biology questions... NEED HELP! plz help a desperate biology student!!!?

Question

My biology teacher did not teach us much about what will be on out test (monday) and she decided to give us questions that we haven't studied for our test. If you could help me out with my study guide or atleast give me some websites, that would be fantastic!!!

1. What assists, and speeds up DNA replication is (are)
a. electron transport systems
b. 5 enzymes
c. mRNA
d. osmotic pressure
e. all of the above

2. A small segment of nucleic acid which triggers for a particular trait or traits is termed a
a. chromosome
b. gene
c. DNA molecule
d. centriole
e. RNA molecule

3. Most human heritable traits are determind
a. by a pair of alleles
b. by more that a pair of alleles
c.by on allele influenced by the other parents alleles

4. Within the following group of words, which does NOT belong?
a. allele
b. gene.
c. chromosome
d. trait

I have more questions in my questions... all help is FANTASTIC!~!!

Answer 1

1-b
2-b
3-a
4-c

Answer 2

1. '5 enzymes' is the only answer that could be correct, although this is a poor question since out of the 20-30000 enzymes it is not clear which 5 they are speaking about.

2. This question depends on the meaning of a non-scientific word 'triggers' - a gene encodes the sequence for expression of the trait while the mRNA (aka, 'RNA molecule') is a transcript of the gene and moves the sequence to the cytoplasm where it is translated by the ribosomes into protein. Since trigger is a non-science term it could be speaking of either process, I guess.

3. Most human heritable traits are determined by a pair of alleles.

4. "Allele"; "Gene" and "Trait" all refer to a single encoding leading to a single protein. Chromosomes contain many genes, traits, alleles - thus it would be chromosome that does not belong. Alternatively, you could say that gene, allele and chromosome are all DNA 'real estate' and that trait is the phenotype, which would not belong.

I would have some issues with the person writing these questions, but I assume they refer to what was talked about in your class or book - the type of question where the more knowledgeable you are the more you are in danger of giving a wrong answer. What they say you should not do in "Teaching 101"

Hope this helps a bit.

Answer 3

1. DNA replication is what happens when a DNA molecule is copied to make two DNA molecules. This process is regulated and assisted by enzymes. The enzymes "unzip" the DNA molecule between the pairs of nitrogen bases. More enzymes match new nucleotides with the unpaired bases, AT and CG. More enzymes finish fastening the nucleotides together between the sugars and phosphates.

2. A gene is a segment of DNA that tells how to make a particular protein. Chromosomes are made of DNA and protein. Genes are parts of the DNA. If you imagine DNA to be like a chain, then a gene would be like the links of the chain from the 120th link to the 380th link, for example. Many other genes would make up the other parts of the chain.

A centriole doesn't have anything to do with this process. Centrioles are instrumental during mitosis in animal cells, but not during protein synthesis.

mRNA is the molecule that is formed by "copying" the gene. mRNA is made by matching up RNA nucleotides with the gene. Then mRNA goes out of the nucleus to a ribosome where the mRNA pattern is used to tell how to build the protein.

3. Are you confused about alleles? This word always confuses my students. Think of alleles as different "flavors" of a gene. If you want ice cream, I might have these flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Our gene for blood type comes in three "flavors" or three alleles: A, B, and O. Many genes only come in two forms (two alleles or flavors). For instance, the gene for hemophilia which is a recessive trait comes in "normal" and "hemophilia". What about the gene for height in peas? Two alleles: tall and short.

4. You could read this list in several different ways and make an argument for leaving out the word "trait" or another good argument for leaving out the word "chromosome".

Allele, gene, and chromosome go together because alleles are different forms of the gene, and genes are on the chromosomes.

Allele, gene, and trait go together because alleles are different forms of the gene which determines the trait the individual will have.

I know that this question is several hours old at the time I am answering, but I will be online for a while longer if you have more questions.