Biology Quiz: Molecular Basis of Inheritance

What is the genetic material for the majority of organisms?

• Carbohydrates

• RNA

• DNA

• Proteins

Which scientist first identified DNA as the genetic material?

• Alfred Hershey

• Friedrich Meischer

• Frederick Griffith

• Gregor Mendel

What is the main enzyme involved in DNA replication?

• Helicase

• RNA polymerase

• DNA-dependent DNA polymerase

• DNA ligase

Which isotopes were used by Meselson and Stahl in their experiment to prove semiconservative DNA replication?

• Carbon-14 and Nitrogen-15

• Hydrogen-1 and Oxygen-18

• Oxygen-16 and Nitrogen-14

• Nitrogen-15 and Nitrogen-14

What is the function of a promoter in a transcription unit?

• Repairs DNA

• Terminates transcription

• Binds RNA polymerase

• Initiates translation

Which strand of DNA acts as the template during transcription?

What is the main difference between DNA and RNA in terms of stability?

• DNA is more stable than RNA

• RNA is more stable than DNA

• DNA is less reactive than RNA

• RNA is less reactive than DNA

What is the primary function of DNA ligase in DNA replication?

• Unwinds the DNA helix

• Joins Okazaki fragments

• Synthesizes RNA primers

• Proofreads newly synthesized DNA

Which scientist proposed the Central Dogma of molecular biology?

• Frederick Griffith

• Alfred Hershey

• Francis Crick

• Gregor Mendel

What is the role of histones in DNA packaging in eukaryotes?

• Provide energy for replication

• Repair damaged DNA

• Act as DNA polymerases

• Wrap DNA around to form nucleosomes