Nucleic Acids: Structure, Properties, and Metabolism - Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes a fundamental property of nucleic acids?

Accepted Answer

Nucleic acids are polymers composed of nucleotide subunits.

Answer

All nucleic acids are double-stranded molecules.

Answer

The genetic information of an organism is exclusively stored in protein molecules.

Question 2

Which of the following is the primary function of DNA?

Accepted Answer

To store genetic information

Answer

To regulate gene expression

Answer

To catalyze biochemical reactions

Answer

To transport genetic material

Question 3

The process of DNA replication involves the unwinding of the double helix and synthesis of:

Accepted Answer

Two new strands complementary to each original strand

Answer

One new strand complementary to each original strand

Answer

One new strand identical to each original strand

Answer

Two new strands identical to each original strand

Question 4

Which enzyme catalyzes the formation of new RNA strands during transcription?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase

Answer

DNA polymerase

Answer

Helicase

Answer

Ligase

Question 5

The genetic code is a set of rules that specifies:

Accepted Answer

The amino acid sequence of proteins

Answer

The order of nucleotides in DNA

Answer

The structure of RNA molecules

Answer

The regulation of gene expression

Question 6

Which type of RNA molecule carries genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosome?

Accepted Answer

mRNA

Answer

tRNA

Answer

rRNA

Answer

snRNA

Question 7

The ribosome is a complex structure responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Answer

DNA replication

Answer

RNA transcription

Answer

Cell division

Question 8

Which of the following molecules is NOT a nitrogenous base found in nucleic acids?

Accepted Answer

Glucose

Answer

Adenine

Answer

Cytosine

Answer

Thymine

Question 9

Which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing new RNA molecules?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase

Answer

DNA polymerase

Answer

Helicase

Answer

Topoisomerase

Question 10

What is the difference between introns and exons in a eukaryotic gene?

Accepted Answer

Introns are non-coding sequences, while exons are coding sequences.

Answer

Introns are coding sequences, while exons are non-coding sequences.

Answer

Introns are transcribed into mRNA, while exons are not.

Answer

Introns are found in prokaryotic genes, while exons are found in eukaryotic genes.

Question 11

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

DNA → RNA → Protein

Answer

Protein → RNA → DNA

Answer

RNA → DNA → Protein

Answer

DNA → Protein → RNA

Question 12

Which of the following techniques is used to separate and analyze DNA fragments?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

PCR

Answer

Southern blotting

Answer

DNA sequencing

Question 13

What is the primary function of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Catalyzing peptide bond formation

Answer

Recognizing the correct tRNA molecules

Answer

Unwinding the DNA double helix

Answer

Synthesizing new mRNA molecules

Question 14

Who are credited with discovering the double helix structure of DNA?

Accepted Answer

James Watson and Francis Crick

Answer

Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins

Answer

Erwin Chargaff and Alfred Hershey

Answer

Gregor Mendel and Thomas Hunt Morgan

Question 15

What is the genetic code?

Accepted Answer

A set of rules that specify the relationship between codons on mRNA and amino acids in proteins

Answer

The sequence of nucleotides in DNA that encodes a protein

Answer

The physical structure of a gene

Answer

The process by which DNA is copied into RNA

Question 16

Which recent breakthrough in nucleic acid research holds the greatest promise for revolutionizing personalized medicine?

Accepted Answer

CRISPR-Cas systems for precise gene editing

Answer

Novel RNA interference pathways for gene regulation

Answer

Advanced DNA polymerases with improved accuracy

Question 17

Which enzyme is responsible for unwinding and separating the DNA strands during replication?

Accepted Answer

Helicase

Answer

Polymerase

Answer

Ligase

Answer

Exonuclease

Question 18

What is the difference between a codon and an anticodon?

Accepted Answer

A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA, while an anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides on tRNA.

Answer

An anticodon is a sequence of three nucleotides on mRNA, while a codon is a sequence of three nucleotides on tRNA.

Answer

A codon is a sequence of two nucleotides on mRNA, while an anticodon is a sequence of two nucleotides on tRNA.

Answer

An anticodon is a sequence of four nucleotides on mRNA, while a codon is a sequence of four nucleotides on tRNA.

Question 19

Which of the following is the primary function of tRNA?

Accepted Answer

To carry amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

Answer

To provide the template for DNA replication.

Answer

To excise introns from mRNA transcripts.

Answer

To catalyze the formation of peptide bonds.

Question 20

Which of the following is a non-coding RNA molecule?

Accepted Answer

snRNA

Answer

mRNA

Answer

tRNA

Answer

rRNA

Question 21

Which of the following techniques is used to separate DNA fragments based on size?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Answer

DNA sequencing

Answer

Western blotting

Question 22

What is the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into proteins.

Answer

RNA is transcribed into DNA, which is then translated into proteins.

Answer

Proteins are transcribed into DNA, which is then translated into RNA.

Answer

DNA is translated into RNA, which is then transcribed into proteins.

Question 23

In the process of translation, describe the distinct roles of mRNA and tRNA in facilitating the conversion of genetic information into proteins.

Accepted Answer

mRNA transports the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome.

Accepted Answer

tRNA delivers amino acids to the ribosome according to the mRNA code.

Answer

mRNA directly encodes the sequence of amino acids in the protein.

Answer

tRNA synthesizes proteins on the ribosome.

Question 24

Which mechanism plays the primary role in ensuring the accuracy of genetic information during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

Exonuclease proofreading

Answer

Helicase unwinding

Answer

Telomerase elongation

Answer

Endonuclease mismatch repair

Question 25

The sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA comprises which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Deoxyribose and phosphate groups

Answer

Ribose and phosphate groups

Answer

Thymine and phosphate groups

Answer

Adenine and phosphate groups

Question 26

Who made the groundbreaking discovery of the DNA molecular structure?

