....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

Genetics Set 5 Exam Questions

3.
4.

(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Read through the following account of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), then write
Read
the following
passage about
protein
structure,
then write
on the dotted lines the
on
the through
dotted lines
the most appropriate
word
or words
to complete
the account.
most appropriate word or words to complete the passage.
DNA is a molecule consisting of a long chain of nucleotides, which are joined together
Proteins are composed of long chains of monomers called ...............................................,
by................................... reactions. Each nucleotide in DNA consists of a
which are linked together by ........................................................ bonds. These bonds are
nitrogenous base, a phosphate group and ................................... .The
formed by ..................................................... reactions between adjacent monomers. The
nitrogenous base may be adenine, guanine, cytosine or .................................... .
primary structure of a protein is the specific sequence of monomers in a polypeptide
A molecule of DNA is made up of two polynucleotide chains coiled into a
chain and determines the secondary and tertiary protein structure. The secondary
................................... . The two chains are held together by
structure of a protein may be a coil, known as an ...............................................................
................................... bonds between the nitrogenous bases
(Total 5 marks)
which is held in shape by ............................................................. bonds between different

monomers in the chain.

(Total 5 marks)

5.

The diagram below shows the structure of a nucleotide.

A

(a)

Identify the parts labelled A, B and C in the diagram.

A ................................................................................................................................

B ................................................................................................................................
C ................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b)

The sequence of bases from part of a gene is shown below.

AGCCGTCCCGTC
Write out the sequence of bases on messenger RNA (mRNA) that would be coded for by
this part of the gene.
....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

Describe what is meant by the semi-conservativereplication of DNA.

....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(4)

(d)

A quantity of DNA was labelled with radioactive nitrogen. It was then allowed to
replicate three times, using non-radioactive nucleotides to synthesise the new DNA
strands. What proportion of the final mass of DNA would you expect to be radioactive?
Explain your answer.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(e)

In which stage of the cell cycle does replication of DNA take place?
...................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 12 marks)

6.

The table below refers to two disaccharides, sucrose and maltose. If the statement is correct,
place a tick ( ) in the appropriate box and if the statement
is incorrect, place a cross ( ) in the
2
appropriate box.

10.

The table below refers to the structure of different types of nucleic acids. If the feature is
present, place a ( ) in the appropriate box and if the feature is absent place a cross ( ) in the
appropriate box.
Feature

DNA

mRNA

Cytosine present
Uracil present
Pentose sugar present
Is single stranded
(Total 4 marks)

12.

The diagram below summarises the steps involved in the semi-conservative replication of DNA.

D o u b le stra n d o f D N A
S te p 1

E nzym e A

T w o stra n d s s e p a ra te d
7

S te p 2
C o m p le m e n ta r y n u c le o tid e s lin e u p a g a in s t e a c h s tr a n d
S te p 3

E nzym e B

N u c le o tid e s jo in to f o r m tw o n e w p o ly n u c le o tid e c h a in s
S te p 4
T w o id e n tic a l D N A m o le c u le s fo r m e d

(a)

Describe how Enzyme A separates the two DNA strands in Step 1.

.
.
(1)

(b)

In Step 3 the individual nueleotides are joined up to form a polynucleotide chain by

Enzyme B.
Name the type of reaction that Enzyme B catalyses.
.
(1)

(c)

Give the phase of the cell cycle during which DNA replication occurs.
.
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

17.

The diagram below shows a stage in the process of translation during protein synthesis. This
process is occurring on a ribosome.
A m in o a c id s

R ib o s o m e

A m in o a c id

tR N A m o le c u le

1
2

3
A n tic o d o n

G U A

G G U

A A A

G C C

A C G

G G
U

P art o f a m e ssen g e r
R N A m o le c u le

(a)

Describe the structure of a ribosome.

...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(2)

11

(b)

The table below shows the anticodons of some tRNA molecules and the specific amino
acids that each one carries.
tRNA anticodon

Amino acid

GGU

Proline

CCA

Glycine

AAA

Phenylalanine

CGA

Alanine

ACC

Tryptophan

UUU

Lysine

Using the information in the table, identify amino acids 2 and 3 shown in the diagram on
the previous page.
Amino acid 2 .........................................................................................................................
Amino acid 3 .........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

During translation, amino acids are linked by a peptide bond.

(i)

Draw a diagram to show two amino acids linked by a peptide bond.

(3)

23

(ii)

(ii)

Name the type of chemical reaction that occurs when maltose breaks down.
...........................................................................................................................

Name the type of reaction that occurs during the formation of a peptide bond.

(1)
(Total 5 marks)

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

19.

The diagram below shows part of a DNA molecule.

Y

18.

