SCI 111

Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 1

1. This is once a belief that female was thought to supply what called the “matter” and the
male supplies the “motion” .Came the general belief that offspring’s possess intermediate
traits coming from both parents. This was later known as

A. Pangene hypothesis
B. Blending hypothesis
C. Blood theory of heredity
D. Blue blood hypothesis

2. Choose among the following best definition of heredity.

A. The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring.

B. The sum of characteristics and associated potentialities transmitted genetically to an
individual organism.
C. The passage of biological traits or characteristics from parents to offspring through
the inheritance of genes.
D. The tendency of offspring to resemble parents or ancestors through such transmission.

3. Who is considered to be the “Father of Genetics”?

A. Wilhelm Ludvig Johannsen

B. Aristotle
C. Erich von Tschermak
D. Gregor Mendel

4. Ability to roll the tongue is caused by a dominant allele. A woman is a “roller,” butone
of her parents is not. What is the woman’s genotype?

A. homozygous dominant
B. heterozygous
C. hemizygous
D. homozygous recessive

5. .The ability to roll the tongue (R) is determined by a dominant gene while the recessive
gene results in the inability to roll the tongue (r). A man and his wife can both roll their
tongues and are surprised to find that their son cannot. What would be the genotypes of
all three persons?
A. Dad: RR Mom: Rr Son: Rr
B. Dad: Rr Mom: Rr Son: rr
C. Dad: Rr Mom: rr Son: Rr
D. Dad: Rr Mom: RR Son: rr

6. In peas, yellow color (Y) is dominant to green (y). What will be the results of a cross-
pollination of a heterozygous female and a heterozygous male?

A. 3 Yellow : 1 Green
B. 2 Yellow : 2 Green
C. 1Yellow : 3 Green
D. None of the above

7. Homozygous is ______ while heterozygous is _______.

A. good, bad
B. bad, good
C. pure, hybrid
D. hybrid, pure

8. Which technique would be used to make a genetic map of the genome of Mendel’s pea
plants?
A. dihybrid cross with two linked genes
B. dihybrid cross with two unlinked genes
C. map-based sequencing
D. restriction mapping

9. Which of the following best explain the idea of Heredity and Environment?

A. Heredity has influence on the physiological traits but environment is also the arbiter
of development.
B. Heredity gives capacities to be developed but opportunity for the development of
these capacities must come from the environment.
C. Heredity has potentiality and environment offers it a chance of bringing them out.
D. The heredity is the raw material out of which the object is to be prepared, and
environment in the technique and other material for the manufacture
10. The gene for seed color in pea plants exists in two forms. There is one form or allele for
yellow seed color (Y) and another for green seed color (y). In this example, the allele for
yellow seed color is dominant, and the allele for green seed color is recessive. What law
does example implies?

A. Law of Inheritance
B. Law of Independent Assortment
C. Law of Segregation
D. Law of Dominance

Chapter 2
1. This states that genes are located in chromosomes and that the behavior of chromosomes
during meiosis and fertilization accounts for the inheritance pattern
A. Chromosome theory of inheritance
B. Chromosome theory of independence
C. Chromosome theory of assortment
D. None of the above

2. Which of the following explain the Sutton’s Chromosome Theory

I. Chromosomes occur in pairs.
II. Chromosomes separate during meiosis.
III. Chromosome pairs assort independently

A. I only
B. III only
C. II and III
D. I, II and III

3. What happens to genes located in the same chromosome?

A. Genes detach to each other
B. Genes will remain to the location
C. Genes tend to be link together
D. Genes might separate
4. Thomas Hunt Morgan and his students made significant contributions to understand
genetics. Fruit flies were found to be ideal specimen for genetic studies for the following
reasons except for :
A. They are easy to feed and to maintain.
B. They produce a large number of offsprings in one crossing
 C. They provide researchers with a large amount of data in a short span of about two
weeks for each generation.
D. They only have three pairs of chromosomes, facilitating the study and observation of
these with a microscope.

5. Humans possess
A. 22 pairs of sex chromosomes and 1 pair of autosomes
B. 23 pairs of autosomes
C. 22 pairs of autosomes and 1pair of sex chromosomes
D. equal numbers of autosomes and sex chromosomes

6. This has a great contribution on participating sex determination. Humans and most other
mammals have the X and the Y chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes in
their cells, while males have both X and a Y chromosomes in their cells.

