DNA Basics
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid.
What is the shape of the DNA molecule?
a) Double helix
b) Single strand
c) Spiral staircase
a) Double helix
Who used X-ray diffraction to study DNA?
a) James Watson
b) Rosalind Franklin
c) Francis Crick
b) Rosalind Franklin
What is the main function of DNA?
a) To store and transmit genetic information
b) To produce energy for the cell
c) To create lipids
a) To store and transmit genetic information
True or False: All living things share the same four DNA bases.
True
DNA is made up of repeating units called what?
Nucleotides
What type of bond holds the two strands of DNA together?
a) Covalent bonds
b) Hydrogen bonds
c) Ionic bonds
b) Hydrogen bonds
What did Griffith’s experiments show about bacteria?
a) That they can photosynthesize
b) That they can transform and share genetic material
c) That they can create proteins
b) That they can transform and share genetic material
Why is complementary base pairing important for DNA replication?
a) It ensures accurate replication of genetic material
b) It stabilizes the DNA molecule
c) It allows DNA to form a helix
a) It ensures accurate replication of genetic material
If you stretched out the DNA in one human cell, about how long would it be?
a) 2 meters (6 feet)
b) 1 meter (3 feet)
c) 10 centimeters (4 inches)
a) 2 meters (6 feet)
What are the three parts of a nucleotide?
A phosphate group, a sugar (deoxyribose), and a nitrogenous base.
Which base pairs with cytosine?
a) Adenine
b) Guanine
c) Thymine
b) Guanine
Who built the first accurate model of DNA?
a) James Watson and Francis Crick
b) Erwin Chargaff and Rosalind Franklin
c) Avery and Griffith
a) James Watson and Francis Crick
What are chromosomes made of?
a) DNA and proteins
b) RNA and proteins
c) Sugars and phosphates
a) DNA and proteins
What animal has the most DNA compared to its body size?
a) Humans
b) Marbled lungfish
c) Blue whale
b) Marbled lungfish
Name the four nitrogenous bases in DNA.
Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine.
What is the term for the pairing of bases (A-T, C-G)?
a) Chargaff’s Rule
b) Double pairing
c) Complementary base pairing
c) Complementary base pairing
What conclusion did Oswald Avery draw from his experiments?
a) DNA is the transforming factor
b) Protein is the genetic material
c) RNA is responsible for transformation
a) DNA is the transforming factor
How does DNA control the cell's functions?
a) By coding for lipids
b) By coding for proteins
c) By forming membranes
b) By coding for proteins
What percentage of human DNA is identical to chimpanzee DNA?
a) 100%
b) 98%
c) 90%
b) 98%
What is the backbone of the DNA molecule made of?
a) Protein and nitrogen bases
b) Sugar and phosphate
c) Lipid and sugar
b) Sugar and phosphate
Who discovered that the percentages of adenine and thymine are almost equal in DNA?
a) Rosalind Franklin
b) Erwin Chargaff
c) James Watson
b) Erwin Chargaff
What did Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images reveal about DNA?
a) Its sugar-phosphate backbone
b) Its helical shape
c) The base pairing rules
b) Its helical shape
What two processes does DNA directly support?
a) Photosynthesis and energy production
b) Protein synthesis and DNA replication
c) Cell division and ATP production
b) Protein synthesis and DNA replication
What scientist is often called the "Father of Genetics"?
a) Gregor Mendel
b) Charles Darwin
c) Francis Cric
a) Gregor Mendel