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Genetics and Molecular Biology Practice Tests

These Grade 12 Science practice tests develop Genetics and Molecular Biology skills through questions on DNA, RNA, gene expression, inheritance, biotechnology, disease, and molecular experiments.

Skills covered

  • Analyzing nucleotide structure, DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation, mutations, and operons
  • Applying Mendelian inheritance, non-Mendelian patterns, linkage, recombination, population genetics, genetic drift, founder effects, and gene flow
  • Explaining enhancers, repressors, epigenetics, microRNA, alternative splicing, PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, and CRISPR targeting
  • Connecting oncogenes, tumor suppressors, apoptosis, telomeres, stem cells, gene therapy, viral vectors, vaccines, and tumor heterogeneity
  • Evaluating controls, expression assays, cDNA, pedigrees, protein detection, microarrays, null hypotheses, coverage, replication, and conclusions

How to use these practice tests

Trace the flow from sequence to expression to phenotype. For laboratory questions, identify the control, variable, measurement, and limitation before selecting a conclusion.

For more Grade 12 Science practice, return to the Grade 12 Science category.

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Grade 12 Genetics and Molecular Biology Practice Tests

Practice Grade 12 Science questions about DNA, RNA, gene expression, inheritance, population genetics, biotechnology, cancer biology, and molecular experiments.

Choose the best answer. Connect molecular mechanisms to inheritance or phenotype, and interpret experimental evidence within its limits.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is an enhancer?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A regulatory DNA sequence that can increase transcription when bound by activator proteins.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Enhancers influence transcription from a distance through DNA looping and interactions with regulatory proteins.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A regulatory DNA sequence that can increase transcription when bound by activator proteins.

Enhancers influence transcription from a distance through DNA looping and interactions with regulatory proteins.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What does a repressor do in gene regulation?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It reduces transcription by interfering with activators or transcription machinery.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Repressors can bind regulatory DNA or interact with other factors to lower gene expression.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It reduces transcription by interfering with activators or transcription machinery.

Repressors can bind regulatory DNA or interact with other factors to lower gene expression.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

How can DNA methylation affect gene expression?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is It can make a gene less accessible for transcription in particular contexts.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Methyl groups can alter chromatin accessibility and regulatory protein binding without changing the DNA sequence itself.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It can make a gene less accessible for transcription in particular contexts.

Methyl groups can alter chromatin accessibility and regulatory protein binding without changing the DNA sequence itself.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What can microRNA do?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is It can bind complementary messenger RNA and reduce its translation or stability.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Small regulatory RNAs can guide silencing complexes to target messenger RNAs.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It can bind complementary messenger RNA and reduce its translation or stability.

Small regulatory RNAs can guide silencing complexes to target messenger RNAs.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

How does the lac operon help bacteria respond to lactose?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is It permits coordinated expression of lactose-use genes when the sugar is available and preferred energy sources are limited.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: The lac operon integrates signals about lactose and glucose to regulate genes needed for lactose metabolism.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It permits coordinated expression of lactose-use genes when the sugar is available and preferred energy sources are limited.

The lac operon integrates signals about lactose and glucose to regulate genes needed for lactose metabolism.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

What is alternative splicing?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Producing different messenger RNA forms by combining exons in different ways.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Alternative splicing allows one gene to produce multiple related protein products.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is Producing different messenger RNA forms by combining exons in different ways.

Alternative splicing allows one gene to produce multiple related protein products.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a basic purpose of quantitative PCR?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is To measure or estimate the amount of a target nucleic acid as it is amplified.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Quantitative PCR tracks amplification and can estimate starting amounts of DNA or cDNA.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is To measure or estimate the amount of a target nucleic acid as it is amplified.

Quantitative PCR tracks amplification and can estimate starting amounts of DNA or cDNA.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Why do DNA fragments separate in gel electrophoresis?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is An electric field moves charged fragments through a gel at rates related largely to size.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: The gel acts as a molecular sieve, allowing smaller DNA fragments to migrate more quickly and farther.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is An electric field moves charged fragments through a gel at rates related largely to size.

The gel acts as a molecular sieve, allowing smaller DNA fragments to migrate more quickly and farther.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

What does DNA sequencing determine?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule or region.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Sequencing reveals the nucleotide order that can be compared with references or analyzed for variants.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is The order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule or region.

Sequencing reveals the nucleotide order that can be compared with references or analyzed for variants.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

How does a guide RNA function in CRISPR editing?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It helps direct the editing complex to a complementary DNA sequence.

  1. Identify the molecular genetics concept: Determine whether the question concerns DNA, RNA, inheritance, regulation, biotechnology, disease, or experimental analysis.
  2. Apply the genetic principle: Base pairing between guide RNA and target DNA provides sequence-specific targeting for the editing machinery.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It helps direct the editing complex to a complementary DNA sequence.

Base pairing between guide RNA and target DNA provides sequence-specific targeting for the editing machinery.

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