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Central Dogma - Printable Science Worksheets year 12 - Wayground

Central Dogma

20 questions

9th - 12th Grade

Science

Central Dogma is a free printable science worksheet for students in Grades 9–12. It uses 20 questions—9 multiple-select and 11 multiple-choice—to assess how genetic information moves through transcription, mRNA processing, and translation. Students identify transcription and translation components, distinguish their locations and enzymes, recognize RNA nucleotides, and identify steps such as intron removal, exon splicing, and the addition of an mRNA cap and tail. The worksheet also asks students to apply sequence skills rather than recall terms alone. They interpret DNA template and mRNA strands, use 5′ and 3′ orientation, distinguish triplets, codons, and anticodons, connect codons with amino acids, and identify labeled features such as start codons, stop codons, tRNA, and amino acids. An answer key is included to support efficient checking, review, and independent practice.

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Central Dogma

Total questions: 20

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following statements are true regarding TRANSCRIPTION? (mark all that apply)

a)

End results in synthesis of polypeptide chain

b)

End results in synthesis of mRNA

c)

Template is the genes in the genome

d)

Template is messenger RNA

e)

Ribosomes are present

2.

Which of the following are true regarding TRANSLATION? (mark all that apply)

a)

Occurs in the nucleus

b)

Occurs in the cytoplasm

c)

RNA polymerase is an enzyme used.

d)

DNA polymerase is an enzyme

e)

Transfer RNA is involved in the process

3.

Which of the following enzymes is needed for Transcription?

a)

Helicase

b)

DNA Polymeras

c)

RNA Polymerase

d)

Ligase

e)

Topoisomerase

4.

During TRANSCRIPTION, as the DNA is being read which nucleotides are being used to build the RNA? (mark all that apply)

a)

Adenine

b)

Thymine

c)

Cytosine

d)

Guanine

e)

Uracil

5.

5) When Messenger RNA processing occurs, it does NOT occur in which of the following organisms?

a)

fungi

b)

bacteria

c)

plants

d)

animals

6.

During TRANSCRIPTION, which molecules and examples could be found? (mark all that apply)

a)

Triplet : TAC

b)

Codon: TAC

c)

Anticodon: UAC

d)

Triplet : AUG

e)

Codon : AUG

7.

Given the mRNA sequence - 3' AUG CAU GGU.5'. What is the original DNA template strand?

a)

5' TAC GTA CCA 3'

b)

5' UAC GUA CGA 3'

c)

3' UAC GUA CGA 5''

d)

3' TAC GTA CGA 5'

8.

Given the DNA template sequence of 3' TAC GTT ACT 5'. What is the corresponding mRNA strand?

a)

5'AUG CAA UGA 3'

b)

3' ATG CAA TGA 5'

c)

3'AUG CAA UGA 5'

d)

5' ATG CAA TGA 3'

9.

As for mRNA processing, which of the following are true? (mark all that apply)

a)

Introns are removed.

b)

When finished, final mRNA leaves the nucleus.

c)

The finalized mRNA has a cap and tail placed on it.

d)

Exons are spliced together.

10.

Which of the following steps is NOT part of TRANSCRIPTION in eukaryotes?

a)

Initiation

b)

Elongation

c)

Termination

d)

Transformation

11.

WHich of the following components are present during TRANSLATION? (mark all that apply)

a)

Introns

b)

Exons

c)

Ribosomes

d)

Transfer RNA

e)

Thymine

12.

What information is available from the table? (mark all that apply)

a)

mRNA

b)

tRNA

c)

Amino acids

d)

Start anticodon

e)

Stop codon

13.

If a transfer RNA had the anticodon ACU, then what amino acid would it bring?

a)

His (histidine)

b)

Cys (cysteine)

c)

Arg (arginine)

d)

None

14.

Which of the DNA triplets would NOT code for Arg (arginine)?

a)

GCA

b)

GCG

c)

GCU

d)

GCC

15.

Which of the following labels are correct? (mark all that apply)

a)

#1: start codon

b)

#2: stop codon

c)

#3: tRNA

d)

#4 Amino acids

e)

#5 ester bond

16.

