Name: ________________________________ Date: _________________________________ 

 
Molecular Biology 
Quiz 1 
 
Multiple Choice​. 3 points each. 
1. Which of the following molecules is a polymer that consists of repeating 
nucleotide units? 
a. proteins 
b. sugars 
c. DNA 
d. amino acids 
 
 
2. Which of the following is true? 
a. Adenine and cytosine are held together by 3 hydrogen bonds. 
b. Adenine and thymine are held together by 3 hydrogen bonds. 
c. Guanine and thymine are held together by 2 hydrogen bonds. 
d. Cytosine and guanine are held together by 3 hydrogen bonds. 
 
 
3. Where does transcription occur in the cell? 
a. mitochondria 
b. cytoplasm 
c. nucleolus 
d. nucleus 
 
 
4. Where does translation occur in the cell? 
a. mitochondria 
b. cytoplasm 
c. nucleolus 
d. nucleus 
 
 
5. What is the central dogma of biology? 
a. RNA → DNA → proteins 
b. Proteins → RNA → DNA 
c. Proteins → DNA → RNA 
d. DNA → RNA → Proteins 
 
 
 6. Stretches of non-coding nucleotides found in RNA transcripts (mRNA) that 
interrupt coding sequences are called: 
a. Introns 
b. Anti-codons 
c. Exons 
d. Codons 
 
 
7. The coding nucleotides found in mRNA that is left after splicing are called: 
a. Introns 
b. Anti-codons 
c. Exons 
d. Codons 
 
 
8. What is not a direct source of DNA mutation? 
a. Errors in DNA replication 
b. Chemical Damage 
c. Radiation 
d. Enzymes 
 
 
9. Nucleic acids are bound together in DNA. what is the name of the bond that 
holds the nucleic acids together? 
a. cysteine bonds 
b. disulfide bonds 
c. phosphodiester bond 
d. Peptide bonds 
 
 
10. Which amino acid is the start codon? 
a. methionine 
b. leucine 
c. glycine 
d. valine 
 
 
11. When is the cell’s DNA replicated in the cell cycle? 
a. G1 phase 
b. G2 phase 
c. S phase 
d. M phase 
 
 
12. The resting stage of the cell is known as the __________________. 
a. Prophase 
b. Anaphase 
c. Interphase 
d. Telophase 
 
 
13. During which phase of mitosis do the chromosomes line up along the middle of 
the dividing cell? 
a. Prophase 
b. Telophase 
c. Metaphase 
d. Anaphase 
 
 
14. The two main stages of cell division are called 
a. Mitosis and interphase 
b. Sythensis and cytokinesis 
c. The M phase and the S phase 
d. Mitosis and cytokinesis 
 
 
15. One difference between cell division in plant cells and animals cells is that plant 
cells have 
a. Centrioles 
b. Centromeres 
c. A cell plate 
d. Chromatin 
 
 
Free Answer​. 5 points each. 
16. Where is the DNA found? 
 
 
Where is the RNA made? 
 
 
Where is the RNA found? 
 
 
Where are the ribosomes found? 
 
  
Where are the proteins synthesized? 
 
 
 
 
17. What are the five nucleotide bases found in DNA? Indicate whether it is a purine 
base or a pyrimidine base. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18. What is the difference between a transition mutation and a transversion 
mutation? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19. Fill in the missing information. 
       
DNA  A T C  ___________  ___________ 
G T A   ___________  ___________ 

         
mRNA  ___________ 
U G G  ___________  ___________  ___________  ___________ 

         
tRNA  ___________  ___________  ___________  ___________ 
U A G  ___________ 

       
Amino Acid 
___________  ___________ 
ALA  ___________  ___________ 
PRO 

 
 
20. Write at least 3 key differences between RNA and DNA. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Name the stages of mitosis. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22. Write at least 3 key differences between animal cells and plant cells. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23. Write 2-3 key differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24. What are the 3 components of the cell theory? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25. The DNA sequence is 5’ - C A C T G A G T G A T C - 3’. 
What would the mRNA sequence be? Label the 5’ and 3’ ends. 
 
 
 
What would the protein sequence be? 
 
 
 
 
 26. The DNA sequence from Question 25 underwent an insertion mutation. An 
adenine was inserted in the second position. 
 
5’ - C ​A​ A C T G A G T G A T C - 3’ 
 
What is the new mRNA sequence? Also label the 5’ and 3’ ends. 
 
 
 
What is the new protein sequence? 
 
 
 
What important effect does the insertion mutation have?