Which choice below has the terms arranged in the order in which they occur?

A. DNA, translation, mRNA, transcription, amino acids, protein
Incorrect. DNA is transcribed into mRNA. “Translation” occurs later.

B. DNA, transcription, protein, mRNA, translation, amino acids
Incorrect. DNA is transcribed into mRNA, not directly into protein.

C. DNA, transcription, mRNA, translation, amino acids, protein
Correct! According to the “Central Dogma” of molecular biology, DNA is transcribed into mRNA, which is translated into the amino acids that are joined to form a protein.

D. RNA, translation, transcription, DNA, amino acids, protein
Incorrect. The translation of RNA happens after DNA has been transcribed.

Given the following mRNA code, what sequence of amino acids will be produced?

A Methionine, Leucine, Valine, Tyrosine
Incorrect. CCC does not code for Leucine.

B. Start, Proline, Valine, Tyrosine
CorrectT! AUG=Methionine (“start”), CCC=Proline, GUG=Valine, and UAC=Tyrosine

C. Methionine, Proline, Valine, Stop
Incorrect. UAC does not code for “stop”.

D. Isoleucine, Leucine, Valine, Tyrosine
Incorrect. AUG codes for Methionine, not Isoleucine.

Analyze the picture. Which process is it illustrating?

A. Transcription
Incorrect. An illustration of transcription would show the DNA helix with mRNA being transcribed from it.

B. Translation
Correct! Every 3 nucleotides in mRNA are “read” as 1 codon which translates into a specific amino acid.

C. Replication
Incorrect. An illustration of replication would show 2 DNA helices being formed from 1 helix.

D. Gene Regulation
Incorrect. Since genes are sections of DNA, such an illustration would probably show DNA.

Examine the illustration below. How many amino acids will be added by codons 1-6?

A. 18
Incorrect. Each codon just adds 1 amino acid.

B. 1
Incorrect. A protein is made of subunits called amino acids. Each codon adds one amino acid to the protein.

C. From 1 to 7
Incorrect. Each codon adds 1 amino acid.

D. 6
Correct! Each codon is translated into 1 amino acid.

Analyze this diagram of mRNA. What sequence of DNA was needed to form the mRNA shown in the first 2 codons?

A. AUGACG
Incorrect. The DNA sequence must be complementary to the RNA sequence.

B. TACTGC
Correct! The DNA sequence is the complement to the mRNA sequence. G&C are complementary. So are A&T(A&U).

C. ATGACG
Incorrect. This sequence is not the complement to the RNA sequence. A complementary sequence would switch C&G and A&T or U.

D. UACUGC
Incorrect. DNA doesn’t contain U.