1.6; 2.6; 7.

1 Structure of DNA and its replication

Section B

1. Draw a diagram of the molecular structure of a portion of DNA.

(Total 4 marks)

2. Draw a diagram showing the molecular structure of a section of the DNA molecule. (Total 5 marks)

3. State a role for each of four different named enzymes in DNA replication. (Total 6 marks)

4. The structure of the DNA double helix was described by Watson and Crick in 1953. Explain the
structure of the DNA double helix, including its subunits and the way in which they are bonded
together. (Total 8 marks)

5. Distinguish between the structure of DNA and RNA.

DNA RNA

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(Total 3 marks)

6. Living organisms use DNA as their genetic material. Explain how DNA is replicated within the
cells of living organisms. (Total 8 marks)

7. The following diagram represents replication in DNA.

[Freeman, Scott, Biological Science, 1st, © 2002. Electronically reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc.,
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey]
 (a) State the name and describe the function for the enzymes labelled A and B on the
diagram.

(i) A: Name: ..........................................................................................

Function: ..........................................................................................

(ii) B: Name: ..........................................................................................

Function: ..........................................................................................
(2)

(b) Identify the cellular location of DNA replication in eukaryotic cells.

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(1)

(c) State at which period during the cell cycle DNA replication occurs.

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(1)

(d) Explain the significance of complementary base pairing during DNA replication.

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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
8. (a) Draw and label a simple diagram to show how DNA is constructed from sugars, phosphates
and bases.

(6)

(b) Define the terms gene and gene mutation.

(4)

(c) Genetic modification involves the transfer of DNA from one species to another. Discuss
the potential benefits and possible harmful effects of one example of genetic modification
in a named organism.
(8)
(Total 20 marks)

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Section A

1. What is the function of helicase?

A. It forms bonds between DNA nucleotides.

B. It adds new nucleotides to the DNA helix.

C. It forms the DNA helix.

D. It separates DNA strands.

2. What is the composition of the backbone of DNA?

A. Alternating sugar and phosphate molecules

B. Complementary base pairs

C. Alternating sugar and base molecules

D. A polysaccharide

3. Which enzyme removes the RNA primer during replication?

A. RNA primase

B. DNA polymerase I

C. DNA ligase

D. Helicase

4. Which of the following are connected by a hydrogen bond?

A. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms of a water molecule

B. A base pair of a DNA molecule

C. Two amino acid molecules of a dipeptide

D. Two glucose molecules in a disaccharide

5. The diagram below shows a short section of DNA molecule before and after replication. If the
nucleotides used to replicate the DNA were radioactive, which strands in the replicated
molecules would be radioactive?

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 A. II and III only

B. I and III only

C. I and II only

D. I, II, III and IV

6. To which parts of the deoxyribose molecule do phosphates bind in DNA?

A. I and V

B. III and IV

C. II and III

D. III and V

7. A biochemist isolated and purified molecules needed for DNA replication. When some DNA
was added replication occurred, but the DNA molecules formed were defective. Each consisted
of a normal DNA strand paired with segments of DNA a few hundred nucleotides long. Which
of the following had been left out of the mixture?

A. DNA ligase

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 B. Helicase

C. Nucleotides

D. DNA polymerase

8. Which substance is a base that is found in DNA?

A. Adenosine

B. Cytokinin

C. Guanine

D. Uracil

9. In an electron micrograph, a DNA molecule appears 1 mm wide. The magnification of the

micrograph is 500 000. What is the width of the DNA molecule?

A. 0.5 nm

B. 2 nm

C. 0.5 μm

D. 2 μm

10. The diagram below represents a DNA nucleotide. What could the part labelled X represent?

A. Ribose

B. Uracil

C. Guanine

D. Phosphate

11. In the structure of DNA what binds with cytosine?

A. Deoxyribose

B. Ribose

C. Thymine

D. Adenine

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12. What is responsible for the conservation of the base sequence during DNA replication?

A. DNA polymerase working on one strand at the same time.

B. Unpaired bases always attracting their complementary nucleotides.

C. DNA helicase and polymerase are complementary.

D. Both strands are identical to each other.

13. What is the function of DNA polymerase I?

A. To add appropriate nucleotides in the 3′ → 5′ direction

B. To remove the RNA primers and replace them with DNA

C. To join together the Okazaki fragments

D. To join together both strands of DNA to the histones

14. During the process of replication, which bond(s) in the diagram of DNA below is/are broken?

A. 3

B. 4, 5

C. 1, 2, 6, 7

D. 1, 7, 4, 5

15. The drawing below shows a short section of a DNA molecule. What is labelled by I, II and III?

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 I II III
A. 3′ end purine hydrogen bond
B. 5′ end pyrimidine covalent bond
C. 3′ end pyrimidine hydrogen bond
D. 5′ end purine covalent bond

16. What type of bond holds the complementary base pairs together in a double helix of DNA?

A. Covalent bonds

B. Peptide bonds

C. Glycosidic bonds

D. Hydrogen bonds

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17. The diagram below shows the bases on a short section of DNA during replication. Identify the
sequence of bases on the new complementary strand labelled I in the diagram.

A. CTAG

B. CUAG

C. TCGA

D. AGCT

*18. What is a nucleosome?

A. The protein core of a chromosome

B. Histone proteins and DNA

C. A chain of ribosomes

D. The material within the nuclear membrane

19. What are the components of a DNA nucleotide?

A. Deoxyribose, a phosphate and one of the bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine or thymine

B. Ribose, a phosphate and one of the bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine or uracil

C. Deoxyribose, a nitrate and one of the bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine or thymine

D. Ribose, a nitrate and one of the bases: adenine, cytosine, guanine or thymine

20. The diagram below represents DNA replication. Some of the bases are indicated.

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 In which direction is the replication fork moving and which bases would be needed to replicate
the section of DNA shown?

Direction of movement of replication fork Bases needed

A. Left to right U, G and C
B. Right to left U, G and C
C. Left to right T, G and C
D. Right to left T, G and C

21. Which events take place in DNA replication?

I. Formation of messenger RNA

II. Unwinding of DNA double helix
III. Formation of complementary strands by DNA polymerase

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

22. The diagram shows part of a molecule produced by replication of DNA. What is the
significance of the shaded and the unshaded regions?

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A. The shaded parts are DNA and the unshaded parts are mRNA.

B. The shaded parts contain adenine and thymine and the unshaded parts contain guanine
and cytosine.

C. The shaded part is a codon and unshaded part is an anticodon.

D. One of the parts has been newly synthesized and the other was part of a pre-existing DNA
molecule.

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