - ATCGAAGTGC - 5'

Example Question #13 : Molecular Biology

What is the dividing structure that separates transcription from translation in a eukaryotic cell?

Possible Answers:

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum membrane

Rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane

Cell membrane

Nuclear envelope

Mitochondrial matrix

Correct answer:

Nuclear envelope

Explanation:

The nuclear envelope separates transcription from translation in a eukaryotic cell. Translation cannot occur until transcription is finished, which is the opposite of what occurs in a prokaryotic cell. In eukaryotic cells, transcription occurs in the nucleus where mRNA will be produced. Once mRNA is produced, it will exit the nucleus through pores and then proceed to be translated into protein in the cytoplasm.

Example Question #1 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

The trp operon is a repressible operon. Which of the following best describes this type of operon?

Possible Answers:

The operon is usually on and has an inactive repressor

The operon is usually off and has an active repressor

The operon is usually off and has an inactive repressor

The operon is usually on and has an active repressor

None are correct

Correct answer:

The operon is usually on and has an inactive repressor

Explanation:

With a repressible system, the operon is on, meaning the repressor is inactive. Repressible operons are the opposite of inducible operons, which are always off until their repressor is inactivated.

Example Question #2 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

The lac operon is an inducible operon. Which of the following best describes this type of operon?

Possible Answers:

The operon is usually on and has an inactive repressor

The operon is usually on and has an active repressor

The operon is usually off and has an active repressor

The operon is usually off and has an inactive repressor

None of these

Correct answer:

The operon is usually off and has an active repressor

Explanation:

With an inducible system, the operon is off, meaning its repressor is active, or actively repressing the system from turning on. Inducible operons are opposite to a repressible operon, which is always on until it is repressed.

Example Question #1 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

At what point does transcription occur in relation to gene expression?

Possible Answers:

Transcription is unrelated to gene expression

Transcription is a process that only occurs in eukaryotes

It is the step following translation

It is the last step in this process

It is the first step

Correct answer:

It is the first step

Explanation:

Transcription is the first process of gene expression and happens before translation.

Example Question #1 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

What happens when one of the three codons of UAG, UAA, or UGA reach the A site on a ribosome that is helping facilitate translation?

Possible Answers:

Processing

Initiation 

Elongation

Termination

Propagation 

Correct answer:

Termination

Explanation:

UAG, UAA, and UGA are stop codons so when they enter the A site of a ribosome they will initiate the termination of translation.

Example Question #1 : Translation

In eukaryotes, translation of mRNA into a polypeptide is performed by what type of ribosome if the polypeptide is to be secreted from the cell?

Possible Answers:

A ribosome bound to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Cytosolic ribosome

A ribosome bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum

A ribosome bound to the plasma membrane

A ribosome in the fluid of the nucleus

Correct answer:

A ribosome bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum

Explanation:

The correct answer is a ribosome bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is covered with bound ribosomes, giving it its “rough” appearance. Proteins that are to be secreted from the cell are translated by ribosomes in the rough ER before moving through the Golgi apparatus and eventually ending up in a vesicle to be secreted from the cell. There are no ribosomes found in the nucleus, bound to smooth ER, or bound to the plasma membrane.

Example Question #1 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Which of the following mutations is a single nucleotide base pair change that results in a codon for a different amino acid?

Possible Answers:

Insertion

Missense mutation

Nonsense mutation

Deletion

Silent mutation

Correct answer:

Missense mutation

Explanation:

A missense mutation is a type of point mutation (single base pair change) that alters the codon to the creation of a different protein.   

A silent mutation is also a point mutation with a change in one base pair, but with the resulting strand still coding for the same protein (hence the term "silent"). 

A nonsense mutation changes a codon from coding for an amino acid to coding for termination of the protein. The protein may or may not still be functional depending on how much of it is terminated when the mutation occurs.

An insertion is a mutation in which one or more base pairs is added to the coding sequence. Unless the insertion is in a multiple of three (preserving the frame because a codon is made up of three base pairs), it results in a "frame shift" that alters the reading frame of the codons to the right, causing it to code for a different set of proteins.

A deletion is another type of frame shift mutation, in which a base pair (or more) is deleted from the coding sequence, altering the reading frame to code for different proteins in many cases. As with insertions, if the deletion is in a multiple of 3, the frame is preserved as each codon consists of 3 base pairs.

Example Question #1 : Dna, Rna, And Proteins

Disulfide bonds can add stability to the structure of a protein. The formation of disulfide bonds occurs in the formation of what level of protein structure?

Possible Answers:

Quaternary

During translation

Secondary

Tertiary

Primary

Correct answer:

Tertiary

Explanation:

The correct answer is "tertiary." Translation is a process performed by ribosomes to link amino acids together in a chain, and the order of the amino acids is based on a code from mRNA. The order of the amino acids in the chain is the primary structure. The secondary structure is the folding in that chain, mainly based on hydrogen bonds between parts of the chain and the surrounding water molecules. The tertiary structure is the actual three-dimensional structure of the protein. Disulfide bonds are covalent bonds between cysteine residues and are stronger than hydrogen bonds and give a stable, three-dimensional structure to what was originally just a chain of amino acids.

Example Question #1 : Protein Structure

Which of the following most accurately describes the primary structure of a protein?

Possible Answers:

The non-covalent interactions between multiple protein subunits which come together to form a larger protein

The hydrogen bonds between amino acids in the protein

The final three-dimensional structure of the protein

The linear amino acid sequence of the protein

The alpha helicies of the protein

Correct answer:

The linear amino acid sequence of the protein

Explanation:

The primary structure of a protein is simply the linear amino acid sequence from which the protein is made. "Secondary structure" refers to the folding and coiling of this single strand as it interacts with itself, forming hydrogen bonds between amino acids of that strand. Alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets are two different types of secondary structures that can be formed by hydrogen-bonding between amino acids of a protein sequence that has folded over onto itself. "Tertiary structure" refers to the final three-dimensional structure of a single protein subunit. "Quaternary structure" refers to the non-covalent interactions between multiple protein subunits which come together to form a larger protein.

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