Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2014

Last exams 2024

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Transcription & Translation (DP IB Biology: SL)

Exam Questions

3 hours35 questions
1
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1 mark

Which of the following steps is not involved in the process of transcription?

  • The DNA double helix separates into single strands

  • DNA polymerase binds to one of the single strands and moves along the gene

  • Free RNA nucleotides are joined together by covalent bonds

  • The RNA molecule detaches from the DNA template strand at the end of the gene

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2
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1 mark

The following diagram shows the process of translation.2-6--e-2

Which row of the following table correctly identifies the labelled components?

  P Q R S
A. anticodon codon ribosome mRNA
B. codon anticodon ribosome tRNA
C. anticodon codon ribosome tRNA
D. codon anticodon mRNA ribosome

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    3
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    1 mark

    In a genetic engineering experiment, a piece of double-stranded DNA containing 18 000 nucleotides coding for a specific polypeptide is transcribed and translated.

    What is the total number of amino acids in this polypeptide?

    • 3 000

    • 6 000

    • 9 000

    • 18 000

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    4
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    1 mark

    A section of a DNA molecule contains the following base sequences:

    ATA  CCT  GCA

    Which of the following would represent the base sequences of the codons on the mRNA molecule after transcription?

    • ATA  CCT  GCA

    • AUA  CCU  GCA

    • TAT  GGA CGT

    • UAU  GGA  CGU

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    5
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    1 mark

    Which one of the following would not be an advantage of using bacteria to produce human insulin?

    • Some bacteria can survive at very high temperatures, which will make the insulin less likely to denature

    • The insulin produced by the genetically modified bacteria is identical to human insulin

    • Bacteria uses the same genetic code as humans which makes gene transfer possible between the species

    • Bacteria can produce large quantities of insulin in a relatively short amount of time

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    11 mark

    A piece of DNA was analysed to find the number of nucleotide bases in each of the polynucleotide strands.  Some of the results are shown below.

      Number of nucleotide bases
      A T G C
    Strand 1   30 22  
    Strand 2   30 38  

    What is the maximum number of amino acids that could be coded for by this DNA?

    • 30

    • 35

    • 40

    • 50

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    21 mark

    What is the correct sequence for the processes involved in the formation of a protein?

    • transcription → peptide bonding → translation → ionic bonding    

    • transcription → translation → peptide bonding → hydrogen bonding    

    • transcription → peptide bonding → translation → hydrogen bonding

    • translation → peptide bonding → transcription → ionic bonding    

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    31 mark

    Which of the following statements about transcription are true? 

    1. DNA remains in the nucleus because it is too large to fit through the pores in the nuclear envelope.
    2. Transcription makes a copy of the sense strand of DNA.
    3. Transcription converts a sequence of nucleotides into a sequence of amino acids.
    4. RNA polymerase forms covalent bonds between the RNA nucleotides.
    • II only

    • I and IV

    • I, II and III

    • I, II and IV

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    41 mark

    What terminates the formation of a polypeptide chain during protein synthesis in cells?

    • When the ribosome reaches the end of the mRNA molecule.

    • When there are no more tRNA molecules. 

    • When the ribosome reaches a stop codon on the mRNA. 

    • RNA polymerase detaches the polypeptide chain from the ribosome.  

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    51 mark

    In 1957, Meselson and Stahl conducted an experiment that provided overwhelming evidence to support the theory that DNA replication is semi-conservative. They used E. coli which has a generation time of around one hour.

    Here are the steps in their experiment in a mixed-up order: 

    1. Bacteria contain either all 14N DNA or hybrid DNA
    2. Bacteria grown in a 15N medium for many generations
    3. Bacteria transferred to a 14N medium and sampled every hour
    4. All bacteria contain hybrid DNA (14N DNA and 15N DNA).
    5. All bacteria contain 15N DNA

    Which is the correct order of the processes?

    • 4 → 3 → 1 → 2 → 5

    • 2 → 1 → 3 → 4 → 5

    • 5 → 4 → 3 → 1 → 2

    • 2 → 5 → 3 → 4 → 1 

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    61 mark

    Which of the following drawings best represents the structure of a section of DNA?

    2-6-biology-mcq-q6

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      71 mark

      A base substitution mutation has caused a single change to the mRNA transcript of a section of a gene, as shown below. 

