Familiarity with Concepts
1. Genetic information is transferred from DNA to RNA to Protein.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
2. Evolution is the core theme of biology.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
3. Science is a process of inquiry that includes repeatable observations and testable
hypotheses.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
4. Each level of biological organization has emergent properties.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
5. The continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
6. Information from outside the cell is transferred across the cell membrane via proteins
embedded in the membrane.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
7. Meiosis and Mitosis are mechanisms that allow transfer of heritable information from
one generation to the next.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
8. Cells are an organism’s basic unit of structure and function.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
9. Regulatory mechanisms ensure a dynamic balance in living systems.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
10. Harvest of energy from glucose by animals.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
11. Regulation of gene expression.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
12. Cells have an internal structure provided by the cytoskeleton.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
13. Science and technology are important functions of society.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
14. Water is the solvent of life.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
15. Harvest of energy from the sun by plants.
A. I have not heard of the concept
B. I have heard of the concept, but I do not understand it
C. I have some understanding of the concept, but I could not explain it to others
D. I am reasonably confident of my understanding of the concept, and I might be
able to explain it so others could understand it
E. I am very confident of my understanding of the concept, and I am certain I could
explain it so others could understand it
The next five questions are for demographic use only.
16. I am willing to be a participant in an in-depth interview survey, if needed. If you
answer YES now, you will have the opportunity to change your mind at a later date.
A. Yes
B. No
17. Complete this statement by choosing the statement that best represents your
present plans and thoughts. I ________________________________________.
A. plan to pursue teaching as a profession
B. have considered teaching as a profession
C. might consider teaching as a profession
D. will consider teaching as a last resort
E. will never consider teaching
18. Gender (optional)
A. Male
B. Female
19. Western Michigan University categorizes me as …
A. a Freshman.
B. a Sophomore.
C. a Junior.
D. a Senior.
E. some other category.
20. My age is …
A. 18 – 22
B. 23 – 25
C. 26 – 30
D. 31 – 40
E. 41 – 85
Comprehension of Concepts
1. The partial negative charge at one end of a water molecule is attracted to the partial
positive charge of another water molecule. What is this attraction called? 3.02
A) a hydrogen bond
B) a hydrophobic bond
C) a covalent bond
D) an ionic bond
E) a hydrophilic bond
2. Which property of the carbon atom gives it compatibility with a greater number of
different elements than any other type of atom? 4.06
A) Carbon has a valence of 4.
B) Carbon has six to eight neutrons.
C) Carbon forms ionic bonds.
D) Only A and C are correct.
E) A, B, and C are correct.
3. Which of the following is true of enzymes? 6.46
A) Enzyme function is reduced if the three-dimensional structure or conformation of
an enzyme is altered.
B) Enzyme function is influenced by physical and chemical environment factors such
as pH and temperature.
C) Enzymes increase the rate of chemical reaction by lowering activation energy
barriers.
D) Enzymes may require a non-protein cofactor or ion for catalysis to take place.
E) All of the above are true of enzymes.
4. According to the fluid mosaic model of cell membranes, which of the following is a
true statement about membrane phospholipids? 8.14
A) They occur in an uninterrupted bi-layer, with membrane proteins restricted to the
surface of the membrane.
B) They are free to depart from the membrane and dissolve in the surrounding
solution.
C) They have hydrophilic tails in the interior of the membrane.
D) They frequently flip-flop from one side of the membrane to the other.
E) They can move laterally along the plane of the membrane.
5. Which process in eukaryotic cells will normally proceed whether O2 is present or
absent? 9.06
A) the Krebs cycle
B) electron transport
C) glycolysis
D) fermentation
E) oxidative phosphorylation
6. The primary role of oxygen in respiration is to: 9.38
A) act as an acceptor for electrons and hydrogen, forming water.
B) yield energy in the form of ATP as it is passed down the respiratory chain.
C) combine with lactic acid to form pyruvic acid.
D) combine with carbon, forming CO2.
E) catalyze the glycolysis reaction.
