Name______________________
TEST: DNA, RNA, Protein Synthesis, Mitosis &
Meiosis
DNA & Mutations
Part I: Multiple Choice
The next 10 items are based on the following key. Put the best letter on the line.
a/ The statement refers to DNA
b/ The statement refers to mRNA
c/ The statement refers to both DNA and mRNA
d/ The statement refers to neither DNA nor mRNA
_____1. The information or blueprint for a living things.
_____2. The molecule that moves from the nucleus to the ribosome in the cytoplasm.
_____3. Involved directly in translation.
_____4. A molecule shaped as a twisted ladder called a double helix
_____5. Is able to replicate to make copy of itself.
_____6. Is found on chromosomes in the nucleus.
_____7. Involved in transcription.
_____8. Contains the nitrogenous bases adenine, guanine, uracil and cytosine.
_____9. Contains nucleotides made of phosphate, a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
_____10. The molecule consists of only a single strand.
Part II: Answer the following using complete sentences
Where in the cell are proteins synthesized?
Describe fully the process of transcription.
What is transfer RNA (tRNA)?
List the DNA codons for the following amino acids: Leucine (leu), serine (ser) cysteine (cys).
Part III:
1/ Below is a DNA molecule. Transcribe the bottom strand of the DNA strand onto mRNA,
then use your code to list the sequence of amino acids.
DNA
________________________________________________________________
A T G C C T A G G C T A G C G G A T T A C A A A T A G
T A C G G A T C C G A T C G C C T A A T G T T T A T C
mRNA
________________________________________________________________
Amino acid sequence
2/ Here is a normal hemoglobin amino acid chain.
leu
thr
pro
glu
glu
lys
ser
Now here is an altered hemoglobin amino acid chain caused by a mutation.
leu
thr
pro
val
glu
lys
ser
A/ What alteration (mutation) occurred on the DNA strand?
B/ Is this mutation a point mutation or a frameshift (insertion or deletion) mutation?
C/ The normal amino acid sequence represents a segment of the hemoglobin protein. Tell what
effects would result from the mutation that alters the amino acid sequence.
D/ Hemoglobin consists of an ‘alpha’ chain (141 amino acids) and a ‘beta’ chain (146 amino
acids). How many letters long (nucleotides) is the entire DNA code for the hemoglobin protein?
Mitosis & Meiosis
Part I: The next 12 statements are to be classified using the following key. Put the best letter
on the line.
a. mitosis
b. meiosis
c. both mitosis and meiosis
d. neither mitosis not meiosis
1. _____
The resulting cells could be sperm cells.
2. _____
This type of division prevents an increase in number of chromosomes
from generation to generation in sexually reproducing organisms.
3. _____
Each daughter cell contains the same kind and the same number of
chromosomes as the parent cell.
4. _____
Cells with the diploid number of chromosomes form.
5. _____
Cells with the haploid number of chromosomes form.
6. _____
The nuclear membrane disappears.
7. _____
The cell membrane splits into two cells.
8. _____
Occurs in body (somatic) cells.
9. _____
The chromosomes line up individually along the ‘equator’ of the cell.
10. _____
The chromosomes line up in pairs (homologs) along the ‘equator’.
Part II: Short Answers
1.
Tell what gametes (give examples) are and explain why they are necessary for sexual
reproduction?
2. Explain how mitosis differs from meiosis. You may express your answer in the form of a chart
or table.
3. Why would mitosis be an inadequate means of producing gametes?
4. How many chromosomes are found in human body (somatic) cells? How many chromosomes
are found in human gametes?
mRNA Code
UUU
UUC
UUA
UUG
phe
phe
leu
leu
UCU
UCC
UCA
UCG
ser
ser
ser
ser
UAU
UAC
UAA
UAG
tyr
tyr
stop
stop
UGU
UGC
UGA
UGG
cys
cys
stop
trp
CUU
CUC
CUA
CUG
leu
leu
leu
leu
CCU
CCC
CCA
CCG
pro
pro
pro
pro
CAU
CAC
CAA
CAG
his
his
gln
gln
CGU
CGC
CGA
CGG
arg
arg
arg
arg
AUU
AUC
AUA
AUG
ile
ile
ile
met
ACU
ACC
ACA
ACG
thr
thr
thr
thr
AAU
AAC
AAA
AAG
asn
asn
lys
lys
AGU
AGC
AGA
AGG
ser
ser
arg
arg
GUU
GUC
GUA
GUG
val
val
val
val
GCU
GCC
GCA
GCG
ala
ala
ala
ala
GAU
GAC
GAA
GAG
asp
asp
glu
glu
GGU
GGC
GGA
GGG
gly
gly
gly
gly
mRNA codon ------ amino acid (first three letters only)
Nitrogenous Bases
G – guanine
C – cytosine
A – adenine
U – uracil