DNA

STRUCTURE OF POLYNUCLEOTIDECHAIN
QNS
1 mark
1) How many base pairs would a DNA segment of length 1.36
nm have ?
2) In an experiment ,DNA Is treated with a compound which
tends to place itself amongst the stacks of nitrogenous
base pairs .As a result of which the distance between two
consecutive bases increases ,from 0.34nm.Calculate the
length of DNA double helix(which has 2*109bp) in the
presence of saturating amount of this compound
3) Calculate the length of the DNA of bacteriophage lambda
that has 48502 base pairs
4) In a nucleus ,the number of RNA nucleoside triphosphate
is 10 times more than the number of DNA NUCLEOSIDE
TRIPHOSPHATE ,still only DNA nucleotide are added during
the DNA replication ,and not the RNA nucleotides.why?
5) Mention the carbon positions to which the nitrogenous
bases and the phosphate molecule are respectively linked
in the nucleotide given below:
6) What are a and b in the nucleotide with purine
represented below?
7) How does the flow of genetic information in HIV deviate
from the central dogma proposed by FRANCIS CRICK
2 mark
1) Draw a schematic representation of dinucleotide .Label
the following
(i) The components of a nucleotide
(ii) 5’ end
(iii) N- glycosidic linkage
(iv) Phosphodiester linkage
2) Describe the structure of a RNA POLYNUCLEOTIDE CHAIN
having four different types of nucleotides
3) A DNA SEGMENT has a total of 1500 nucloetides ,out of
which 410 are guanine containing nucleotides .How many
pyrimidine bases this DNA segment possess?
4) A DNA segment has a total of 2000 nucleotides ,out of
which 520 are adenine containing nucleotides .How many
purine bases in this DNA segment possess?
5) Draw a schematic diagram of a part of doble stranded
dinucleotide DNA chain having all the four nitrogenous
bases and showing the correct polarity
6) Explain the factors responsible for conferring stability to
double helix structure of DNA
3 mark
1) List the salient features of double helix structure of DNA
2) (a)A DNA segment has a total of 1000 nucleotides ,out of
which 240 of them are adenine containing nucleotides
.How many pyrimidine bases in this DNA segment
possess?
 (b)Draw a diagrammatic sketch of a portion of DNA
segment to support your answer
5 mark
What background information did Watson and Crick had
available with them for developing a model of DNA ? What was
their own contribution?
PACKAGING OF DNA HELIX

1) Name the negatively charged and positively charged

components of a nucleosome
2) Name the transcriptionally active region of chromatin in a
nucleus
3) Although a prokaryotic cell has no defined nucleus ,yet
DNA is not scattered throughout the cell explain
4) How do histones acquire a positive charge ?

3 marks

1) Draw a labelled diagram of nucleosome .Where is it found

in a cell
(b) IN the eukaryotes ,The dna molecules are organized
within the nucleus .How is the DNA molecule organized in
a bacterial cell in the absence of a nucleus ?
2) A typical mammalian cell has 22 metres long DNA
molecule whereas the nucleus in which it is packed measures
about 10 -6 m.Explain how such a long DNA molecules is
packed within a tiny nucleus in the cell
5 mark
1)How are the following formed and involved in DNA packaging
in a nucleus of a cell?
(i) Histone octomer
(ii) Nucleosome
(iii) Chromatin
2)differentiate btw euchromatin and hetrochromatin
THE SEARCH FOR GENETIC MATERIAL

1)transforming principle – 5 marks,BIOCHEMICAL

CHARACTERISATION OF TRANSFORMING PRINCIPLE
Recall the experiment done by Frederick Griffth
,Avery,Macleod,and MCcarty ,where DNA was speculated to be
the genetic material .If RNA,instead of DNA was the genetic
material ,would the heat killed strain of streptococcus have
transformed the r-strain into virulent strain?
2) (a)How did Griffith explain the transformation of R-Strain
(non virulent)bacteria into s-strain(virulent)?
(b)Explain how Mac LEOD,MC CARTY AND AVERY
determined the biochemical nature of the molecule
responsible for transforming R-strain bacteria into S-strain
bacteria
 3)Describe that established the identity of transforming
principle of griffith
2) GENETIC MATERIAL IS DNA (HERSHEY AND CHASE) -2 marks
1)explain the role of S and P in the experiments conducted by
Hershey and chase
3 marks

2) (a)Why did Hershey and Chase use radioactive sulphur and

radioactive phosphorous in their experiment ?
(b)write the conclusion they arrived at and how
2) describe the experiment that proved DNA as genetic material
6)Name the scientist who proved experimentally that DNA is
the genetic material .Describe their experiment