A. Metacentric chromosome
B. Telocentric chromosome
C. Autosomes
D. Sex chromosome

7. . What is sex linked genes?

A. Genes that sit on any autosomal chromosome.

B. Any gene that sits on a sex chromosome.
C. Genes participate in sex determination
D. Genes that sit on a sex chromosome and that are inherited differently in males and
females.

8. This is controlled by gene located on the X or Y chromosome. A genetic characteristics

determined by genes, which are located on sex chromosomes.

A. Sex-linked Traits
B. Sex-linked Genes
C. Y-linked traits
D. X-linked traits

9. Can a colorblind mother and a healthy father have colorblind children?

 A. Yes, but only colorblind daughters.
B. Yes, but only colorblind sons.
C. Yes, colorblind daughters and sons.
D. No.

10. A simple process that change DNA sequence. Result from DNA copying mistakes made
during cell division, exposure to ionizing radiation, exposure to chemicals or infection by
viruses.

A. Mutation
B. Fixation
C. Stabilization
D. Reaction

Chapter 3

1. A process of change that results in rearranged chromosome parts, abnormal numbers of

individual chromosomes, or abnormal numbers of chromosome sets.
A. Chromosomal mutation
B. Chromosomal dissemination
C. Fixation of chromosomes
D. Chromosome transformation

2. Travis has Down syndrome having nondisjunction of the 21st pair of autosome. Down
syndrome is characterized by the following: a short stature, short and broad hands, mental
retardation, heart problems, and shorter life span. Maternal age or possibly paternal age is
the main contributing factor. This condition may fall under what type of mutation?

A. Chromosomal Mutation
B. Structural Mutation
C. Numerical Mutation
D. Gene Mutation

3. Shanes suffers from Turner syndrome, she was born with only one sex chromosome, an
X, and is usually shorter than average and unable to have children, among other
difficulties. This a result from nondisjunction of :

A. Aneuploidy
 B. Trisomy
C. Monosomy
D. Polyploidy

4. Though cells have variety of protective and repair systems to make DNA a remarkably
stable molecule, DNA structures do change. The following are types of change in the
chromosomal structure except for :

A. Translocation
B. Inversion
C. Deletion & duplication
D. Stabilization

5. Tomatoes with four sets of chromosomes have higher vitamin C content than normal.
Some varieties of apples with extra chromosome set have extra-large fruits. This a result
from nondisjunction of :

A. Aneuploidy
B. Trisomy
C. Monosomy
D. Polyploidy

6. If two breaks occur in one chromosome, sometimes the region between the breaks rotates
180 degrees before rejoining with the two end fragments. Such an event creates a
chromosomal mutation called ________.

A. Translocation
B. Duplication
C. Deletion
D. Inversion

7. Another type of mutation involves changes in the sequence of nucleotides within the
gene. It is called ________. This can happen during DNA replication and during
transcription.

A. Chromosomal Mutation
B. Gene Mutation
C. Structural Mutation
D. Numerical Mutation
8. Change from GAA to GAG, which both code for the amino acid glutamine, will have no
effect on the organism. But if this is involved, an alteration in the amino acid sequence, it
may have little effect on the functions of protein, or it may be crucial to the life of the
organism.

A. Frameshift mutation
B. Base insertion
C. Based substitution
D. Spontaneous mutations

9. This is a case of appearance of sickle cell anemia in humans. It occurs naturally, and it
has stuck around for new generations because it is beneficial to carry the sickle cell
anemia gene in areas with high incidence of malaria. This is an example of ______.

A. Spontaneous mutations
B. Frameshift mutation
C. Point mutation
D. Germ mutation

10. If the mutation happens to occur mutant characteristics affect only the individual in
which the mutation occurs and is not passed to the succeeding generation. This is called
as_______.

