CHAPTER – 6 MOLECULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE

LEVEL1

1. Who amongst the following scientists had no contribution in the

development of the double helix model for the structure of DNA?
(a) Rosalind Franklin
(b) Maurice Wilkins
(c) Erwin Chargaff
(d) Meselson and Stahl
2. The fact that a purine base always paired through hydrogen bonds with
a pyrimidine base leads to, in the DNA double helix:
(a) the antiparallel nature
(b) the semiconservative nature
(c) uniform width throughout DNA
(d) uniform length in all DNA
3. The net electric charge on DNA and histones is:
(a) both positive
(b) both negative
(c) negative and positive, respectively
(d) zero
4. The following question consist of two statements each, printed as
Assertion and Reason. While answering the question you are required to
choose any one of the following four responses:
A .If both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is correct
explanation of Assertion.
B. If both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not correct
explanation of Assertion.
C. If Assertion is true but Reason is false.
D. If both Assertion and Reason are false.

Assertion: There occur 64 codons in the dictionary of genetic code.

Reason : Genetic code is quadruplet

LEVEL 2
5. Name the enzyme and state its property that is responsible for
continuous and discontinuous replication of the two strands of a DNA
molecule.
6. What happens if DNA replication is not followed by cell division in a
eukaryotic cell?
7. Why is the strand of DNA with 3’ →5’ polarity transcribed and not the
other strand of 5’ →3’ polarity?
8. What are the transcriptional products of RNA polymerase III?
9. What represents the dominance of RNA world?
10. What is ribozyme?
11. Write the two specific codons that a translational unit of mRNA is
flanked by, one on its either sides.
12. Mention the two assumptions that led to HGP.

13. Write the full form of VNTR. How is VNTR different from probe?

14. How is repetitive DNA separated from bulk genomic DNA for genetic
experiments?
LEVEL 3
15. Due to an error during transcription, ATG of DNA formed UAG in
mRNA. What would happen to the polypeptide chain during translation
by this changed mRNA?
16. Mention any two ways in which single nucleotide polymorphism
identified in human genome can bring out revolutionary changes in
biological and medical sciences?
17. A tRNA is charged with the amino acid methionine. Name the process
involved in the attachment. Point out the mRNA codon and anticodon on
tRNA for this amino acid.
18. A DNA segment has a total of 1000 nucleotides, out of which 240 are
adenine containing nucleotides. How many pyrimidine bases this DNA
segment possess?
19. ATGGAGTACTTCGTGTGA is the coding strand of DNA in a transcription
unit.
(i) Write the mRNA transcribed from this DNA segment.
(ii) How many amino acids does it code for? Why?
 20. Observe the representation of genes involved in the lac operon given
below.

(a) Identify the region where the repressor protein will attach normally.
(b) Under certain conditions repressor is unable to attach to this site.
Explain.
(c) If repressor fails to attach to the said site what products will be
formed by z, y and a?
(d) Analyze why this kind of regulation is called negative regulation?

EXTENDED LEARNING
Find out a brief information about the DNA G – quadruplexes in the Human
genome.
Note:
Diagrams to be drawn in the note book:
-A Polynucleotide chain and double stranded polynucleotide chain (DNA)
– Fig 6.1 and 6.2
- Nucleosome – Fig 6.4a
- Hershey Chase experiment – Fig 6.5
- Meselson and Stahl experiment – Fig 6.7
- Replicating fork – Fig 6.8
- Schematic structure of transcription unit – Fig 6.9
- Process of transcription in bacteria – Fig 6.10
- Process of transcription in Eukaryotes – Fig 6.11
- t RNA adapter molecule – Fig 6.12
- Translation – Fig 6.13
- Lac Operon – Fig 6.14
- DNA fingerprinting – Fig 6.16