AP Biology
Genes Review Questions
1.
Experiments by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty supported DNA as the genetic material by showing that a.
Both protein and DNA samples provided the transforming factor. b.
DNA was not complex enough to be the genetic material c.
Only samples with DNA provided transforming activity d.
Even though DNA was molecularly simple, it provided adequate variation to act as the genetic material
2.
Hershey and Chase used radioactive 35 S and 32 P in experiments to provide evidence that DNA was the genetic material. These experiments pointed to
DNA because a.
Progeny viruses retained 32 P but not 35 S b.
Presence of 32 P in progeny viruses indicated that DNA was passed on. c.
Absence of 35 S in progeny viruses indicated that proteins were not passed on d.
All of the above
3.
X-ray crystallography provides information about the _______ of DNA but is limited because of the _______ of DNA. The technique is based on the pattern of
_______ off the atoms in the molecule. a.
Structure; difficulty of purification; light absorption b.
Dimensions; molecular weight; diffraction c.
Molecular weight; shape; diffraction d.
Dimensions; linearity; light absorption
4.
Watson and Crick's model allowed them to visualize a.
The molecular bonds of DNA b.
How the purines and pyrimidines fit together in a double helix c.
That the two strands of the DNA double helix were antiparallel d.
All of the above
5.
Which of the following is the correct pair of complementary bases in DNA? a.
Adenine and Cytosine; Guanine and Thymine b.
Adenine and Uracil; Guanine and Cytosine c.
Adenine and Thymine; Guanine and Cytosine d.
Adenine and Guanine; Thymine and Uracil
6.
If one strand of DNA is ACTGCTAGGA, the complementary strand is a.
CAGTAGCTTC b.
UGACGAUCCU c.
TGACGATCCA d.
TGACGTACCA www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes

7.
The 5’ end of DNA is characterized by a a.
Sugar group b.
Phosphate group c.
Nucleic Acid d.
Nucleotide Base
8.
Thirty percent of the bases in a sample of DNA extracted from eukaryotic cell is adenine. What percentage of cytosine is present in this DNA? a.
10 percent b.
20 percent c.
30 percent d.
40 percent
9.
Which of the following represents a bond between a purine and a pyrimidine
(in that order)? a.
C–T b.
G–A c.
G–C d.
T–A
10.
During DNA replication, a.
The parent strand is read in the 3’ to 5’ direction and the daughter strand is synthesized in the 3’ to 5’ direction b.
The parent strand is read in the 3’ to 5’ direction and the daughter strand is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction c.
The parent strand is read in the 5’ to 3’ direction and the daughter strand is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction d.
The parent strand is read in the 5’ to 3’ direction and the daughter strand is synthesized in the 3’ to 5’ direction
11.
If the daughter strand of DNA is 5’ CCGTAACTAGG 3’, which would be the expected parent stand? a.
5’ GGCTAAGATCC 3’ b.
3’ GGCTAAGATCC 5’ c.
5’ GGCATTGATCC 3’ d.
3’ GGCATTGATCC 5’
12.
The primary function of DNA polymerase is to a.
Add nucleotides to the growing daughter strand b.
Seal nicks along the sugar–phosphate backbone of the daughter strand c.
Unwind the parent DNA double helix d.
Prevent re-association of the denatured parent DNA strands. www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes

13.
The lagging daughter strand of DNA is synthesized in what appears to be the
“wrong” direction. This synthesis is accomplished by a.
Synthesizing short Okazaki fragments in a 5  -to-3  direction b.
Synthesizing multiple short RNA primers to initiate DNA replication. c.
Using DNA polymerase to remove RNA primers from Okazaki fragments d.
All of the above
14.
Which of the following statements about DNA replication is false? a.
Okazaki fragments are synthesized as part of the leading strand b.
Replication forks represent areas of active DNA synthesis on the chromosomes c.
Error rates for DNA replication are often less than one in every billion base pairings d.
Ligases and polymerases function in the vicinity of replication forks
15.
Which best describes the role of DNA ligase? a.
Joins together Okazaki fragments b.
Unwinds the double stranded DNA c.
Synthesizes a short RNA primer d.
Breaks the hydrogen bonds between nucleotide base pairs
16.
Which is the order that the enzymes used in DNA replication on the lagging strand act? a.
Topoisomerase, DNA ligase, DNA primase, DNA polymerase, helicase b.
Topoisomerase, helicase, DNA primase, DNA polymerase, DNA ligase c.
DNA ligase, DNA polymerase, DNA primase, topoisomerase, helicase d.
DNA ligase, topoisomerase, DNA primase, DNA polymerase, helicase
17.
Which enzyme is not necessary for replication of the leading strand? a.
Helicase b.
DNA polymerase c.
Topoisomerase d.
DNA primase
18.
Which best describes the shape of RNA? a.
Double stranded, many different shapes b.
Double stranded helix c.
Single stranded, many different shapes d.
Single stranded helix www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes

19.
The process by which RNA is synthesized from DNA is called a.
DNA replication b.
Translation c.
Transcription d.
RNA polymerization
20.
Which strand contains the genes? a.
DNA template strand b.
DNA non-template strand c.
RNA template strand d.
RNA non-template strand
21.
Which DNA strand is used to make RNA? a.
Template strand b.
Non-template strand c.
Both strands d.
Whichever strand RNA polymerase reaches first
22.
During RNA transcription, a.
The DNA strand is read in the 5’ to 3’ direction and the RNA strand is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction b.
The DNA strand is read in the 3’ to 5’ direction and the RNA strand is synthesized in the 3’ to 5’ direction c.
The DNA strand is read in the 3’ to 5’ direction and the RNA strand is synthesized in the 5’ to 3’ direction d.
The DNA strand is read in the 5’ to 3’ direction and the RNA strand is synthesized in the 3’ to 5’ direction
23.
If the DNA non-template strand is 5’ ATTGGCAATC 3’, then the transcribed
RNA strand will be a.
3’ TAACCGTTAG 5’ b.
5’ TAACCGTTAG 3’ c.
3’ UAACCGUUAG 5’ d.
5’ UAACCGUUAG 3’
24.
The 3’ end of RNA is characterized by a a.
Phosphate group b.
Nucleotide Base c.
Nucleic Acid d.
Sugar Group www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes

25.
Where does RNA polymerase attach to start transcription? a.
Anywhere near the 5’ end of DNA b.
Anywhere near the 3’ end of DNA c.
At the first available location on DNA d.
At the promoter sequence on DNA
26.
What happens to the DNA after transcription? a.
It has been used up and leaves the cell b.
It has been used up, but remains in pieces in the cell c.
It recoils into a double helix, and can be used for transcription again d.
It recoils into a double helix, but cannot be used for transcription again
27.
The sequence of nucleotides on an RNA molecule is determined by the a.
Base sequence of the original DNA molecule that served as the template b.
Sequence of amino acids that will be linked together to form a polypeptide c.
Base sequence of the original messenger RNA molecule that served as a template d.
Sequence of nucleotides on transfer RNA molecules
28.
What is the first stage of gene expression? a.
DNA replication b.
Transcription c.
Translation d.
Elongation
29.
How many amino acids are there? a.
4 b.
16 c.
20 d.
64
30.
What is “gene expression”? a.
Making amino acids so they can be made into protein b.
Making the protein or RNA coded in the nucleic acids c.
Folding of the protein d.
Making tRNA only
31.
During which process are ribosomes necessary for? a.
Translation b.
Transcription c.
DNA replication d.
Transcription- Elongation www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes

32.
To which of the following is the anticodon loop on tRNA complementary? a.
Amino acids b.
Codon on DNA c.
Codon on mRNA d.
Protein
33.
Where does translation start? a.
At the start codon on the 5’ end of mRNA b.
At the start codon on the 3’ end of mRNA c.
At the start codon on the 5’ end of DNA d.
At the start codon on the 3’ end of DNA
34.
What is the P site of the ribosome? a.
It is where the protein folds into its 3-D shape b.
It is where the amino acids are made c.
It is where the protein emerges from d.
It is where the tRNAs deliver the next amino acid
35.
What occurs during termination of translation? a.
RNA polymerase falls off the DNA. b.
tRNA brings in the amino acid coded for by the STOP codon. c.
The two ribosome subunits fuse together and release the protein. d.
The two ribosome subunits separate and release the protein.
36.
If the following synthetic RNA were added to a test tube containing all the components necessary for protein translation to occur, what would the amino acid sequence be? 5  -A U A U A U A U A U A U - 3  a.
Polyphenylalanine b.
Isoleucine-tyrosine-isoleucine-tyrosine c.
Isoleucine-isoleucine-isoleucine-isoleucine d.
Tyrosine-tyrosine-tyrosine-tyrosine
37.
What part of the tRNA base-pairs with the codon in the mRNA? a.
The 3  end, where the amino acid is covalently attached b.
The 5  end c.
The anticodon d.
The promoter
38.
The function of transfer RNA molecules is to a.
Provide a template for the synthesis of messenger RNA b.
Transport amino acids to the ribosome c.
Transport amino acids to DNA in the nucleus d.
Synthesize more transfer RNA molecules www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes

11.
d
12.
b
13.
d
14.
a
15.
b
16.
b
17.
d
18.
c
19.
c
20.
b
3.
b
4.
d
5.
c
6.
c
7.
b
8.
b
9.
c
10.
b
39.
The presence of which nitrogen base would indicate that the molecule containing that base and associated with the ribosome is RNA? a.
Guanine b.
Uracil c.
Cytosine d.
Adenine
40.
The genetic code for one amino acid molecule consists of a.
Two phosphates b.
Five sugar molecules c.
Four hydrogen bonds d.
Three nucleotides
Answers
1.
c
2.
d
29.
c
30.
b
31.
a
32.
c
33.
a
34.
c
35.
d
36.
b
21.
a
22.
c
23.
d
24.
d
25.
d
26.
c
27.
a
28.
b
37.
c
38.
b
39.
b
40.
d www.njctl.org AP Biology Genes