Transcription LS7A Practice Questions

In a DNA strand, successive nucleotides are linked by: A. hydrogen bonds B. 3'-5' phosphodiester bonds C. peptide bonds D. 2'-5' phosphodiester bonds E. base stacking

3'-5' phosphodiester bonds

A template strand of DNA is read in the _____ direction in order to direct synthesis of RNA in the _____ direction. A. 3'-5'; 5'-3' B. 5'-3'; 5'-3' C. 5'-3'; 3'-5' E. 3'-5'; 3'-5'

3'-5'; 5'-3'

Why is it that the primary transcript in prokaryotes can immediately serve as mRNA while in eukaryotes it undergoes elaborate multistep processing? (Select all that apply.) A. All of these choices are correct. B. Primary transcripts in eukaryotes contain introns that have to be removed. C. Prokaryotes do not have a nuclear envelope and the ribosome can start translation even before transcription ends. D. A 5′ cap is added to the prokaryotic primary transcript allowing the ribosome to start translation immediately. E. General transcription factors in eukaryotes are unable to enter the nucleus.

B. Primary transcripts in eukaryotes contain introns that have to be removed. C. Prokaryotes do not have a nuclear envelope and the ribosome can start translation even before transcription ends.

What is the central dogma? A. DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein. B. RNA is transcribed into protein, which is translated into DNA. C. RNA is transcribed into DNA, which is translated into protein. D. DNA is transcribed into protein, which is translated into RNA.

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into protein

Muscle cells make different proteins than nerve cells because they have different sequences of DNA. A. True B. False

False

Which one of the following statements about RNA is INCORRECT? A. RNA molecules can form base pairs within a single strand. B. The nucleotide at the 5' end of an RNA molecule is typically a nucleoside triphosphate. C. RNA molecules are typically shorter than DNA molecules. D. RNA molecules are capable of evolving their enzymatic activity over time. E. RNA is usually found in double-stranded form, just like DNA.

RNA is usually found in double-stranded form, just like DNA.

Which one of the following CORRECTLY lists the components necessary for eukaryotic transcription? A. ribosomes, general transcription factors, DNA, and RNA nucleotides B. RNA polymerase, general transcription factors, DNA, and DNA nucleotides C. ribosomes, general transcription factors, DNA, and DNA nucleotides D. RNA polymerase, general transcription factors, DNA, and RNA nucleotides

RNA polymerase, general transcription factors, DNA, and RNA nucleotides

Which of the following is true about the structure of a double-stranded DNA molecule? A. The diameter of a DNA molecule is the same along its entire length due to the specific complementary base pairing of the DNA nucleotides. B. The nitrogenous bases in one strand are held to the nitrogenous bases of the other strand by phosphodiester bonds. C. Purine nucleotides always form base pairs with other purines, and pyrimidine nucleotides always form base pairs with other pyrimidines. D. The nucleotides in a strand of DNA are held together by hydrogen bonds

The diameter of a DNA molecule is the same along its entire length due to the specific complementary base pairing of the DNA nucleotides.

Whichever DNA strand is transcribed, the RNA polymerase reads the template strand from 3′ to 5′. A. True B. False

True

Transcription is the process by which: A. the information in DNA is used to synthesize an exact copy of that DNA. B. ribosomes synthesize protein from information in an RNA molecule. C. an RNA molecule is used to repair damage to a related DNA molecule. D. ribosomes read the information in a DNA molecule and use it to synthesize protein. E. a section of DNA is used as information to generate an RNA molecule.

a section of DNA is used as information to generate an RNA molecule.

Transcription continues until: A. a ribosome pulls RNA polymerase off the DNA. B. a terminator sequence is encountered. C. all bases in the DNA are copied. D. a stop codon is encountered. E. a transcription factor signals the end of the gene.

a terminator sequence is encountered

Which one of the following represents an actual Watson-Crick base pair with the LARGEST number of hydrogen bonds? A. cytosine and guanine B. adenine and thymine C. cytosine and thymine D. thymine and guanine E. adenine and cytosine

cytosine and guanine

In eukaryotes, activator proteins bind to _____; generalized transcription factors bind to _____. A. DNA polymerases; RNA polymerases B. promoters; terminators C. terminators; RNA polymerases D. promoters; enhancers E. enhancers; promoters

enhancers; promoters

A template DNA strand contains the sequence 3'-ATGCTGAC-5'. This strand is transcribed: A. from right to left. B. from left to right.

from left to right.

In double-stranded DNA, the sugar-phosphate backbones are: A. on the inside, separated by grooves of unequal size. B. on the inside, separated by grooves of equal size. C. on the outside, separated by grooves of unequal size. D. on the outside, separated by grooves of equal size.

on the outside, separated by grooves of unequal size.

In a double-stranded DNA molecule, the strands are said to be antiparallel because: A. they wind around one another. B. one strand runs 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'. C. each purine of one strand pairs with a pyrimidine of another. D. they form an uneven pair of grooves on the outside of molecule.

one strand runs 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'.

In eukaryotes, where do general transcription initiation factors bind? A. 5' UTR B. promoter C. donor splice site D. near the start codon E. 5' cap

promoter

Translation is the process by which: A. the information in DNA is used to synthesize an exact copy of that DNA. B. an RNA molecule is used to repair damage to a related DNA molecule. C. ribosomes synthesize protein from information in an RNA molecule. D. ribosomes read the information in a DNA molecule and use it to synthesize protein. E. a section of DNA is used as information to generate an RNA molecule.

ribosomes synthesize protein from information in an RNA molecule