AP Biology Vocabulary Quiz

In a biology class, David is learning about the process by which information encoded in DNA directs the synthesis of proteins or RNAs that are not translated into proteins. What is this process called?

• Gene expression

• Transcription

• Translation

• Gene regulation

Avery is studying how cells make proteins and learns about a process where a specific enzyme copies the DNA sequence in a gene into mRNA. Which enzyme is responsible for this process?

• RNA polymerase

• DNA polymerase

• Helicase

• Topoisomerase

In a biology class, Rohan is learning about the process by which mRNA is decoded to produce a protein. What is this process called?

• Translation

• Transcription

• Gene expression

• Gene regulation

In a biology class, Hannah is learning about the ability of an organism to control which genes are transcribed in response to the environment. What is this ability called?

• Gene regulation

• Gene expression

• Transcription

• Translation

Match the following genetic elements with their descriptions.

• An infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.

• Operon

• A DNA sequence that can change its position within the genome.

• Virus

• A unit of DNA that consists of a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter.

• Transposon

• A small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of the bacterial chromosome.

• Plasmid

During a biology class, William was explaining to his classmates about the process of DNA replication. He asked, "What is the Y-shaped point that results when the two strands of a DNA double helix separate so that the DNA molecule can be replicated?"

• Replication fork

• Leading strand

• Lagging strand

• Primer

Match the following enzymes with their functions in DNA replication.

• Untwists the double helix of DNA at the replication forks.

• DNA polymerase

• Relieves the strain of unwinding by breaking, swiveling, and rejoining DNA strands.

• RNA polymerase

• Synthesizes RNA primers needed to start DNA replication.

• Topoisomerase

• Synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to a pre-existing chain.

• Helicase

In a biology class, Mason is learning about DNA replication. He wonders which enzyme helps relieve strain in the double helix ahead of the replication fork. The enzyme is (a)  

• Topoisomerase
• Helicase
• DNA polymerase
• RNA polymerase

During a biology class experiment, Abigail is trying to understand how DNA replication works. She learns that a specific enzyme joins individual nucleotides to produce a DNA molecule. Which enzyme is responsible for this process?

• DNA polymerase

• RNA polymerase

• Helicase

• Topoisomerase

In a classroom experiment, Jackson is demonstrating DNA replication. He explains that a short stretch of RNA with a free 3' end is bound by complementary base pairing to the template strand and is elongated with DNA nucleotides. This short stretch of RNA is called (a)   .

• Primer
• Leading strand
• Lagging strand
• Exon