Question 1

Which of the following best explains why DNA is more suitable than RNA for long-term storage of genetic information in modern cells?

Accepted Answer

DNA lacks the 2' hydroxyl group, making it chemically more stable than RNA.

Question 2

Which experiment provided direct evidence against the theory of spontaneous generation of life?

Accepted Answer

Louis Pasteur's swan-neck flask experiment showing microorganisms arise only from other microorganisms.

Question 3

What is the chemical linkage that connects nucleotides in a nucleic acid polymer?

Accepted Answer

Phosphodiester linkage

Question 4

According to the RNA world hypothesis, what unique property of RNA made it central to the origin of life?

Accepted Answer

RNA can both store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a function of nucleotides in cells?

Accepted Answer

Catalysis of peptide bond formation

Question 6

What would most likely happen to a folded RNA molecule if it were heated?

Accepted Answer

It would denature, losing its secondary and tertiary structure.

Question 7

Which of the following base pairings is correct in DNA?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{G} - 	ext{C}$$

Question 8

In the Miller-Urey experiment, which molecules were found after simulating primitive Earth conditions?

Accepted Answer

Amino acids and nucleotide bases

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the central dogma of molecular biology is correct?

Accepted Answer

Information flows from DNA to RNA to protein.

Question 10

Why is complementary base pairing important for DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

It enables each strand to serve as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand.

Question 11

Which of the following is a plausible explanation for the diversity of RNA molecules?

Accepted Answer

RNA molecules can fold into elaborate secondary and tertiary structures based on their nucleotide sequence.

Question 12

Which of the following is a real-world example supporting the RNA world hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The ability of ribosomal RNA to catalyze peptide bond formation.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the role of ribozymes in early life?

Accepted Answer

Ribozymes catalyzed chemical reactions, such as peptide bond formation, in primitive cells.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a difference between DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

DNA contains pentose sugar, RNA contains hexose sugar.

Question 15

Which environmental condition is thought to have favored the polymerization of nucleotides into large molecules on early Earth?

Accepted Answer

Hot pools at ocean edges with concentrated monomers

Question 16

What is the significance of the discovery of purines, pyrimidines, sugars, and amino acids in meteorites?

Accepted Answer

It supports the theory that some building blocks of life may have come from space.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the transition from the 'dead' to the 'living' state in the RNA world is correct?

Accepted Answer

The 'dead' state is characterized by random chemistry with no heredity or evolution.

Question 18

Which process is catalyzed by ribosomal RNA in modern cells?

Accepted Answer

Peptide bond formation during protein synthesis

Question 19

Which of the following is a key reason for the evolution of DNA as the hereditary material instead of RNA?

Accepted Answer

DNA is chemically more stable, allowing for larger genomes.

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the flow of genetic information in retroviruses?

Accepted Answer

RNA to DNA to protein

Nucleic Acids and the Origins of Life: Structure, Function, and Evolution

Study Guide - Practice Questions