A. Point mutation
B. Somatic mutation
C. Favorable mutation
D. Frameshift mutation

Chapter 4

1. The following indicates the characteristics of DNA except for

A. Shape is a double-stranded helix

B. Found only in the nucleus of a cell
 C. Contains the nitrogen base Uracil
D. Contains the sugar deoxyribose

2. Which two scientists are credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA?

A. Franklin and Crick

B. Hershey and Chase
C. Watson and Crick
D. Chargaff and Watson

3. Adenine : Thymine

A .Protein: DNA
B. Guanine: Cytosine
C. Watson: Crick
D. Adenine: DNA

4. What is the name of the enzyme that moves along each of the DNA strands during
replication adding nucleotides to the exposed base pairs. Also, it proofreads the new
DNA during replication

A. DNA polymerase
B. DNA Helicase
C. DNA Ligase
D. DNA Primase

5. DNA is copied during a process called

A. Translation.
B. Transformation
C. Replication
D. Transcription.

6. DNA replication is referred to as “semi-conservative.” This means that replication

results in two DNA molecules,

A. Each with two new strands

B. One with two new strands and the other with two original strands.
C. Each with one new strand and one original strand.
D. Each with two original strands.
Nucleosomes
a. determine the
secondary structure of
RNA sequences.
b. are a from of
microorganisms.
c. are coat particles
of viruses.
d. are localized in the
plasma membrane.
e. form the fundamental
repeating units of
eukaryotic chromatin.
7. Nucleosomes is define as

A. Are coat particles of viruses

B. Are localized in the plasma membrane
C. Determine the secondary structure of RNA sequences
D. Form the fundamental repeating units of eukaryotic chromatin
 8. Is the joining together of newly paired bases, creating a DNA strand identical to the
original double helix strand of DNA

A. DNA Helicase
B. Polymerization
C. Insertion
D. Joining

9. For replication to begin the two strands of the double helix must first unwind and then
strands must segregated from each other. In cells, the unwinding and segregation of the
strands are catalyzed by enzymes that help break the “rungs” of the ladder. This is called
_______.

A. Assertion
B. Polymerization
C. Separation
D. Complementary base pairing

10. _______ is a family of basic proteins that associate with DNA in the nucleus and help
condense it into chromatin, they are alkaline (basic pH) proteins, and their positive
charges allow them to associate with DNA. They are found inside the nucleus of
eukaryotic cells.

A. Chromatin
B. Nucleosome.
C. Adjacent nucleosome
D. Histones

Chapter 5

1. This is a series of nucleotides to which RNA polymerase binds and initiates transcription
of the adjacent gene.

A. Detector
B. Promoter
C. Encoder
D. Transformer
2. A process where we move information from a portion of a DNA molecule into an RNA
molecule; the process is catalyzed by the enzyme RNA polymerase

A. Transformation
B. Translation
C. Transcription
D. Actualization

3. This is a transcription process where AT3 gene begins in the nucleus of a liver cell,
enzymes unwind and discrete portions of the DNA double helix near one end of the gene.
Only one of the two discrete DNA strands serves as a model for making a complementary
strand of RNA.

A. Nucleotide joining
B. Complementary base pairing
C. Strand separation
D. Polymerization

4. In the second step of information flow, where the conversion of information on a strand
of RNA into a sequence of amino acids in a protein; occurs on ribosomes is a process of
______.

A. Transcription
B. Translation
C. Nucleotide joining
D. Strand separation

5. The following describes the RNA structure that can help us clearly understand what
genes do except for the,

A. RNA usually consists of a double strand of nucleotides

B. RNA consists of a long string of nucleotides linked by sugar-phosphate backbones
C. RNA molecules are much shorter that the DNA molecules that make up
chromosomes
D. RNA contains the base uracil (U) instead of the base thymine (T), Uracil can pair
with adenine (A-U) in RNA.

6. A process where the enzymes RNA polymerase attach two adjacent RNA nucleotides
together. Other RNA nucleotides diffuse in and pair with their complementary bases in
the DNA strand, and enzymes connected together forming a single strand of RNA.
 A. Complementary base pairing
B. Strand separation
C. Polymerization
D. Nucleotide joining

7. A set of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies the position of an amino acid in a
protein. During protein synthesis, sequences of the three adjacent bases on mRNA
specify the insertion of a particular amino acid into the growing polypeptide chain.

