Name ______________________________________
APPLIED Biochemistry
T–A
A–T
PART 1: DNA –
All answers, descriptions, or statements must be written in complete sentences and in as much
detail as is needed so that anyone can read your worksheet and understand DNA
1. What do the letters “DNA” stand for?
2. In which organelle is most of the DNA found within a eukaryotic cell?
3. Which other two organelles contain DNA?
4. How is DNA arranged in a eukaryotic cell? HINT: DNA is arranged in two different ways
5. How is DNA arranged in a prokaryotic cell? HINT: DNA is arranged in two different ways
6. DNA is composed of subunits called nucleotides. What are the three parts to a DNA nucleotide?
7. Draw a nucleotide and label all three parts.
8. What sugar is found in DNA? Draw the basic structure of this sugar!
C–G
Name ______________________________________
9. Write the names and one letter abbreviations for the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA.
10. The nitrogenous bases match up as pairs. What two bases are found in each pair within DNA?
11. List two reasons the base pairs always match up in this way.
12. Complete the drawing of DNA on the previous page. Include 30 base pairs. The first three base pairs have been
provided for you. You can choose any bases for the other 27 base pairs as long as you follow base pairing rules.
13. What is the name of the process in which DNA makes a copy of itself?
14. Where does this process occur?
15. When does this process occur during the cell cycle?
16. How does your body obtain the new nucleotides needed to build more DNA?
17. Use another sheet of paper to create a drawing explaining how DNA copies itself. Use the drawing and written
clarification to provide a thorough explanation of this process. Be sure to label and explain a replication fork and
label the 5’ and 3’ ends of each strand. In addition, you should include enzymes that are needed for replication
to take place and distinguish between the leading and lagging strand during replication, making sure to include
Okazaki fragments.
18. What would happen if a mutation occurred within the DNA responsible for creating DNA polymerase or DNA
helicase?
Name ______________________________________
APPLIED Biochemistry
Part 2: RNA All answers, descriptions, or statements must be written in complete sentences and in as much
detail as is needed so that anyone can read your worksheet and understand DNA
1. What do the letters “RNA” stand for?
2. RNA is composed of subunits called nucleotides. What are the three parts to an RNA nucleotide?
3. What sugar is found in RNA?
4. List the names and abbreviations of each of the three types of RNA.
5. Describe in detail where each type of RNA is created in a eukaryotic cell.
6. Describe the function of each of the three types of RNA.
7. Write the names and one letter abbreviations for the four nitrogenous bases found in RNA.
8. The nitrogenous bases match up as pairs. What two bases are found in each RNA pair?
9. What is a codon?
10. What is an anticodon?
T–
A–
C–
Name ______________________________________
11. Complete the drawing of RNA on the previous page. Use the left side of your DNA from the DNA worksheet
question #12 to create a 30 base pair segment of RNA.
12. What is the name of the process in which RNA is made from DNA?
13. Where does this process occur?
14. When does this process occur during the cell cycle?
15. Why is it important for a single gene to be able to produce hundreds or thousands of the same RNA molecule?
16. Use another sheet of paper to create a drawing to explain how RNA is created from DNA. Use the drawing and
written clarification to provide a thorough explanation of this process.
17. What are introns?
18. What are exons?
19. Explain how introns and exons relate to the genes found in your DNA. Include the word Pre-mRNA in your
answer.
20. What is RNA polymerase?
21. What type of macromolecule is this?
Name ______________________________________
VIRAL Connections:
1. What do the letters HIV stand for?
2. How does HIV affect the human body?
3. What nucleic acid is found in HIV?
4. What is reverse transcriptase? HINT: This is not in your book or notes. Look closely at the word and try to
decipher the prefix and suffix and then do your best to create a definition for the word.
5. How do you think HIV uses reverse transcriptase to infect human DNA?
6. Why is HIV considered a retrovirus?
7. Why is it impossible to remove a virus from your DNA?
DNA vs. RNA
1. Compare and contrast DNA and RNA. List as many similarities and differences as you can between these two
substances.
Name ______________________________________
APPLIED Biochemistry
–A
Part 3: proteins -
–U
All answers, descriptions, or statements must be written in complete sentences and in as much
detail as is needed so that anyone can read your worksheet and understand Proteins.
–G
1. Where are ribosomes made?
2. What are ribosomes mainly composed of?
3. What is a protein?
4. Where are proteins made?
5. What subunits make up a protein?
6. List two ways in which your body can obtain these subunits.
7. What information from the nucleus is needed to place these subunits in the proper order?
8. What happens if the sequence of subunits is rearranged?
9. List two names for the process in which proteins are made?
10. When does this process occur during the cell cycle?
11. What major macromolecule is used to run and regulate this process?
12. Explain the irony of this situation?
Name ______________________________________
13. Complete the drawing of a protein on the previous page. Use the RNA you created in RNA worksheet question
#11 to create a protein.