Accepted Answer

James Watson and Francis Crick

Answer

Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins

Answer

Erwin Chargaff

Answer

Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase

Question 27

Which of the following nitrogenous bases is NOT present in DNA?

Accepted Answer

Uracil

Answer

Adenine

Answer

Thymine

Answer

Cytosine

Question 28

DNA bonding primarily involves which type of non-covalent interaction?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bond

Answer

Covalent bond

Answer

Ionic bond

Answer

Van der Waals force

Question 29

What is the primary function of ribozymes in RNA biology?

Accepted Answer

Catalytic enzymes for specific biological reactions

Answer

Adaptors in translation

Answer

Protectors of mRNA from degradation

Answer

Structural components of ribosomes

Question 30

Which RNA molecule carries the genetic code for protein synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Answer

Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

Question 31

The central dogma of molecular biology describes the fundamental flow of genetic information. Which of the following accurately represents this flow?

Accepted Answer

DNA → RNA → Protein

Answer

Protein → RNA → DNA

Answer

RNA → DNA → Protein

Answer

Protein → DNA → RNA

Question 32

The process of synthesizing a complementary strand of DNA from an RNA template is known as:

Accepted Answer

Reverse transcription

Answer

Replication

Answer

Transcription

Answer

Translation

Question 33

Which of the following enzymes is responsible for the polymerization of RNA during transcription?

Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase

Answer

Helicase

Answer

DNA polymerase

Answer

Reverse transcriptase

Question 34

The sequence of codons in an mRNA molecule determines the sequence of:

Accepted Answer

Amino acids in a protein

Answer

Nucleotides in a new DNA strand

Answer

Bases in an RNA molecule

Answer

Sugars in a polysaccharide

Question 35

The elongation step of protein synthesis involves the addition of:

Accepted Answer

An amino acid to the growing polypeptide chain

Answer

A nucleotide to the growing RNA strand

Answer

A sugar to the growing DNA strand

Answer

A base to the growing tRNA molecule

Question 36

The technique used to separate and identify DNA fragments based on their size is called:

Accepted Answer

Electrophoresis

Answer

Chromatography

Answer

Centrifugation

Answer

Spectrophotometry

Question 37

In eukaryotic cells, which type of RNA is primarily synthesized by RNA polymerase II?

Accepted Answer

messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer

ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Answer

transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer

small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

Question 38

What is the primary function of topoisomerase enzymes in DNA metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Resolving topological challenges associated with DNA structure

Answer

Unwinding the DNA double helix during transcription

Answer

Removing RNA primers during DNA replication

Question 39

What components constitute a nucleotide, the basic unit of nucleic acids?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogenous base, 5-carbon sugar, phosphate group

Answer

Amino acid, 6-carbon sugar, phosphate group

Answer

Sugar molecule, phosphate group, oxygen molecule

Answer

Two nitrogenous bases, phosphate group, hydrogen molecule

Question 40

Which type of chemical bond primarily holds together the complementary strands of a DNA molecule?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bond

Answer

Ionic bond

Answer

Hydrophobic interaction

Answer

Covalent bond

Question 41

During DNA replication, the enzyme primarily responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands is:

Accepted Answer

DNA polymerase

Answer

Helicase

Answer

Ligase

Answer

Primase

Question 42

In protein synthesis, messenger RNA (mRNA) serves as a:

Accepted Answer

Carrier of genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

Answer

Direct template for protein synthesis.

Answer

Enzyme that catalyzes protein folding.

Answer

Component of the ribosome.

Question 43

The process by which RNA is synthesized from a DNA template is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Transcription

Answer

Replication

Answer

Translation

Answer

Splicing

Question 44

During protein synthesis, the type of RNA molecule that carries amino acids to the ribosome is:

Accepted Answer

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Answer

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Answer

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer

Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

Question 45

The ribosome is a cellular structure that:

Accepted Answer

Catalyzes peptide bond formation during protein synthesis.

Answer

Transcribes DNA into RNA.

Answer

Packages and releases proteins from the cell.

Answer

Stores genetic information.

Question 46

Which technique is commonly employed to separate DNA fragments based on their size?

Accepted Answer

Gel electrophoresis

Answer

Spectrophotometry

Answer

Chromatography

Answer

Centrifugation

Question 47

Who are credited with discovering the double helix structure of DNA?

Accepted Answer

James Watson and Francis Crick

Answer

Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins

Answer

Frederick Griffith and Oswald Avery

Answer

Erwin Chargaff and Theodosius Dobzhansky

Question 48

In the DNA molecule, the exclusive nitrogenous base is:

Accepted Answer

Thymine

Answer

Uracil

Answer

Guanine

Answer

Adenine

Question 49

DNA nucleotides are linked together by which type of bond?

Accepted Answer

Phosphodiester bond

Answer

Hydrogen bond

Answer

Peptide bond

Answer

Glycosidic bond

Question 50

During DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for unwinding the double helix?

Accepted Answer

Helicase

Answer

Polymerase

Answer

Ligase

Question 51

Who is credited with discovering the structure of DNA?

Accepted Answer

Watson and Crick

Answer

Rosalind Franklin

Answer

Francis Crick

Answer

Erwin Chargaff

Question 52

Which type of RNA transports the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosomes?

Accepted Answer

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Answer

Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)

Answer

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Answer

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Question 53

The process that converts DNA into RNA is called:

Accepted Answer

Transcription

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Translation

Answer

Replication

Question 54

Which type of mutation results in an alteration of the amino acid sequence in a protein?

Accepted Answer

Missense mutation

Answer

Silent mutation

Answer

Frameshift mutation

Answer

Nonsense mutation