Biology Study Guide

Name:______________________________

Unit 6: Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

The material in this unit is covered in Chapters 12-13 of Biology by Miller and Levine.
1. Put a checkmark in the box if the characteristic is present.

Characteristic DNA RNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid
Ribonucleic acid
Ribose sugar present
Deoxyribose sugar present
Polymer of nucleotides
Double helix
Single stranded
Adenine (A) present
Thymine (T) present
Uracil (U) present
Cytosine (C) present
Guanine (G) present

2. What four nitrogenous bases are found in DNA?

I. II.
III. IV.
3. What nitrogenous base is found in RNA, but is NOT found in DNA? __________________
4. The backbone of DNA is made up of ___________________ and ____________________.

5. Use the diagram of a section of a DNA strand below to answer the question.

Match the letter to the correct term: nitrogenous base, phosphate, sugar
A_______________________B_______________________C______________________

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 6. Use the word bank to complete the paragraph below.
WORD BANK: Codon, cytoplasm, DNA, messenger RNA, protein, ribosome, transcription,
translation.
_________________, the double helix that stores genetic information in the nucleus, is partially
unzipped. A single strand of _________________ is made by pairing up RNA bases with the
exposed DNA bases. This is called _________________. After it has been formed, the mRNA
leaves the nucleus, moves through the _________________, and attaches to a
_________________. There, tRNA binds to a specific _________________ (a triplet of mRNA
bases). Amino acids are bonded together to form a _________________. This second part of
the process is called _________________.

7. Use the DNA template to fill in the resulting mRNA pattern after transcription.
a) DNA: ATA – GAC – TTG b) DNA: AGC- ATA - GCT
mRNA: ___-___-___ mRNA: ___-___-___
8. Use the codon wheel below to answer the following questions.

Image from https://www.dna20.com/

a) What amino acid sequence is represented by the mRNA code in 7a?

______________ - ______________ -______________
b) What amino acid sequence is represented by the mRNA code in 7b?

______________ - ______________ -______________

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9. How many mRNA nucleotides are needed to specify a polypeptide chain containing three
amino acids? (Hint: Look at # 8 above) _______________________________________
10. Define semiconservative replication. ____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_
11. What holds nucleotides together in a DNA double helix? _____________________________
12. What scientists are credited with discovering that DNA forms a double helix?____________
and ________________________

13. Circle the terms that make the statement correct. (RNA/DNA) can leave the nucleus of a cell
carrying the genetic message to the ribosomes, while (RNA/DNA) cannot.
14. Genetic clones are genetically identical to each other – they have the same DNA codes in
their chromosomes. True or False?
15. Because clones are genetically identical to each other, cloning is considered a form of
___________________________ reproduction.
16. You want to produce a new breed of dog through selective breeding. The new breed of dog
should be very good with children, and have a thick, hypoallergenic coat (shed minimally).
You’d prefer that the dog be larger, around 50 pounds. The local shelter has several of each of
the following purebreds.

Breed Children Coat Shedding Weight

(pounds)
Chihuahua Older only Short/Long Average 4
Barbet Good Thick and Minimal/hypoallergenic 33-55
woolly
Portuguese Very Good Thick Little 50-60
Water Dog
Golden Great Medium Heavy 65-75
Retriever
Characteristics from http://www.pgaa.com/

Assume that all of the traits are genetic (and therefore inheritable). Which dogs would you have
bred and why? ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
__
_____________________________________________________________________________
17. What is the purpose of a selective breeding program, such as the one described above? ____
_____________________________________________________________________________
_
18. Which of these would NOT be an example of genetic engineering? (Circle one.)

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a)Gene-spliced strawberries which are frost-resistant b)Organic spinach leaves

c)Growth hormones obtained from bacteria found in cows d)A selective breeding program

19. Put the steps of insulin production in order from 1 to 6.

____ The bacteria replicate and produce insulin.
____ Human DNA is isolated and put into a test tube.
____ Recombinant DNA is inserted into a bacterial cell.
____ Insulin gene is combined with bacterial DNA to produce recombinant DNA.
____ A restriction enzyme is used to isolate the gene for insulin from human DNA.
____ Gel electrophoresis is used to separate the DNA fragments, allowing scientists to isolate the
one containing the insulin-producing gene.
20. Match each term related to genetic information to its definition.
___ Cloning A. The nucleus of a body cell from one animal inserted
into an unfertilized egg
___ Gel electrophoresis B. Enzyme that cuts DNA at a particular nitrogen base
sequence
___ Genome C. A small RNA molecule that carries a specific amino acid
___mRNA D. RNA copy of DNA which moves from the nucleus to
the ribosome
___ Recombinant DNA E. Sorts DNA fragments by size
___Restriction enzyme F. DNA joined together from two different species
___ tRNA G. The full DNA sequence of an organism
21. Complete the following table about mutations.

Mutation Point Frame- Deletion Duplication Inversion Trans-

shift location

Gene or Gene Chromo-

chromo- somal
somal?

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What Part of the Two chromo-
happens? chromo- somes are
some is mixed
removed

Example CTCTCT ABCDE

CTCCT 
ADCBE