A. Anticodon
B. Protein Synthesis
C. Initiation
D. Codon

8. Stage of protein synthesis where the next tRNA diffuses in, lining up its amino acid with
the previous one, and the ribosome joins the amino acids together by peptide bonds.
Simultaneously, the first tRNA is ejected from the complex as the ribosome moves one
codon along the mRNA.

A. Initiation
B. Elongation
C. Disassembly
D. Termination

9. It is like a dictionary cells used to define which amino acid will be translated from each
sequence of three adjacent bases in mRNA— in other words, from each codon.

A. Genetic code
B. Data code
C. Gene description
D. Genetic design

10. Three ways a sequence of three nucleotide in a gene can be divided into contiguous, non-
overlapping sets of three nucleotides in codons. This process is called

A. Genetic message
B. Gene interpretation
C. Reading frame
D. Gene specifying
 Chapter 6

1. Which of the following correctly pairs the operon component with its function?

A. An activator binds to DNA which slows the process of transcription.

B. An operator is the site where activators bind.
C. A repressor enhances transcription by encouraging RNA polymerase to move forward
on DNA.
D. A promoter is the site where RNA polymerase binds to the operon.

2. The lac operon is an inducible operon in E. coli that codes for genes involved in the
breakdown of lactose. Which of the following statements is true regarding the lac
operon?

A. The repressor protein binds to the operator when lactose levels are high.
B. It regulates the production of proteins involved in the metabolism of lactose.
C. The catabolite activator protein (CAP) acts as a lactose sensor for the operon.
D. It consists of a cluster of five genes, one promoter, and one operator.

3. The trp operon of E. coli is a repressible operon responsible for producing enzymes
involved in the synthesis of the amino acid tryptophan. Which of the following
statements is true regarding the trp operon?

A. When tryptophan is in short supply, the trp operon is expressed.

B. The trp operon includes an operator that acts as the binding site for RNA polymerase.
C. Tryptophan binds to the operator to promote the binding of RNA polymerase.
D. The operon’s genes are transcribed when tryptophan is bound to the trp repressor.

4. In 1960, through elegant experiments, these scientist(s) determine how E. coli bacteria
regulate the synthesis of beta-galactosidase. They found that a certain protein in the E.
coli cell called the repressor can sense lactose in its surroundings.

A. François Jacob and Jacques Monod

B. Watson and Crick
C. Marilyn Menotti
D. Jacques Monod
5. Transcription of genes by RNA polymerase requires energy, so a bacteria's operon is
usually not always turned on. In E. coli bacteria, the trp operon encodes genes for the
synthesis of tryptophan, and the lac operon encodes genes for the digestion of lactose.
 Which of the following strains of E. coli is likely to use its energy most efficiently?

A. A strain in which RNA polymerase is inhibited from transcribing the trp operon when
tryptophan is present.
B. A strain in which RNA polymerase is inhibited from transcribing the lac operon when
lactose is present
C. A strain in which RNA polymerase transcribes the lac operon when lactose is absent
D. A strain in which RNA polymerase transcribes the trp operon when tryptophan is
present

6. What is the function of the TATA box in eukaryotic gene regulation?

A. Blocks transcription factors

B. Indicates where transcription should begin
C. Turns off genes that create male-specific tissue
D. Activates genes to form female-specific tissue

7. A liver cell and a skin cell in the same person have the same genetic sequences, but
perform very different functions. Which of the following best explains how this is
possible?

A. Different mutations occur in each cell type, changing the genetic instructions.
B. Each cell type is controlled by operons and operators.
C. Different genes are activated in the liver cell than in the skin cell.
D. Liver cells and skin cells contain different genes.

8. Which of the following are methods of transcriptional gene regulation in eukaryotes?

A. Alternative splicing to form different mRNAs one RNA transcript

B. The modification of a polypeptide
C. The removal of introns from an mRNA sequence
D. Binding of transcription factors to promoters

9. _____ a series of nucleotides that bind to a repressor protein, thereby preventing the
initiation of gene and transcription from the adjacent promoter

A. Operon
B. Repressor
C. Operator
D. Gene regulator
10. Is a technology that joining together of DNA molecules from two different species. DNA
molecule is inserted into a host organism to produce new genetic combinations that are of
value to science, medicine, agriculture, and industry.

A. Genetic engineering
B. Recombinant DNA technology
C. Gene cloning
D. Species modification