TOPIC 4 – DNA AND THE PRODUCTION OF PROTEINS
STRUCTURE OF DNA
Exercise 1
Research Task on DNA Structure
Research one of the following scientists and write a short report on how
their work has helped us to understand the structure of DNA. Provide a
list of references at the end.





Francis Crick
James Watson
Rosalind Franklin
Maurice Wilkins
Erwin Chargaff
Exercise 2
1. What are chromosomes and where are they located in a cell?
(1)
2. a) What do the letters DNA stand for?
(1)
b) The DNA molecule is described as a ‘double helix’. What does
this mean?
(1)
c) i) How may different types of base molecule are found in DNA? (1)
ii) Name the four base molecules.
iii) Describe the base pair rule.
(4)
(1)
Total (9)
Exercise 3
The diagram below shows a yeast cell.
(i)
Name the structure shown in the yeast cell which contains the
genetic information.
(1)
(ii)
A molecule consisting of chains of bases is contained in
chromosomes.
(a)
Name this molecule.
(1)
(b)
Explain how this molecule controls cell activities.
(1)
Total (3)
Exercise 4
Complete the following in full sentences in your homework jotter.
___________ are units of inheritance which make up chromosomes.
Chromosomes are made up of longs strands of __________ which
consists of two backbones each containing a chain of ___________
molecules. There are four types of base molecule, adenine, __________,
thymine and ______________. The ______________of the bases
determines the sequence of __________ ____________ in a protein.
Three ______ molecules form the code for one amino acid. The protein
produced controls the characteristics of the organism.
Chromosomes exist in pairs, and each normal body cell of an organism has
_______ matching sets of these. (In humans, 2 sets of ___ making ___
in total).
Total (11)
Exercise 5
Research report on genetic disorders
Cystic fibrosis is a medical condition that is passed from parents to their
children. This condition is caused by an error in one of the genes found in
the nucleus of the parent’s cells.
a) What are genes made of?
b) What effect might inheriting a damaged gene have on the
production of a protein?
c) Research one of the following genetic disorders. Describe how the
disorder is inherited, the symptoms and treatments. Provide a list
of references at the end.





Cystic Fibrosis
Tay-Sachs
Down’s Syndrome
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Huntington’s Disease
Exam Style Questions
1.
Which part of a cell controls cell division?
A
B
C
D
2.
Membrane
Nucleus
Cell wall
Cytoplasm
DNA is found in which part of the cell?
A
B
C
D
Cytoplasm
Ribosomes
Nucleus
Cell membrane
3.
The DNA of a chromosome carries information which determines the
structure and function of
A
B
C
D
4.
fats
bases
carbohydrates
proteins
Which of the following is a correct description of a chromosome?
A
B
C
D
5.
a chain of DNA bases
a chain of RNA bases
a chain of amino acids
a chain of sugar molecules
The DNA base, (A) adenine, pairs with what other base?
A
B
C
D
(A) Adenine
(T) Thymine
(C) Cytosine
(G) Guanine
6. The diagram shows DNA during replication. Base H represents
thymine (T) and base M represents guanine (G). Which letters
represent the base cytosine (C)?
A
B
C
D
J and K
J and L
N and P
N and R
7. A DNA molecule consists of 4000 bases of which 20% are adenine (A).
How many guanine (G) bases will be present in the DNA molecule?
A
B
C
D
8.
800
1000
1200
1600
Decide if each of the following statements about DNA and the
production of proteins is True or False, and tick () the
appropriate box.
If the statements is False, write the correct word in the Correction box
to replace the word(s) underlined in the statements.
Statement
DNA is a single-stranded molecule.
There are four bases in DNA which
make up the genetic code.
The molecule which carries a copy
of the code from the nucleus to the
ribosome is protein.
True
False
Correction
Total (3)
9.
Underline one option in each set of brackets to make the following
sentence about chromosomes correct.
number
The
order
bases
of
genes
encodes information for the structure
carbohydrate
of a
protein
ribosomes
which is made in the cytoplasm in
plasmids
Total (4)
PRODUCTION OF PROTEINS
Exercise 6
1. a) By what means is the genetic code present in the DNA of a gene
transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of a cell?
(1)
b) i) What subunits make up a protein?
(1)
ii) Where in the cytoplasm are these subunits assembled into
proteins?
(1)
iii) What determines the sequence in which these subunits are joined
together?
(1)
iv) Why is the sequence of these subunits in a protein molecule
important?
(1)
Total (5)
Exam Style Questions
1.
The diagram below shows the beginning of protein synthesis
a) Give the complimentary strand to the DNA strand shown
____________________________________________
(1)
b) From the diagram, name the molecule being produced from DNA
____________________________________________
(1)
c) Where does the mRNA go when it leaves the nucleus?
____________________________________________
(1)
Total (3)
2.
The diagram below shows how genetic information in the nucleus is
used in the first stage of making a protein.
(a)
(i)
Name molecule Y.
(ii)
Underline one option in each bracket to make the following
sentences correct.
(2)
1.
2.
The molecules represented by the letter A are
The complementary strand Z would have the letter
at position 2 in the diagram.
(1)
bases
genes
proteins
A
C
G
T
(b)
Name the basic units which are joined together to make a protein
at the ribosome.
(1)
(c)
The diagram above shows a section of the code to make a protein
such as amylase. Describe how the code to make the protein insulin
would differ from this.
(1)
Total (5)