14. How many amino acids were found in your protein?
15. What is the significance of a START codon? How many START codons are there? Does this START codon code
for a specific amino acid? Which one?
16. What is the significance of a STOP codon? How many STOP codons are there? Do STOP codons code for specific
amino acids?
17. What would happen if a mutation occurred in the DNA responsible for creating the start codon of DNA
polymerase?
18. Use another sheet of paper to create a drawing to explain how proteins are created from RNA. Use the drawing
and written clarification to provide a thorough explanation of this process.
Name ______________________________________
APPLIED Biochemistry
Part 4: Macromolecules All answers, descriptions, or statements must be written in complete sentences and in as much detail as is
needed so that anyone can read your worksheet and understand Carbohydrates, Lipids, and Proteins.
1. List three foods that contain protein.
2. What is the name of the process in which your body breaks proteins into individual amino acids?
3. Where does this process occur?
4. Draw the structure of a short protein and illustrate this process?
5. What type of chemical found in your digestive system is responsible for speeding up this process?
6. List two reasons why it is necessary for your body to break the proteins into individual amino acids.
Name ______________________________________
7. List three foods that contain carbohydrates.
8. What is the name of the process in which your body breaks polysaccharides into individual monosaccharides?
9. Draw the structure of a short polysaccharide and illustrate this process?
10. List one reason why it is necessary for your body to break the polysaccharides into individual monosaccharides?
11. List three foods that contain lipids.
12. What are the four parts of a triglyceride?
13. Draw a triglyceride.
Name ______________________________________
14. Draw a phospholipid. Be sure to label the following areas or regions: head, tails, polar, non-polar, hydrophilic,
hydrophobic, glycerol and phosphate, fatty acids.
15. Explain the importance of consuming lipids in order for cells to undergo mitosis and meiosis.
16. Explain the connection between eating a surplus of carbohydrates and gaining body fat.
17. Why is it relatively easy for your body to convert carbohydrates into fats?
Name ______________________________________
APPLIED Biochemistry
Part 5: genetics All answers, descriptions, or statements must be written in complete sentences and in as much detail as is
needed so that anyone can read your worksheet and understand Genetics.
1. Draw a pair of homologous chromosomes and indicate two alleles (one on each chromosome) for the
same gene.
2. Draw a homologous pair of chromosomes and illustrate and explain crossing over?
3. During what stage does crossing-over most likely occur during the cell cycle? Why?
Name ______________________________________
APPLIED Biochemistry
Part 6: macromolecules and Organelles
Now that you know the names of the organelles, color code the structures according to what macromolecules are found
in each one using the information below. Using 5 different colors of highlighters or color pencils, CAREFULLY read below
to figure out where the various macromolecules belong. Then color the pictures of the cells appropriately!
a. Use “Lime Green” for Lipids.
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Lipids make up the majority of the cell membrane as well as membranes that surround organelles such
as the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, vacuoles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and
chloroplasts. NOTE: You should only color the membranes, not the internal parts.
b. Use “Pink” for Proteins.
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Proteins make up the cytoskeleton and centrioles in animal cells and are found as enzymes on the inside
of the lysosomes.
They are also found sporadically in the cell membrane, so place pink dots here and there in the cell
membrane to indicate these proteins.
Proteins are found inside the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum as well.
The ribosomes are made partly of proteins (and partly of nucleic acids) so use pink and orange dots for
the ribosomes.
Inside the nucleus, DNA wraps around proteins in the process of forming chromosomes. So place a few
pink dots in the nucleus as well.
c. Use “Naval Orange” for Nucleic acids.
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Nucleic acids are mainly found in the nucleus as DNA
They can also be found in the cytosol near any ribosome. In fact, nucleic acids also help make up each
ribosome. Use pink and orange dots for the ribosomes.
Nucleic acids can also be found in the Chloroplasts and Mitochondria
d. Use “Canary Yellow” for Carbohydrates.
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Carbohydrates are mainly found inside the mitochondria and the chloroplast as glucose is being broken
down or made into energy. Fill these 2 organelles in with yellow.
Some carbohydrates are also found as markers on the outside of the cell membrane to help cells identify
themselves. Put yellow dots here and there along the outside of the cell membrane in order to indicate
these carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates also make up tough cell walls of plant cells. Shade the cell walls entirely yellow.
e. Use an “AQUA blue” colored pencil for H20.

Water makes up a large part of the cell. Lightly shade in the background of the entire cell with blue for
water.
Name ______________________________________