Class 12 Biology MCQ – Molecular Basis of Inheritance

1. Who were the scientists credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA?

a) Watson and Crick
b) Mendel and Morgan
c) Chargaff and Franklin
d) Beadle and Tatum

Answer:

a) Watson and Crick

Explanation:

James Watson and Francis Crick are credited with proposing the double helical structure of DNA in 1953.

2. Which nitrogenous base is exclusive to RNA?

a) Adenine
b) Thymine
c) Uracil
d) Cytosine

Answer:

c) Uracil

Explanation:

RNA contains Uracil instead of Thymine which is present in DNA.

3. Which enzyme aids in the replication of DNA by adding nucleotides to the growing DNA chain?

a) DNA helicase
b) DNA polymerase
c) RNA polymerase
d) DNA ligase

Answer:

b) DNA polymerase

Explanation:

DNA polymerase is responsible for the elongation of the new DNA strand during replication.

4. Which process involves the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template?

a) Translation
b) Transcription
c) Replication
d) Transformation

Answer:

b) Transcription

Explanation:

Transcription is the process where RNA is synthesized using a DNA template.

5. Which type of RNA brings amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis?

a) mRNA
b) tRNA
c) rRNA
d) snRNA

Answer:

b) tRNA

Explanation:

tRNA (transfer RNA) carries amino acids to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

6. Which of the following is not a stop codon?

a) UAA
b) UGA
c) AUG
d) UAG

Answer:

c) AUG

Explanation:

AUG is a start codon, which signals the start of translation. It codes for the amino acid methionine.

7. Which phenomenon involves the transfer of a DNA segment from one bacterium to another?

a) Transformation
b) Transduction
c) Translation
d) Transcription

Answer:

a) Transformation

Explanation:

Transformation is the uptake of foreign DNA from the surrounding environment by a bacterium.

8. The lac operon is usually switched off when:

a) Lactose is present and binds to the repressor
b) Lactose is absent and the repressor binds to the operator
c) RNA polymerase binds to the promoter
d) Lactose binds to RNA polymerase

Answer:

b) Lactose is absent and the repressor binds to the operator

Explanation:

In the absence of lactose, the repressor protein binds to the operator, preventing RNA polymerase from transcribing the operon.

9. Which technique is used to separate DNA fragments based on their size?

a) PCR
b) Gel electrophoresis
c) DNA cloning
d) DNA ligation

Answer:

b) Gel electrophoresis

Explanation:

Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments based on their size using an electric field.

10. Which enzyme is used to produce cDNA from mRNA?

a) DNA polymerase
b) RNA polymerase
c) Reverse transcriptase
d) Restriction endonuclease

Answer:

c) Reverse transcriptase

Explanation:

Reverse transcriptase synthesizes complementary DNA (cDNA) from an mRNA template.

11. Which scientist provided evidence on the semiconservative mode of DNA replication?

a) Gregor Mendel
b) Meselson and Stahl
c) Chargaff
d) Beadle and Tatum

Answer:

b) Meselson and Stahl

Explanation:

Meselson and Stahl's experiments in 1958 demonstrated the semiconservative nature of DNA replication.

12. In which organelle does translation occur?

a) Nucleus
b) Mitochondria
c) Ribosome
d) Golgi apparatus

Answer:

c) Ribosome

Explanation:

Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis, where translation occurs.

13. What is the role of the promoter in transcription?

a) It signals the end of the gene.
b) It aids in the splicing of RNA.
c) It is where RNA polymerase binds to start transcription.
d) It prevents transcription.

Answer:

c) It is where RNA polymerase binds to start transcription.

Explanation:

The promoter is a DNA sequence that directs the RNA polymerase where to start transcription.

14. The genetic code is:

a) Overlapping
b) Degenerate
c) Non-degenerate
d) Ambiguous

Answer:

b) Degenerate

Explanation:

The genetic code is degenerate, meaning multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.

15. Which enzyme helps in the formation of phosphodiester bonds between DNA fragments?

a) DNA helicase
b) Topoisomerase
c) DNA gyrase
d) DNA ligase

Answer:

d) DNA ligase

Explanation:

DNA ligase aids in forming phosphodiester bonds, thus sealing breaks in the DNA.

16. Which enzyme is crucial for the amplification of DNA during PCR?

a) RNA polymerase
b) DNA ligase
c) Taq polymerase
d) Reverse transcriptase

Answer:

c) Taq polymerase

Explanation:

Taq polymerase is a heat-stable enzyme used in PCR to amplify DNA.

17. Which molecule acts as a molecular switch in the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes?

a) Repressor
b) Operon
c) Exon
d) Intron

Answer:

a) Repressor

Explanation:

The repressor protein can bind to the operator sequence and prevent transcription.

18. How many nucleotide bases code for one amino acid?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4

Answer:

c) 3

Explanation:

Three nucleotide bases form a codon, which codes for a specific amino acid.

19. Which form of RNA has a cloverleaf structure?

a) mRNA
b) tRNA
c) rRNA
d) snRNA

Answer:

b) tRNA

Explanation:

tRNA (transfer RNA) has a characteristic cloverleaf structure.

20. Which of the following sequences can be recognized and cut by a restriction enzyme?

a) Promoter sequence
b) Palindromic sequence
c) Anticodon loop
d) Shine-Dalgarno sequence

Answer:

b) Palindromic sequence

Explanation:

Restriction enzymes recognize and cut specific palindromic DNA sequences.

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