Which of the following parts are correctly matched? (mark all that apply)

a)

D: codons

b)

H: anticodons

c)

A: Polypeptide chain

d)

I: Ribosome

e)

B: Amino acid

17.

What is the major difference between mRNA and tRNA?

a)

Only tRNA has thymine.

b)

Only mRNA has uracil.

c)

Only mRNA has ribose as its sugar.

d)

Only tRNA is shaped like a three- leafed clover

18.

What is the anticodon for the codon 5' AUG 3' ?

a)

5' TAC 3'

b)

3' TAC 5'

c)

5' UAC 3'

d)

3' UAC 5'

19.

Which of the following docking sites are correctly labeled? (mark all that apply)

a)

#1: A site

b)

#2: P site

c)

#3: E site

d)

#2: M site

20.

Given the DNA strand: 3' TAC-TGT-GGT-TAA 5'. What is the amino acid sequence?

a)

Met-Thr-Pro-Ile

b)

Met-Pro-Thr-Ile

c)

Ile-Pro-Thr-Met

d)

Ile-Thr-Pro-Met

Answer Key

Central Dogma

Total questions: 20

1.
b)

End results in synthesis of mRNA

, c)

Template is the genes in the genome

2.
b)

Occurs in the cytoplasm

, e)

Transfer RNA is involved in the process

3.
c)

RNA Polymerase

4.
a)

Adenine

, c)

Cytosine

, d)

Guanine

, e)

Uracil

5.
b)

bacteria

6.
a)

Triplet : TAC

, e)

Codon : AUG

7.
a)

5' TAC GTA CCA 3'

8.
a)

5'AUG CAA UGA 3'

9.
a)

Introns are removed.

, b)

When finished, final mRNA leaves the nucleus.

, c)

The finalized mRNA has a cap and tail placed on it.

, d)

Exons are spliced together.

10.
d)

Transformation

11.
b)

Exons

, c)

Ribosomes

, d)

Transfer RNA

12.
a)

mRNA

, c)

Amino acids

, e)

Stop codon

13.
d)

None

14.
c)

GCU

15.
a)

#1: start codon

, b)

#2: stop codon

, d)

#4 Amino acids

16.
a)

D: codons

, b)

H: anticodons

, c)

A: Polypeptide chain

, d)

I: Ribosome

, e)

B: Amino acid

17.
d)

Only tRNA is shaped like a three- leafed clover

18.
d)

3' UAC 5'

19.
b)

#2: P site

20.
a)

Met-Thr-Pro-Ile

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FAQs

What does the Central Dogma worksheet cover?

This Grade 9–12 worksheet covers transcription, mRNA processing, and translation through 9 multiple-select and 11 multiple-choice questions. Students identify enzymes and cellular locations, distinguish DNA templates from mRNA and tRNA, interpret codons and anticodons, and convert between DNA template and mRNA sequences using strand direction.

How can I use this worksheet to teach the central dogma of molecular biology?

Introduce the worksheet by having students compare the inputs, locations, and products of transcription and translation before they begin the questions. Then model one DNA-template-to-mRNA conversion with 5′ and 3′ labels, and use the sequence and codon items to prompt students to explain why uracil appears in mRNA and how codons guide amino-acid selection.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this Central Dogma worksheet?

Watch for students placing transcription in the cytoplasm, treating translation as a nuclear process, or selecting DNA or RNA polymerase for the wrong process. In the sequence items, students may reverse the 5′ and 3′ direction, use thymine instead of uracil in mRNA, confuse a DNA triplet with an mRNA codon or tRNA anticodon, or overlook that mRNA processing removes introns and joins exons.

How do I assign and grade this Central Dogma worksheet?

Wayground provides this worksheet as both a printable PDF and a digital quiz, and it includes a complete answer key for all 20 questions. You can grade printable submissions by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app, or use the digital version for online response collection and grading.

How can I differentiate this Central Dogma worksheet for my students?

In the worksheet’s Advanced Settings, adjust font spacing and font size to make the transcription, translation, and DNA-to-mRNA sequence items easier to read. You can also apply a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language while retaining its multiple-choice and multiple-select format.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across all subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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