Biology – 12th

GD GOENKA PUBLIC SCHOOL

Previous years board questions
Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Very short answer type questions (1 mark)

1. Name the specific components and the linkage between them that form
deoxyadenosine. [CBSE 2013]
2. Why is RNA more reactive in comparision to DNA? [CBSE 2015]
3. How does the flow of genetic information in HIV deviate the 'Central dogma'
proposed by Francis Crick? [CBSE 2013]
4. Explain the two factors responsible for conferring stability to double helix
structure of DNA.
[CBSE 2014]
5. Name the enzyme and state its property that is responsible for continuous and
discontinuous replication of the two strands of a DNA molecule. [CBSE 2013]
6. Which one out of rho factor and sigma factor act as initiation factor during
transcription in a prokaryote? [CBSE 2013]
7. What is a cistron? [CBSE (AI) 2015]
8. Name the transcriptionally active region of chromatin in a nucleus. [CBSE 2015]
9. Write the function of RNA polymerase II. [CBSE 2015]
10. Give an example of a codon having dual function. [CBSE 2016]
11. How does a degenerate code differ from an unambiguous one? [CBSE 2015]
12. What is aminoacylation? State its significance. [CBSE (AI) 2016]
13. Mention the contribution of genetic maps in human genome project. [CBSE (AI)
2011]
14. Mention how does DNA polymorphism arise in a population? [CBSE 2014]
15. How is repetitive /satellite DNA separated from bulk genomic DNA for various
genetic experiments? [CBSE 2014]
16. Name the negatively charged and positively charged components of a nucleosome. [CBSE
2015]
Short answer type questions (2-3 marks)
1. Describe the structure of a RNA polynucleotide chain having four different types
of nucleotides. [CBSE 2013]
2. Where does peptide bond formation occur in a bacterial ribosome and how?
[CBSE (AI) 2014]
3. a. A DNA segment has a total of 1,500 nucleotides, out of which 410 are
guanine containing nucleotides. How many pyrimidine bases this DNA segment
possesses?
b. Draw a diagrammatic sketch of a portion of DNA segment to support your
answer. [CBSE 2015]
4. A DNA segment has a total of 2,000 nucleotides, out of which 520 are adenine
containing nucleotides. How many purine bases this DNA segment possesses?
[CBSE 2015]
5. a. A DNA segment has a total of 1000 nucleotides, out of which 240 of them
are adenine containing nucleotides. How many pyrimidine bases this DNA
segment possesses?
b. Draw a diagrammatic sketch of a portion of DNA segment to support your
answer? [CBSE 2015]
6. Draw a labelled diagram of a nucleosome. Where is it found in a cell? [CBSE
2014]
7. Discuss the role of the enzyme DNA ligase plays during DNA replication. [CBSE
2016]
8. Describe the termination process of transcription in bacteria. [CBSE 2010]
9. State the functions of the following in a prokaryote:
a. tRNA b. rRNA [CBSE (AI) 2012]
10. a. Name the scientist who suggested that the genetic code should be made of
a combination of three nucleotides.
b. Explain the basis on which he arrived at his conclusion. [CBSE 2014]
11. One of the salient features of the genetic code is that it is nearly universal from
bacteria to humans. Mention two exceptions to this rule. Why are some codes said
to be degenerate? [ CBSE 2014]
12. State the condition when genetic code is said to be:
a. Degenerate
b. Unambiguous and specific
c. Universal [CBSE (F) 2012]
13. Differentiate between the genetic codes given below:
a. Unambiguous and Universal
b. Degenerate and Initiator [CBSE 2017]
14. Following are the features of genetic codes. What does each one indicate? Stop
codon; Unambiguous codon; Degenerate codon; Universal codon. [CBSE 2016]
15. a. Name the scientist who called tRNA an adapter molecule.
b. Draw a clover leaf structure of tRNA showing the following:
 (i) Tyrosine attached to its amino acids site.
(ii) Anticodon for this amino acid in its correct site (codon for tyrosine is
UCA)
c. What does the actual structure of tRNA look like? [CBSE 2011]
16. Explain the process of splicing of hn-RNA in a eukaryotic cell. [CBSE Delhi 2017]
17. a. List the two methodologies which were involved in human genome project.
Mention how they were used?
b. Expand 'YAC' and mention what was it used for ? [CBSE 2017]
18. a. Explain DNA polymorphism as the basis of genetic mapping of human
genome.
b. State the role of VNTR in DNA fingerprinting. [CBSE 2013]
19. Draw the structure of a rRNA charged with methionine. [CBSE (F) 2012]
20. Why is DNA considered a better hereditary material than RNA? [CBSE (F) 2012]
21. It is established that RNA is the first genetic material. Explain giving three
reasons. [2012]
22. Name two enzymes involved in the process of DNA replication, along with their
properties. [CBSE 2012]
23. Draw a labelled schematic diagram of a transcription unit. [CBSE (F) 2012]
24. The base sequence in one of the strands of DNA is TAGCATGAT.
a. Give the base sequence of its complementary strand.
b. How are these base pairs held together in a DNA molecule?
c. Explain the base complementarily rules. Name the scientist who framed this
rule. [2011]

Long answer type questions

1. List the criteria a molecule that can act as genetic material must fulfill. Which one
of the criteria are best fulfilled by DNA or by RNA making one of them a better
genetic material than the other? Explain. [CBSE 2016]
2. How did Hershey and Chase established that DNA is transferred from virus to
bacteria? [CBSE 2015]
3. a. Describe the series of experiments of F. Griffith. Comment on the
significance of the results obtained.
b. State the contribution of Macleod, McCarty and Avery. [CBSE (AI) 2016]
4. Explain the structure of t-RNA with the help of a diagram. Describe its role in the
process of translation. [CBSE 2015]
OR
 Describe the structure and function of a t-RNA molecule. Why is it referred to as
an adapter molecule? [CBSE Delhi 2017]
5. Write the different components of a lac-operon in E. Coli. Explain the expression
while in an open state. [CBSE Delhi 2017]
6. Describe Meselson and Stahil's experiment that was carried in 1958 on E. coil.
Write the conclusion they arrived at after the experiment. [CBSE (AI) 2016]
7. a. Name the state in the cell cycle where DNA replication occurs.
b. Explain the mechansim of DNA replciation. Highlight the role of enzymes in
the process.
c. Why is DNA replication said to be semi-conservative? [CBSE (AI) 2016]
8. Explain the process of transcription in prokaryotes. How is the process different
in eukaryotes? [CBSE 2015]
9. a. Describe the process of transcription in bacteria.
b. Explain the processing of hnRNA needs to undergo before becoming
functional mRNA in eukaryotes. [CBSE (AI) 2016]
10. a. Write the specific features of the genetic code AUG.
b. Genetic codes can be universal and degenerate. Write about them, giving
one example of each.
c. Explain aminoacylation of the tRNA. [CBSE 2015]
11. How do m-RNA, t-RNA and ribosomes help in the process of translation? [CBSE
2015]
12. Following the collision of two trains a large number of passengers are killed. A
majority of them are beyond recognition. Authorities want to hand over the dead
to their relatives. Name a modern scientific method and write the procedure that
would help i the identification of kinship. [CBSE 2015]