7.A
DNA and Genetic Information
DNA and Genetic Information
What are the three parts of a nucleotide?
A nucleotide has three parts: a phosphate, a sugar, and a base.
Define osmosis.
Osmosis is when water moves to where there’s more salt or sugar.
What is the function of the stigma in a flower?
The stigma catches pollen to help plants make seeds.
Define a virus.
A virus is not alive and is made of DNA or RNA with a protein shell.
What is the purpose of mitosis?
Mitosis makes two identical cells for growth and repair.
Transcribe this DNA sequence into mRNA: TAC GGA TCA.
The mRNA is: AUG CCU AGU.
Predict what happens to a cell placed in saltwater.
The cell will shrink because water leaves it.
Match a plant's reproductive structure with its function (e.g., ovary → produces seeds).
Ovary makes seeds, anther makes pollen, and petals attract insects.
Compare viruses to bacteria.
Viruses are not alive and need a host to reproduce. Bacteria are alive and can grow on their own.
Identify the phases of mitosis shown in this image (from left to right).
Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telaphase
Using the codon chart, determine the amino acids coded by the mRNA: AUG CCU AGU.
The amino acids are: Methionine, Proline, and Serine.
Explain the difference between active transport and diffusion.
Active transport uses energy to move things; diffusion doesn’t need energy.
Explain how phototropism helps a plant survive.
Plants bend toward light so they can make more food.
Describe how vaccines work to prevent disease.
Vaccines help your body make antibodies to fight viruses.
Compare the roles of mitosis versus the rest of the cell cycle.
Mitosis divides the nucleus, while the rest of the cell cycle prepares the cell for division.
A mutation changes a codon in DNA from TAC to TAA. Predict what happens to the resulting protein.
The protein stops being made because TAA is a "stop" signal.
Analyze how a failure in osmosis could lead to dehydration in a plant.
Without osmosis, plants can’t get water, so they wilt and dry out.
Predict how drought conditions would affect a plant’s ability to reproduce.
If there’s no water, plants can’t make seeds and may die.
Predict how a virus mutating rapidly affects vaccine development.
If viruses change quickly, vaccines have to change to keep up.
Predict the consequences of uncontrolled cell division.
Uncontrolled cell division causes cancer, where cells grow too fast.
Analyze how a mutation in a single nucleotide could affect an organism’s traits.
A mutation can change the protein, which might change how the organism looks or works.
Evaluate how the sodium-potassium pump helps maintain homeostasis in nerve cells.
The sodium-potassium pump keeps the right balance of chemicals, so nerve cells can work.
Propose an experiment to test the effect of light wavelength on plant growth.
Test this: Put plants under red, blue, and green lights and see which grows best.
Evaluate why viruses are considered non-living.
Viruses are not alive because they can’t grow or reproduce by themselves.
Evaluate how DNA damage affects the cell cycle.
If DNA is damaged, the cell may stop dividing or become cancerous.