Astrobio115 Ch5 Part2

The process of converting a sequence of nucleotides in a section of DNA to a sequence of nucleotides in RNA, as a precursor to protein synthesis is called

• encryption

• translation

• deciphering

• transcription

The process of converting a sequence of nucleotides in RNA into a protein is called

• translation

• transformation

• transcription

• encryption

Instead of thymine, RNA uses the nucleotide base

• guanine

• uracil

• adenine

• cytosine

How is RNA different from DNA?

• its monomers do not contain nucleotide bases

• it is single stranded rather than consisting of a double helix

• it consists of a triple helix rather than a double helix

• its strands are much longer than DNA

Any change in the base sequence of an organism's DNA is referred to as a

• malformation

• transmutation

• distortion

• mutation

Which kinds of mutation tend to have the most dramatic effects on protein structure?

• all mutations are equally dramatic

• those which change a single base that do not result in a change in the amino acid

• those which change a single base that result in a single amino acid being changed

• those that add or delete a base within a gene

At a molecular level, evolution proceeds via a process of

• transcription

• translation

• replication

• mutation

Chemically based extraterrestrial life

• will not need to store information

• may not use DNA to store information but will very likely use a molecule with a similar function

• will certainly use DNA to store information, but with different nucleotides

• will certainly use DNA to store information

One of the most remarkable discoveries by biologists over recent decades is that life can

• survive in an astonishing variety of environments

• only exist in a very narrow range of environments

• only exist under conditions that exist on Earth

• survive in any and every environment, however harsh

Organisms which have evolved to survive under severe environmental conditions are referred to as

• autotrophiles

• acutophiles

• extremophiles

• extremophobes