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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 oncogene?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A gene that can promote uncontrolled cell growth when abnormally activated.

  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: Activated oncogenes can push signaling pathways toward proliferation and contribute to cancer development.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A gene that can promote uncontrolled cell growth when abnormally activated.

Activated oncogenes can push signaling pathways toward proliferation and contribute to cancer development.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the role of a tumor-suppressor gene?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It helps restrain cell division, repair damage, or promote removal of abnormal cells.

  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: Loss of tumor-suppressor function can remove important safeguards against uncontrolled growth.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It helps restrain cell division, repair damage, or promote removal of abnormal cells.

Loss of tumor-suppressor function can remove important safeguards against uncontrolled growth.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is apoptosis?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A regulated process of programmed cell death.

  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: Apoptosis removes cells in a controlled way and helps shape tissues or eliminate damaged cells.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A regulated process of programmed cell death.

Apoptosis removes cells in a controlled way and helps shape tissues or eliminate damaged cells.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Why are telomeres important?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is They help protect chromosome ends from being mistaken for broken DNA.

  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: Telomere sequences and associated proteins help preserve chromosome-end stability, though they shorten or change with cell division and repair.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is They help protect chromosome ends from being mistaken for broken DNA.

Telomere sequences and associated proteins help preserve chromosome-end stability, though they shorten or change with cell division and repair.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a stem cell?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A cell capable of self-renewal and differentiation into one or more specialized cell types.

  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: Stem cells vary in potency but share the abilities to maintain a population and produce differentiated descendants.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is A cell capable of self-renewal and differentiation into one or more specialized cell types.

Stem cells vary in potency but share the abilities to maintain a population and produce differentiated descendants.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the goal of gene therapy?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is To treat disease by adding, replacing, silencing, or editing genetic information in target cells.

  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: Gene therapy aims to alter a disease-related genetic process while considering delivery, safety, and target tissue.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is To treat disease by adding, replacing, silencing, or editing genetic information in target cells.

Gene therapy aims to alter a disease-related genetic process while considering delivery, safety, and target tissue.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What does reverse transcriptase do?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is It synthesizes DNA using an RNA template.

  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: Retroviruses and some laboratory methods use reverse transcriptase to make complementary DNA from RNA.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is It synthesizes DNA using an RNA template.

Retroviruses and some laboratory methods use reverse transcriptase to make complementary DNA from RNA.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Why might a viral vector be used in gene delivery?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Viruses naturally enter cells and can be modified to carry therapeutic genetic material.

  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: Modified viral particles can deliver genetic cargo, although targeting, immune effects, and insertion risks must be evaluated.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is Viruses naturally enter cells and can be modified to carry therapeutic genetic material.

Modified viral particles can deliver genetic cargo, although targeting, immune effects, and insertion risks must be evaluated.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

How do mRNA vaccines stimulate an immune response?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is They provide temporary instructions for cells to make an antigen that the immune system can recognize.

  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: Cells translate the delivered mRNA into an antigen, which can stimulate adaptive immune memory without changing the genome.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is They provide temporary instructions for cells to make an antigen that the immune system can recognize.

Cells translate the delivered mRNA into an antigen, which can stimulate adaptive immune memory without changing the genome.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Why can genetically diverse tumors be difficult to treat?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Different tumor cells may carry different mutations and respond differently to therapy.

  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: Heterogeneous tumors can include subpopulations with distinct vulnerabilities or resistance mechanisms.
  3. Connect sequence, expression, and phenotype: The correct answer is Different tumor cells may carry different mutations and respond differently to therapy.

Heterogeneous tumors can include subpopulations with distinct vulnerabilities or resistance mechanisms.

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