Genetics questions
Part 1 Structure of DNA
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What do DNA and RNA stand for?
Draw a diagram of a single DNA nucleotide.
Which enzyme turns DNA nucleotides into a polynucleotide?
Explain what is meant by “complementary base pairing”.
What type of bond holds the two DNA strands together?
What are the 2 essential functions of DNA?
What are the 2 main types of RNA and what are their similarities and
differences?
Describe two important features of genetic material.
Copy and complete the table to compare the structure of DNA and RNA:
DNA
RNA
Number of types
Number of strands
Type of sugar
Bases present
Location in the cell
Size of molecule
Part 2 DNA Replication
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Explain why “semi-conservative replication” is so called.
Draw a simple line diagram to illustrate the process of semi-conservative
replication.
Part 3 Protein synthesis
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What are the two stages of protein synthesis?
Which enzyme is responsible for forming mRNA?
How many types of tRNA are there?
Draw a flow chart summarising protein synthesis.
Explain what is meant by “the genetic code is a triplet code”.
Arrange the following sentences describing protein synthesis in the correct
order:
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
Wrong order
The mRNA leaves the nucleus via a nuclear pore.
The ribosome moves to the next mRNA codon.
A second tRNA molecule binds to the next codon.
The amino acids attached to the tRNA molecules
join together with a peptide bond.
An anticodon on a tRNA molecule attaches to the
first mRNA codon.
The first tRNA molecule breaks away and the
process continues.
A complementary copy of the gene is formed on a
molecule of mRNA.
This process is called transcription.
Translation continues until a STOP codon is
reached.
The DNA double helix in the region of the gene
unzips exposing the gene on the template strand.
The mRNA molecule attaches to a ribosome.