. PROPERTIES OF GENETIC MATERIAL (DNA VERSUS RNA)

1) Why DNA IS considered a better hereditary material than
RNA
2) List the criteria a molecule that can act as genetic material
must fullfill.which one of the criteria are best fulfilled by
DNA or RNA thus making one of them a better genetic
material than the other?explain
3) Protein synthesis machinery revolves around RNA but in
the course of evolution it was replaced by DNA. justify
 REPLICATION
(1)why is DNA replication said to be semiconservative

THE EXPERIMENTAL PROOF

4)(a)Why did the scientist use NH4CL AND NH4CL as a source of
nitrogen in the culture medium for growing E. coli
(b)Name the molecule (s) that N got incorporated into
(c) How did they distinguish btw N labelled molecules from N
ones
(d)mention the significance of taking the E.coli samples at
definite time intervals for observations
(e)write the observations made by them from samples taken at
the end of 20 min and 40 min
(f)write the conclusion drawn by them at the end of their
experiement
5) a)What did Meselson and stahl observe when
(i)they cultured E.coli in a medium containing NH4CL for a few
generations and centrifuged the content
(ii)they transferred one such bacterium to the normal medium
of NH4CL and cultured for 2 generations b) What did Meselson
and stahl conclude from this experiment ? Explain with the help
of diagrams
C)what is the first genetic material ? Give reasons
6)with respect to messelson and stahl ‘s Experiment ,
(a)Identify the method used to distinguish btw heavy and light
isotope of nitrogen
(b)with the help of diagrams ,compare the result for the DNA
isolated after 20 minutes of experiment with the DNA which
isolated after 40 minutes

THE MACHINERY AND THE ENZYMES

1) Name the enzyme involved in the continuous replication of
DNA strand .Mention the polarity of the template strand
2) Name the enzyme and state its property that is responsible
for continuous and discontinuous replication of the strands
of a DNA molecule
3) State the dual role of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate
during DNA replication
4) Discuss the role of enzyme DNA ligase plays during DNA
replication
5) Draw a labelled schematic sketch of replication fork of
DNA .Explain the role of the enzymes involved in DNA
replication
6) (a)Name the stage in the cell cycle where DNA replication
occurs.what will happen if cell division fails to occur after
DNA replication in a cell?
(b)Explain the mechanism of DNA replicaton .Highlight the
role of enzymes in the process
(c)why is DNA replication said to be semiconservative
7) 1)Explain the process of DNA replication that occurs in a
replication fork in Ecoli
(b)How are translational unit and untranslated regions in
MRNA different from each other

TRANSCRIPTION - 5 marks
1) Describe the initiation ,elongation, termination process of
transcription in bacteria
2) Draw a labelled schematic structure of a transcription
unit.Explain the function of each component in the unit in
the process of transcription
3) Explain the process of transcription in prokaryotes.How is
the process different in eukaryotes
4) Explain the role of DNA dependent RNA polymerase in
initiation ,elongation,and termination during
transcription in bacterial cell
5) Explain the role of RNA POLYMERASE in transcription in
bacteria
6) Transcription in eukaryotes is more complex process than
in prokaryotes .justify and compare the initiation
,elongation,and termination in bacterial cells with
eukaryotes
7) Describe the process of synthesis of fully functional Mrna
in an eukaryotic cell
 (b)how is this process of mRNA synthesis diff from that in
prokaryotes
8)Name the major types of RNAs and explain their role in
process of protein synthesis in a prokaryote
1 mark
8) 1) Mention the two additional processing which hnRNA
needs to undergo after splicing so as to become functional
9) When and at what end does the tailing of hnRNA take place
10) At what end do capping and tailing of hnRNA
occur,respectively?
11) What is cistron ?
12) Write the function of RNA polymerase II
13) Mention one difference to distinguish an exon from an
intron
14) Why hnRNA is required to undergo splicing
2 mark