      Original sequence

      AUGGAAAUACCGCCAGGA

      Mutated sequence

      AUGGAAAUACUGCCAGGA

      2-6-biology-mcq-q7

      Using the table above, what is the change in amino acid sequence caused by this mutation?

      • Pro → Leu

      • Met → Glu

      • Pro → Gln

      • No change

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      81 mark

      Which row of the table contains three correct statements about DNA replication, transcription and translation?

        DNA replication Transcription Translation
      A produces mRNA occurs in the cytoplasm tRNA involved
      B DNA polymerase involved RNA polymerase involved produces mRNA
      C is semi-conservative produces mRNA

      occurs at a ribosome

      D occurs in the nucleus occurs in the nucleus RNA polymerase involved

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        91 mark

        Which of the following statements about the genetic code are correct?. 

        1. A single DNA base will always be transcribed and translated in eukaryotic organisms.
        2. A single DNA base can be part of genes that overlap each other.
        3. The genetic code allows multiple triplet codons to code for a single amino acid. 
        4. The genetic code in a eukaryotic organism's genome stays the same throughout the organism's life.
        • III only

        • I and IV

        • I, II and III

        • III and IV

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        101 mark

        The laboratory technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) takes advantage of the ability of polymerase enzymes to copy pieces of genetic material quickly and accurately. Which of the following are necessary for successfully conducting PCR in a forensic examination at a crime scene? 

        1. An active sample of human DNA or RNA polymerase
        2. Buffer solution
        3. A sample of target DNA or RNA
        4. Free nucleotides
        5. Primer sequences
        • I, III, IV

        • II, III, IV and V

        • I, II, III and IV

        • All of them

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        1
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        1 mark

        A polypeptide has the following amino acid sequence:

        alanine - alanine - valine - lysine - valine - serine

        The table below gives the base sequences for the DNA triplets of each amino acid.

        Amino acid DNA triplet
        serine TCG
        valine GTA
        lysine AAA
        alanine GCT
        stop TAA

        A mutation in the DNA coding for this polypeptide chain caused the tenth nucleotide to change from an A to a T.

        Which of the following would represent the amino acid sequence in the polypeptide after the mutation occurred?

        • alanine - alanine - valine - lysine - valine - serine

        • alanine - alanine - valine - stop - valine - serine

        • alanine - alanine - valine

        • alanine - alanine - valine - serine - valine - serine

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        2
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        1 mark

        Which of the following processes involve both DNA and RNA?

        I. Replication

        II. Transcription

        III. Translation

        IV. Protein synthesis

        • I and II

        • I, II and IV

        • III only

        • II and IV

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        3
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        1 mark

        The following steps are involved in the process of replicating DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

        1. The temperature is increased to 72°C to allow Taq polymerase to bind to DNA
        2. A new complementary strand of DNA is produced 
        3. The temperature is raised to 95°C to cause denaturation of the DNA molecule
        4. Primers attach to the ends of single strands of DNA by hydrogen bonding
        5. The temperature is decreased to about 54°C

        Which of the following represents the correct order of the steps?

        • 1 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 2

        • 3 → 5 → 4 → 1 → 2

        • 1 → 3 → 5 → 4 → 2

        • 3 → 4 → 5 → 1 → 2

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        4
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        1 mark

        A short section of mRNA that was produced after transcription occurred has the following base sequence:

        AAACUUCUCAUAGAACGG

        The following table shows the base sequence for codons and the corresponding amino acids that they code for.

        mrna-codons-and-amino-acids-table

        Which of the following would represent the correct amino acid sequence coded for by this section of mRNA?

        • Lys - Leu - Pro - Asp - Gly - Ala

        • Lys - Phe - Pro - Lys - Gly - Ala

        • Lys - Leu - Leu - Asp - Glu - Arg

        • Lys - Leu - Leu - Ile - Glu - Arg

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        5
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        1 mark

        A polypeptide has the following amino acid sequence:

        histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - histidine - valine

        The table below gives the tRNA anticodons for each amino acid.

        Amino acid tRNA anticodons
        histidine CAU
        valine GUA
        lysine AAA
        alanine GCU
        glutamine CAG

        A mutation causes the 18th base in the DNA sequence to be deleted. 

        Which of the following would represent the amino acid sequence after this deletion?

        • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - histidine

        • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine 

        • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - glutamine

        • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - histidine - valine

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