Carbohydrates are used as a source of energy. Excess carbohydrate can be stored as glycogen in
animal cells.
Z

(a)

Give two reasons why

X glycogen is used as a storage molecule.
A d e n in e

1 ..................................................................................................................................
2 ..................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

C y to s in e

The diagram below shows a molecule of maltose.

(a)

(i)

Name the parts of the molecule represented by each of the following letters.
W ......................................................................................................................
X ......................................................................................................................
Y ......................................................................................................................
Z ......................................................................................................................
(4)

(i)

Complete
diagrams
below
to show
two
molecules
will result
(ii)theName
the type
of bond
that the
holds
theglucose
two strands
of DNAthat
together.
when this maltose molecule is broken down.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(2)

25

(b)

The table below shows the amino acids coded by mRNA codons.
S econd base
C

U
U
U
U

U
U
U
U

U
C
A
G

P
P
L
L

h e n y la la n in e
h e n y la la n in e
e u c in e
e u c in e

U
U
U
U

C
C
C
C

U
C
A
G

S
S
S
S

e rin
e rin
e rin
e rin

C
C
C
C

U
U
U
U

U
C
A
G

L
L
L
L

eu
eu
eu
eu

C
C
C
C

C
C
C
C

U
C
A
G

P
P
P
P

ro
ro
ro
ro

lin
lin
lin
lin

A
A
A
A

U
U
U
U

U
C
A
G

Is o le u c in e
Is o le u c in e
Is o le u c in e
M e th io n in e

A
A
A
A

C
C
C
C

U
C
A
G

T
T
T
T

h
h
h
h

reo n
reo n
reo n
reo n

G
G
G
G

U
U
U
U

U
C
A
G

V
V
V
V

G
G
G
G

C
C
C
C

U
C
A
G

A
A
A
A

la n in
la n in
la n in
la n in

(i)

c in
c in
c in
c in

a lin
a lin
a lin
a lin

e
e
e
e

e
e
e
e

e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
in
in
in
in
e
e
e
e

e
e
e
e

U
U
U
U

A
A
A
A

U
C
A
G

T
T
S
S

y ro s in e
y ro s in e
to p
to p

U
U
U
U

G
G
G
G

U
C
A
G

C y s te in e
C y s te in e
S to p
T ry p to p h a n

U
C
A
G

C
C
C
C

A
A
A
A

U
C
A
G

H
H
G
G

is tid in e
is tid in e
lu ta m in e
lu ta m in e

C
C
C
C

G
G
G
G

U
C
A
G

A
A
A
A

e
e
e
e

U
C
A
G

A
A
A
A

A
A
A
A

U
C
A
G

A s p a ra g in e
A s p a ra g in e
L y sin e
L y sin e

A
A
A
A

G
G
G
G

U
C
A
G

S e rin e
S e rin e
A rg in in e
A rg in in e

U
C
A
G

G
G
G
G

A
A
A
A

U
C
A
G

A
A
G
G

G
G
G
G

G
G
G
G

U
C
A
G

G
G
G
G

U
C
A
G

s p a rtic a c id
s p a rtic a c id
lu ta m ic a c id
lu ta m ic a c id

rg
rg
rg
rg

in
in
in
in

in
in
in
in

ly c in e
ly c in e
ly c in e
ly c in e

T h ird b a s e

F irs t b a s e

Name the process by which mRNA is formed in the nucleus.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Reading from left to right, what is the sequence of amino acids coded by the
following length of mRNA?
G

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

26

(iii)

A mutation occurred so that the base cytosine was replaced by guanine in this
mRNA. Using the information in the table, explain why this mutation could affect
the tertiary structure of the protein formed from this mRNA.
...........................................................................................................................
(c)

One of the properties of water is that it has a high specific heat capacity. Explain why this

...........................................................................................................................
property is important for organisms that live in water.

...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

(2)
(Total 5 marks)

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................

(3)
(Total 10 marks)

21.

Protein synthesis involves transcription and translation.

(a)

20.

(i)

Where does transcription take place in a eukaryotic cell?

The diagram below shows four molecules of water.

(ii)

(1)

Name the type of chemical reaction

that
H
H occurs when a strand of messenger RNA is
formed from individual nucleotides.

H
H

O
(b)

The diagram below showsH part ofH a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.

(a)

(1)

(i)

O
C

What is the maximum number of amino acids coded for by this strand of mRNA?

Name the type of bond labelled A on the diagram.

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

(b)

(1)
Complete the diagram below to show the sequence of bases on the strand of DNA
that coded for this mRNA.

Explain why water molecules are described as dipolar.

(2)

(2)

27

28

(c)

A strand of mRNA was found to have 53 codons but the protein produced from it
contained only 51 amino acids. Suggest two reasons for this difference.

(2)

(d)

Describe the process of translation.

(5)
(Total 12 marks)

29