Unit 5 Free Response

1.  1999 Scientists seeking to determine which molecule is responsible for the transmission of characteristics from one generation to the next knew that the molecule must (1) copy itself precisely, (2) be stable but able to be changed, and (3) be complex enough to determine the organism’s phenotype.

  1. Explain how DNA meets each of the three criteria stated above.
  2. Select one of the criteria stated above and describe experimental evidence used to determine that DNA is the hereditary material.

2.  2000 Information transfer is fundamental to all living organism. For two of the following examples, explain in detail how the transfer of information is accomplished.

  1. The genetic material in one cell is copied and distributed to two identical daughter cells.
  2. A gene in a eukaryotic cell is transcribed and translated to produce a protein.
  3. The genetic material from one bacterial cell enters another via transformation, transduction or conjugation.

3.  2001 Proteins – large complex molecules – are major building blocks of all living organism. Discuss the following in relation to proteins.

  1. The chemical composition and levels of structure of proteins.
  2. The roles of DNA and RNA in protein synthesis
  3. The roles of proteins in membrane structure and transport of molecules across the membranes.

4.  2005 The unit of genetic organization in all living organisms is the chromosome.

  1. Describe the structure and function of the parts of a eukaryotic chromosome. You may wish to include a diagram as part of your description.
  2. Describe the adaptive (evolutionary) significance of organizing genes into chromosomes.
  3. How does the function and structure of the chromosome differ in prokaryotes?

5.  2006 A major distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is the presence of membrane-bound organelles in eukaryotes.

  1. Describe the structure & function of TWO eukaryotic membrane-bound organelles other than the nucleus.
  2. Prokaryotic & eukaryotic cells have some non-membrane-bond components in common. Describe the function of TWO of the following and discuss how each differs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
  3. DNA
  4. Cell wall
  5. Ribosomes
  6. Explain the endosymbiotic theory of the origin of eukaryotic cells and discuss an example of evidence supporting this theory.

6.  2009 The flow of genetic information from DNA to protein in eukaryotic cells is called the central dogma of biology.

  1. Explain the role of each of the following in protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells.
  2. RNA polymerase
  3. Spliceosomes (snRNPs)
  4. Codons
  5. Ribosomes
  6. tRNA
  7. Cells regulate both protein synthesis and protein activity. Discuss TWO specific mechanisms of protein regulation in eukaryotic cells.
  8. The central dogma does not apply to some viruses. Select a specific virus or type of virus and explain how it deviates from the central dogma.