(ii) is similar to transcription.

[2]
any two from:
HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
2020-2021 H2 BIOLOGY PRACTICE QUESTIONS SUGGESTED ANSWERS 1. Both processes use DNA as template ;
CORE IDEA 2: EUKARYOTIC GENE EXPRESSION 2. Both processes involve reading of template from 3’ to 5’ ;
TEAM-BASED LEARNING (TBL) SESSION 1.1 3. Both processes involve complementary base-pairing via hydrogen bonds ;
4. Both processes involve formation of phosphoester bond between growing strand and
STRUCTURED QUESTIONS incoming nucleotide ;
5. Both processes involve enzyme catalysis of phosphoester bond formation ;
1. N15 / H2 / P2 / Q2 6. AVP ;

(a) Describe how replication of the lagging strand template occurs. [3] (c) In the space below, draw a short section of mRNA that is made up of two nucleotides, using
max 3 from: these symbols to represent the main components. Add lines to show the position of any bonds
1. ref. to lagging strand template being used to synthesise RNA primer that provides a between the components.
free 3’ OH end for extension of DNA + catalysis by primase ;
2. ref. to complementary base-pairing between lagging strand template and Label and name the components and the covalent bond that links the nucleotides. [3]
deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs) + phosphodiester bond formation between growing
daughter DNA strand and incoming dNTP + catalysis by DNA polymerase ;
3. ref. to discontinuous synthesis as a series of Okazaki fragments in 5’ to 3’ direction
1. correct number and
against the overall direction of the replication fork ; orientation of symbols,
4. ref. to replacement of RNA primer with dNTPs + DNA ligase catalysing the formation i.e. pentose at the centre of
of phosphoester bond between 3’ end of each new Okazaki fragment and 5’ end of each nucleotide linked to
the growing daughter DNA strand ; phosphate and nitrogenous
base ;
2. correct position of
(b) State two ways in which DNA replication,
glycosidic bonds  and
(i) differs from transcription, [2] phosphoester bonds  ;
any two from: 3. correct nomenclature of
Marking the components and the
Transcription DNA Replication phosphoester bond
point
linking the nucleotides ;
1 only one DNA strand is used as both parental DNA strands are used ;
template as template
[Total: 10 marks]
2 ribonucleotides are used as deoxyribonucleotides are used as ;
monomers monomers
31(a) it produces single-stranded RNA it produces double-stranded DNA1(b) ;
42(a) it begins at promoter 2(b) it begins at origin of replication 3(b) ;
53(a) it is catalysed by RNA polymerase4(b) it is catalysed by DNA polymerase5(b) ;
64(a) RNA is synthesised in a continuous
6(b) daughter DNA strand is synthesised in ;
7(b)
manner a continuous and discontinuous
manner / AW

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION / 2020-2021 H2 BIOLOGY / TBL 1.1 / EUKARYOTIC GENE EXPRESSION / MS 1
HWA CHONG INSTITUTION / 2020-2021 H2 BIOLOGY / TBL 1.1 / EUKARYOTIC GENE EXPRESSION / MS 2
2. N12 / H2 / P2 / Q4

(a) Suggest how transcription factors such as TBP bind to DNA. [2]

1. ref. to TBP’s binding site having a specific complementary 3D conformation / shape to

that of DNA ;
2. hydrophobic interactions / ionic / hydrogen / non-covalent bonds between TBP’s
binding site / domain (Reject: active site) and DNA’s major and minor grooves /
phosphate backbone ;

(b) Explain why the unwinding of the double helix of DNA promotes transcription. [2]

1. This facilitates RNA polymerase attachment / AW ;

2. and separation of the two DNA strands, exposing bases for transcription ;

(c) Explain why such processing of pre-mRNA molecules is necessary. [3]

max 3 from:
1. to remove introns ;
2. to splice / join exons together ; to form mature mRNA
3. such that ribosome can read a continuous non-overlapping sequence of codons / AW ;
4. translating the sequence into the specific amino acid sequence of a polypeptide ;

[Total: 7 marks]

HWA CHONG INSTITUTION / 2020-2021 H2 BIOLOGY / TBL 1.1 / EUKARYOTIC GENE EXPRESSION / MS 3