1) Differentiate btw a template strand and a coding strand of

DNA
2) Draw a labelled diagram of transcription unit
3) Explain the process of transcription in bacterium
 4) (a)construct a complete transcription unit with promoter
and terminator on the basis of the hypothetical template

strand
(b)write the RNA strand transcribed from the above
transcription unit along with its polarity
5) Name the enzyme that catalyse the transcription of hnRNA
(ii)why does the hnRNA need to undergo changes?list the
changes that hnRNA undergoes and where in the cell such
changes take place
6)state the difference btw the structural genes in a
transcription unit of prokaryotes and eukaryotes
3 mark
1)What are the types of RNA ? mention their relation to protein
synthesis
2)differentiate btw a template strand and coding strand of DNA
3)How is hnRNA processed to form MRNA ?
GENETIC CODE
1 mark
1)mention two functions of the codon AUG
2)mention the role of the codon AUG and UGA during protein
synthesis
3)A region of a coding DNA strand has the following nucleotide
sequence – ATGC-
What shall be the nucleotide sequence in
(i)sister DNA segment it replicates
(ii)m-RNA polynucleotide it transcribes
2 mark
1)(i)name the sceintist who suggested that the genetic code
should be made of a combination of three nucleotides
(ii)explain the basis on which he arrived at this conclusion
2)Explain the dual function of AUG codon.Give the sequence of
bases it is transribed from and its anticodon
3)Name the category of codon UGA belongs to.Mention
another codon of the same category .Explain their role in
protein synthesis
4)stop codon ,unambiguous codon,degenerate codon,universal
codon what does each one indicate
5)One of the salient features of the genetic code is that it is
nearly universal from bacteria to humans.mention two
exceptions to this rule.why are some codes said to be
degenrate
6)unambiguous ,universal and degenerate are some of the
terms used for the genetic code .Explain the salient features of
each one of them
7)state the condition when genetic code is said to be
(i)degenerate
(ii)unambiguous
(iii)universal
8)”The codon is a triplet and is read in contiguous manner
without punctuations “.Provide the genetic basis for the
statement
9)Identify giving reasons ,the salient features of genetic code by
studying the following nucleotide sequence of mRNA strand
and the polypeptide translated from it
AUG UUU UCU UUU UUU UCU UAG
Met – Phe – Ser- Phe – Phe- Ser
10)The base sequence in one of the strand of DNA is
TAGCATGAT
(i)Give the base sequence of its complementary strand
(ii)How are these base pairs held together in a DNA molecule
(iii)Explain the base complementarity rules.Name the scientist
who framed this rule
5 mark
1)(i)write the specific features of the genetic code AUG
(ii)Genetic codes can be universal and degenerate.write about
them,giving one example of each
(iii)Explain aminoacylation of the tRNA

t-RNA the adapter molecule

TRANSLATION
1)mention the role of ribosomes in peptide bond formation
.How does ATP facilitate it?
2)State the functions of the following in one prokaryote
(i)tRNA
(ii)rRNA
3)where does the peptide bond formation occur in a bacterial
ribosome and how?
4)what is aminoacylation ? state the significance
5)explain the process of charging of tRNA .why is it essential in
translation
6)differentiate btw codon and anticodon
7)a)differentiate btw unambigous and universal
b)degenerate and initiator
8)(a)Name the enzyme responsible for the transcription of
tRNA and the aminoacid the initiator tRNA gets linked with
(b)Explain the role of initiator tRNA in initiation of protein
synthesis
9)how is translation of mRNA terminated

3 marks
1)(a)Draw the structure of initiator tRNA adapter molecule
(b)Why is tRNA called an adapter molecule
5 mark
1)Explain the process of aminoacylation of tRNA.Mention its
role in translation
(b)How do ribosomes in the cells act as factories for protein
synthesis?
(c)Describe ‘initiation’ and “ termination” phases of protein
synthesis
2)(a)Name the scientist who postulated the presence of an
adapter molecule that can assist in protein synthesis
(b)Describe its structure with the help of a diagram .mention its
role in protein synthesis
REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION
2mark
1)Why is lactose considered an inducer in lac operon
2) Given below is a schematic representation of a lac operon
Identify i and p.
(ii) Name the inducer for this operon and explain its function.
3)How are structural genes inactivated in lac operon in Ecoli?
4)A low level of expression of lac operon occurs at all the
time .Can you explain the logic behind this phenomena?
5)Where is an opertor loacted in a prokaryotic DNA ? how does
an operator regulate gene expression at transcriptional level in
a prokaryote?explain
3 mark
Study Study the figure given below and answer the questions:

(i) How does the repressor molecule get inactivated?