7. What are the products of the light reactions that are subsequently used by the Calvin
cycle? 10.20
A) carbon dioxide and RuBP
B) electrons and photons
C) oxygen and carbon dioxide
D) ATP and NADPH
E) water and carbon
8. From the perspective of the cell receiving the message, the three stages of cell
signaling are: 11.09
A) signal reception, signal transduction, and cellular response.
B) signal reception, nucleus disintegration, and new cell generation.
C) the paracrine, local, and synaptic stages.
D) the alpha, beta, and gamma stages.
E) signal reception, cellular response, and cell division.
9. Transcription factors 11.35
A) transcribe ATP into cAMP.
B) are needed to regulate the synthesis of protein in the cytoplasm.
C) initiate the epinephrine response in animal cells.
D) control which genes are turned on to form mRNA.
E) regulate the synthesis of DNA in response to a signal.
10. All of the following statements are true except: 12.01
A) The mitotic spindles in prokaryotic cells are composed of microtubules.
B) Mitosis may occur without cytokinesis.
C) Mitosis and cytokinesis are required for asexual reproduction.
D) All cells come from a preexisting cell.
E) Mitosis produces new nuclei with exactly the same chromosomal endowment as
the parent nucleus.
11. All of the following statements apply to the Watson and Crick model of DNA except:
16.19
A) The two strands of the helix are held together by covalent bonds.
B) The two strands of the DNA form a double helix.
C) The purines are attracted to pyrimidines.
D) The distance between the strands of the helix is uniform.
E) The framework of the helix consists of sugar-phosphate units of the nucleotides.
12. All of the following are functions of DNA polymerase in DNA replication except 16.43
A) initiating a polynucleotide strand.
B) covalently adding nucleotides to the new strands.
C) proofreading each added nucleotide for correct base pairing.
D) replacing RNA primers with DNA.
E) both A) and D)
13. All of the following are directly involved in translation except 17.37
A) tRNA.
B) mRNA.
C) ribosomes.
D) amino acid-activating enzymes.
E) DNA.
14. Viruses have some of the properties of living organisms. Which of the following is a
characteristic of all organisms, but not of viruses? 18.05
A) ability to reproduce
B) plasma membrane
C) ability to control metabolism
D) genetic information stored as nucleic acid
E) structure includes proteins
15. Eukaryotes use all of the following as a means of controlling gene expression
except the 19.44
A) modification of the amino acid sequence of a protein after it has been translated.
B) modification of the RNA nucleotides to enhance transcription.
C) binding of regulatory proteins to DNA.
D) blockage of mRNA translation by certain proteins.
E) degradation of mRNA molecules.
Factual Knowledge
1. To separate blood into blood cells and plasma involves the process of:
A) Electrophoresis
B) Centrifugation
C) Spectrophotometry
D) Chromatography
2. Matter that is made up of only one kind of atom is:
A) A molecule
B) A mixture
C) A compound
D) An element
3. Which parts of an atom are located inside the nucleus?
A) Electrons and neutrons
B) Protons and neutrons
C) Protons and mesons
D) Neutrons and mesons
4. What cell organelle contains the cell’s stored food or waste?
A) Vacuole
B) Golgi body
C) Endoplasmic reticulum
D) Ribosome
5. The first stage of mitosis is called:
A) telephase
B) anaphase
C) prophase
D) metaphase
6. This carries amino acids to the ribosome in protein synthesis:
A) Messenger RNA
B) Ribosomal RNA
C) Transfer RNA
D) DNA
7. Sutton observed that genes and chromosomes behaved the same. This led him to
his theory, which stated
A) That meiosis causes chromosome separation
B) That linked genes are able to separate
C) That genes and chromosomes have the same function
D) That genes are found on chromosomes
8. Any change that affects the sequence of bases in a gene is called:
A) Deletion
B) Polyploidy
C) Mutation
D) Duplication
9. A virus that can remain dormant until a certain environmental condition causes the
rapid increase is said to be:
A) Lytic
B) Benign
C) Saphrophytic
D) Lysogenic
10. Bacteria commonly reproduce by a process called fission. Which of the following
best defines this process?
A) Viral factors carry DNA to new bacteria
B) DNA from one bacteria enters another
C) DNA doubles and the bacterial cell divides
D) DNA from dead cells is absorbed into bacteria