1. Biology DNA MCAS questions

2. #1 Which of the following statements describes a DNA molecule?
A. It contains the base uracil.
B. It has a double helix shape.
C. It contains five phosphate groups per nucleotide.
D. It has a backbone of twenty different nucleotides.

3. #2
Which of the following units are repeatedly joined together to form a strand of DNA?
A. amino acids
B. fatty acids
C. nucleotides
D. polysaccharides

4. #3
The diagram represents a process that occurs in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
Which of the following statements describes what is happening in this process?
A. Molecules of RNA are forming chromosomes.
B. A molecule of mRNA is directing the production of tRNA.
C. Molecules of DNA are being packaged for export to the ribosomes.
D. A molecule of DNA is being replicated to make two identical copies.

5. #4
In a molecule of double-stranded DNA, the amount of adenine present is always equal to the amount of
A. cytosine.
B. guanine.
C. thymine.
D. uracil.

6. #5
The diagram below shows a pair of DNA nucleotides. The nitrogenous base guanine (G) is labeled.
Which nitrogenous base pairs with guanine?
A. adenine (A)
B. cytosine (C)
C. thymine (T)
D. uracil (U)

7. #6
Radon is a radioactive gas that is sometimes present in homes. If radon is inhaled, its decay products are deposited in the lungs. Radioactive particles can penetrate cells and cause changes to the cells’ DNA. These changes in DNA are an example of which of the following?
A. homeostasis
B. mitosis
C. mutation
D. transcription

8. #7 Which molecule typically has a double helix shape? A. cellulose
B. DNA
C. glucose
D. tRNA

9. #8 Which of the following describes the function of DNA?
A. encoding genetic information
B. storing energy in chemical bonds
C. speeding up biochemical reactions
D. destroying substances that enter the cell

10. #9
A single nucleotide of DNA is composed of which of the following substances?
A. adenine, guanine, and cytosine
B. hydrogen, a phosphate group, and adenine
C. ribose sugar, deoxyribose sugar, and thymine
D. deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

11. #10
In phenylketonuria (PKU), an enzyme that converts one amino acid into another does not work properly. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this genetic condition?
A. an error in the transcription of the gene for the enzyme
B. a mutation in the DNA sequence that codes for the enzyme
C. an excess of the amino acids necessary to produce the enzyme
D. a structural variation in the amino acid modified by the enzyme

12. The table below presents a variety of mRNA three-base sequences (codons) and the amino acids for which these sequences code.
Based on the information in the table, which of the following changes is least likely to produce a phenotypic change in an organism?
A. GAU to GGU
B. GAU to GUU
C. GAU to GAA
D. GAU to GAC
1st Base of mRNA
2nd base of mRNA
3rd base of mRNA
Amino Acid G A
Glutamic acid C
Aspartic acid U
Glycine
Valine
#11

13. The diagram below represents the beginning and end products of a process that occurs in the nucleus of a cell.
Which process does the diagram represent?
A. recombination
B. replication
C. transcription
D. translation
#12

14. #13
A laboratory technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) produces millions of copies of a DNA molecule in only a few hours. PCR is most similar to which of the following cellular processes?
A. mitosis
B. replication
C. transcription
D. translocation

15. #14
During DNA replication, the wrong nucleotide was inserted in the DNA sequence. Which of the following terms describes this situation?
A. mutation
B. regeneration
C. transcription
D. translation

16. #15
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary disease that destroys brain cells. In individuals with HD, the functioning of a specific protein is altered, and this leads to the disease’s effects. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the altered protein function in individuals with HD?
A. a mutation in the DNA sequence that codes for the protein
B. an increase in the amount of fat rather than protein in the diet
C. a decrease in the amount of glucose and amino acids in the blood
D. a structural abnormality in the endoplasmic reticulum of brain cells

17. #16
Which of the following features of DNA is most important in determining the traits of an organism?
A. the direction of the helical twist
B. the number of deoxyribose sugars
C. the sequence of nitrogenous bases
D. the strength of the hydrogen bonds