(ii) When does the transcription of lac mRNA stop?
(iii) Name the enzyme transcribed by the gene Z'.
2)(a)Name the molecule X synthesised by i gene.How does this
molecule get inactivated
(b)which one of the structural genes code for β – galactosidase
© when will the transcription of this gene stop

(a) Name the molecule ‘M’ that binds with the operator
Mention the consequences of such binding.
(b)   What will prevent the binding of the molecule ‘M’ with
the operator gene? Mention the event that follows.
3)Draw a schematic diagram of lac operon in its switched off
position.Label the following
(i)The structural gene
(ii)repressor bound to its correct position
(iii)promoter
(iv)Regulatory gene
5 mark
(i) What is an operon ?
(ii) Explain how a polycistronic structural gene is
regulated by a common promoter and a combination
of regulatory genes in a lac operon
2) Study the schematic representation of the genes involved in the lac operon
given below and answer the questions that follow.
a) Identify and name the regulatory gene in this operon. Explain its role in
‘switching off the operon.
b) Why is operon`s regulation referred to as negative regulation?
c) Name the inducer molecule and the products of the genes V and of the
operon. Write the function of these gene products.

3) a)Identify the region where the repressor protein will

attach normally
(a) Under certain conditions repressor is unable to attach at
this site.explain
©if repressor fails to attach to the said site what produces
will be formed by z,y,a?
(d)Analyse why this kind of regulation is called negative
regulation
4) a)absence of lactose in the culture medium affects the
expression of a lac operon in Ecoli.why and how?
(b)write any two ways in which the gene expression is
regulated in eukaryotes
 5)(a)state the arrangement of different genes that in bacteria
is referred to as operon
(b)Draw a schematic labelled illustration of lac operon in a
switched on state
© decribe the role of lactose in lac operon
6)Describe how the lac operon operates,both in the presence
and absence of an inducer in E.COLI
7)Explain the role of lactose as an inducer in a lac operon
HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
1) State which human chromosome has
(i)the maximum number of genes and
(ii)the one which has the least number of genes
2)mention the contribution of genetic maps in human genome
project
2 marks
1) List the two methodologies which were involved in human
genome project.Mention how they were used
2) Expand ‘YAC’ and mention what was it used for
3 mark
1) (a) what do ‘Y’ and ‘B’ stands for in YAC and BAC used in
human genome project (HGP)
Mention their role in the project
 (b)write the percentage of the total human genome that
codes for proteins and the percentage of discovered genes
whose functions are known as observed during HGP
©Expand ‘SNPs’identified by sceintist in HGP
2)write any six salient features of the human genome as drawn
from the human genome project
3)which methodology is used while sequencing the total DNA
from a cell ?Explain it in detail.
DNA FINGERPRINTING
1 mark
How is repetitive ?satellite DNA separated from bulk genomic
DNA for various genetic experiments?
2mark
1)would it be appropriate to use DNA probes such as VNTR in
DNA fingerprinting of a bacteriophages
2)comment on the utility of variability in number of tandem
repeats during DNA fingerprinting
3)write the full form of VNTR. How is VNTR different from a
probe
4)mention the applications of DNA polymorphism
5)What are satellite DNA in a genome ? explain their role in
DNA fingerprinting
6)(a)Explain DNA polymorphism as the basis of genetic mapping
of human genome
(b)state the role of VNTR in DNA fingerprinting
7)How are the DNA fragments separated and isolated for DNA
fingerprinting?explain
8)Forensic department was given three blood samples .Write
the steps of the procedure carried to get the DNA fingerprinting
done for the above samples
9)In a maternity clinic, for some reasons the authorities are not
able to hand over the two newborn s to their respective real
parents .Name and describe the technique that you would
suggest to sort out the matter
10)A criminal blew himself up in a local market when was
chased by cops .His face was beyond recognition.suggest and
describe a modern techique that can help establish his identity
11)following the collision of two trains a large number of
passengers are killed .A majority of them are beyond
recognition.Authorities want to hand over the dead to their
relatives .Name a modern sceintific method and write the
procedure that would help in the identification of kinship
Or
A number of passengers were severly burnt beyond recognition
during a train accident .Name and describe a modern technique
that can help to hand over the dead to their relatives
12) a very small sample of tissue or even a drop of blood can
help determine paternity”.provide a scientific explaination to
substantiate the statement
5 marks
1)Explain the steps of DNA fingerprinting that will help in
processing of the two blood samples A and B picked up from
the crime scene
2)(i)DNA polymorphism is the basis of DNA fingerprinting
technique.Explain
(ii)Mention the causes of DNA polymorphism
3)Two blood samples A AND B picked up from the crime scene
were handed over to the forensic department for genetic
fingerprinting.Describe how the technique of genetic
fingerprinting is carried out.How will it be confirmed whether
the samples belonged to the same individual or two different
individuals?
In prokaryotes, the processes of transcription and translation
occur simultaneously in the cytoplasm, allowing for a
rapid cellular response to an environmental cue.
in eukaryotes, while transcription occurs in the
nucleus, translation occurs in the cytoplasm.