Advertisement Upgrade to remove ads


DNA and RNA are composed of what monomer units?


What is the shape of a DNA molecule?

double helix

What is the sugar in found in DNA?


What is the sugar found in RNA?


What is the nitrogenous base found in RNA but not in DNA?


What part of the nucleotide is found in the center of a DNA molecule?

nitrogenous base

What kind of bond holds the nucleotides together in the strands of a DNA molecule?


In a DNA double helix, thymine bonds with what? cytosine?

adenine; guanine

The bonding of A with T and C with G is called what?

complementary base pairing

In complementary base pairing, what part of the nucleotides link together?

nitrogenous bases

If adenine makes up 30% of the bases in a DNA double helix, what percent of the bases are thymine, cytosine, and guanine?

T= 30%
C= 20%
G= 20%

During replication, the two strands of DNA separate at a point called a/an

origin of replication

During replication, the two strands of DNA separate at a point called an origin of replication to make what?

replication bubble

The enzyme that adds new nucleotides during DNA replication is called what?

DNA polymerase

What are the steps of DNA replication?

1. Begins at the origin of replications where the DNA strands separate
2. Each parent strand becomes a template for the complementary base pairs of the daughter strand
3. DNA polymerase covalently bonds nucleotides
4. Replication goes in both directions forming bubbles which progress until they join and you have two separate identical daughter DNA molecules

If the sequence of bases on one strand of DNA is TCGATAC, what is the sequence of bases on the complementary strand?


If DNA in a cell is radioactively tagged and the cell divides, how much of the DNA will be radioactive in the daughter cells?


What is the process that converts the information stored in DNA to RNA?


Where does transcription take place in a eukaryotic cell?


What is the process of assembling amino acids to form a polypeptide called?


Where does translation take place in a eukaryotic cell?


What cell organelle is associated with translation?


A large region of DNA that directs the formation of a protein is called a ________?


Does the genetic code vary among organisms or is it constant?


What three kinds of RNA are involved in protein synthesis?

mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA

Which kind of RNA molecule bonds to one specific type of amino acid?


What enzyme is responsible for transcription?

RNA polymerase

How does transcription begin?

when DNA polymerase binds to the promotor on DNA

What sequence ends transcription?

terminator sequence

What are the additional nucleotides that are added to the ends of the RNA transcript to protect the RNA called?

cap and tail

What are the coding sequences in mRNA called?


What are the noncoding sequences in mRNA called?


What is the process that joins the mRNA continuous coding sequence (the part that actually codes for protein) before it leaves the eukaryotic nucleus called?

RNA splicing

What is a triplet of nucleotides (group of 3 sequential bases) on an mRNA called?


An mRNA codon codes for what?


How many nucleotides make up a codon?


What would be the sequence of bases in mRNA transcribed from the following DNA sequence: TACGCAAT


A codon found on mRNA base pairs what on tRNA molecule?


Once translation (polypeptide synthesis) starts, what is the order of the three main steps by which it elongates?

1. codon recognition
2. peptide bond formation
3. translocation of the tRNA and mRNA through the ribosome

Promotors and terminators are found in what molecule?


Start and stop codons are found in what molecule?


What are changes in the nucleotide sequence of DNA called?


What kind of mutation in a DNA sequence may or may not alter the amino acid in a polypeptide?

base substitution

Removal of nucleotides in a DNA sequence results in what kind of mutation?


Addition of nucleotides in a DNA sequence results in what kind of mutation?


What does the cell use to repair damaged DNA?

enzymes DNA polymerase

What is the ultimate source of the diversity of life?


What kind of nucleic acid makes up viral genomes?

RNA or DNA, but not both. RNA in plants. RNA or DNA in animals

What are viruses that infect bacteria called?


Viral replication, in which the host cell bursts following each cycle, is called what?


Viral nucleic acid becomes integrated into the host cell's DNA during what viral cycle?


Do most plants have DNA or RNA genomes?


What kind of genome is found in retroviruses?


What is an example of a retrovirus?


What enzyme is part of the HIV virus and required for its replication?

reverse transcriptase

What is the purpose of the enzyme reverse transcriptase?


How is it possible for some of a host cell's genome to end up in a virus?

Lysogenic cycle combines viruses DNA with host cell when it goes back to lytic cycle to separate, some of the host DNA might stay with virus

Describe the similarities and differences between DNA and RNA.

Similar: made up of nucleotides
Different: DNA has thymine, deoxyribose, is double stranded, holds genetic code; RNA has uracil, ribose single stranded, makes protein

Please allow access to your computer’s microphone to use Voice Recording.

Having trouble? Click here for help.

We can’t access your microphone!



Reload the page to try again!


Press Cmd-0 to reset your zoom

Press Ctrl-0 to reset your zoom


Please upgrade Flash or install Chrome
to use Voice Recording.

For more help, see our troubleshooting page.

Your microphone is muted

For help fixing this issue, see this FAQ.

Star this term

You can study starred terms together

NEW! Voice Recording

Create Set