18. #17
Which of the following models most accurately represents the structure of DNA? A C B D

19. #18
In a eukaryotic cell, which of the following processes directly involves DNA?
A. translation
B. cellular respiration
C. active transport of ions
D. replication of chromosomes

20. #19
A portion of one strand of a DNA molecule has the sequence shown below.
ACCTGAAGG
Assuming there are no mutations in this portion of the DNA, what is the corresponding sequence on the complementary DNA strand?
A. ACCTGAAGG
B. GTTCAGGAA
C. TGGACTTCC
D. TGGACUUCC

21. #20 The diagram below represents a small section of a DNA molecule.
A T T C G G G A T A T T
Which section of DNA represents the complementary strand to the section of DNA above?
A. A T T C G G G A T A T T
B. T T A T A G G G C T T A
C. T A A G C C C T A T A A
D. A A T A T C C C G A A T

22. #21 A DNA sequence is shown below. TAGGAGCAT
What is produced when the sequence is transcribed?
A. a chain of three amino acids
B. a set of three tRNA molecules
C. a section of DNA with the base sequence ATCCTCGTA
D. a section of mRNA with the base sequence AUCCUCGUA

23. The diagram below represents the expression of the genetic code in organisms. Three parts of the diagram are labeled X, Y, and Z.
What do X, Y, and Z represent in the diagram?
A. X is replication, Y is a gene, and Z is mutation.
B. X is crossing over, Y is DNA, and Z is mitosis.
C. X is transcription, Y is mRNA, and Z is translation.
D. X is meiosis, Y is a chromosome, and Z is transport.
#22

24. #23
The diagram below shows a process that occurred in the nucleus of a cell.
Which of the following statements describes what happened in this process?
A. DNA was translated.
B. DNA was converted to RNA.
C. A mutation occurred as DNA was replicated.
D. Pieces of DNA from different chromosomes were joined.

25. #24
An enzyme moves along a strand of DNA and produces a new nucleic acid strand. Part of the new strand is shown below.
GUACUCGGCAAUUUCGCA
Which of the following cellular processes created the new strand?
A. active transport
B. translation
C. replication
D. transcription

26. #25
Which of the following statements describes each new molecule of DNA produced when DNA replicates?
A. Each new molecule is half the length of the original molecule.
B. Each new molecule has only the coding portions of the original molecule in its sequence.
C. Each new molecule contains one strand from the original molecule and one newly synthesized strand.
D. Each new molecule retains the A, C, and G bases in the DNA sequence but replaces the T base with U.

27. #26
The diagram below shows a pair of DNA nucleotides. The nitrogenous base guanine (G) is labeled.
Which nitrogenous base pairs with guanine?
A. adenine (A)
B. cytosine (C)
C. thymine (T)
D. uracil (U)

28. #27
The diagram below represents the beginning and end products of a process that occurs in the nucleus of a cell.
Which process does the diagram represent?
A. recombination
B. replication
C. transcription
D. translation

29. #28
Which of the following processes produces the nucleotide sequence UUA from the sequence AAT?
A. meiosis
B. replication
C. respiration
D. transcription

30. Sample open response questions
DNA replication and transcription are important processes in cells. Identify the end products of both DNA replication and transcription. Be specific in your answer.
Explain the importance of each process in eukaryotic cells.

31. Sample open response questions
DNA is found in the cells of all organisms. The structure of DNA is directly linked to its function. Describe the function of DNA in organisms.
Draw and label a simple model of DNA that includes the sugar/phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases.
Explain how the structure of DNA enables it to perform the function you described in part (a).

32. Be able to: Draw and label a nucleotide Draw the phases of Mitosis
Identify all parts of cell involved in Mitosis
Compare and contrast DNA & RNA
Replication, Transcription, Translation
Chromatin – Chromosome – Chromatid
Centromere
Centriole